Spicomellus afer
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In the unprimed and primed variants, you will receive the complete replicas except for the large models, where you will receive an assembly kit.
In the hand-painted variant, the replicas will be delivered complete.
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We created a private chat for you where you will have direct communication with our painter , being able to choose your preferred color schemes and follow the hand painting process closely.
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Spicomellus afer
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Product details
Spicomellus afer is an ankylosaur dinosaur discovered in Morocco and first described in 2021, which has become one of the most remarkable finds in recent paleontology. It is the oldest known ankylosaur to date, with an estimated age of around 165 million years , dating back to the Middle Jurassic, making it also the first representative of this group documented in Africa.
The name Spicomellus afer means “African spiny collar,” a direct reference to this animal’s most extraordinary feature: a system of bony spines fused directly to the ribs , forming a veritable armored collar around its neck and shoulders. This arrangement is not seen in any other known dinosaur and represents a unique case in the evolution of thyreophorans.
The remains recently recovered in excavations following the initial description have allowed for a more detailed reconstruction of the animal's anatomy. Ribs, vertebrae, dermal plates, and a set of spines have been found. In the largest specimens, these spines reached 87 centimeters in length , and in life, they likely exceeded one meter. These spines were arranged in the cervical region, along the sides of the body, and on the pelvis, forming rows of defenses that would have given it an imposing appearance. Furthermore, some tail vertebrae were found fused, suggesting the existence of a rigid structure that could have supported a tail club , pushing back the appearance of this characteristic ankylosaur weapon by about 30 million years.
Regarding its biology, Spicomellus afer is estimated to have reached four meters in length and weighed between one and two tons . It was a herbivorous dinosaur, probably specialized in consuming low-growing plants, such as ferns and cycads, thanks to its low and robust body. Its spectacular armor would have served a dual purpose: on the one hand, as a defense against large Jurassic predators, and on the other, as a possible element of sexual or social display , given the enormous energy cost involved in developing and maintaining such exaggerated armor.
The discovery of Spicomellus afer has had a major impact on paleontology because it demonstrates that ankylosaurs were already diversified in the Middle Jurassic, much earlier than previously thought. It also confirms that these dinosaurs were not limited to Laurasia (Europe, Asia, and North America), but reached Gondwana , extending as far as the African continent. The fossils, cataloged under the USMBA collection, are currently housed at Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdellah University in Fez, Morocco.
Approximate measurements of the Spicomellus:
- 1:35 Scale Complete
- Length 114 mm
- Height 42 mm
- Width 50 mm
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Snout-tail length 120 mm
- Complete 1:20 Scale
- Length 201 mm
- Height 73 mm
- Width 86 mm
- Snout-tail length 210 mm
Information about aftershocks
Collector's item ; Hyper-realistic replica, highly detailed and with a high degree of scientific precision.
Made to scale, prototyped in resin and with a scenic base in most of the models offered. If you like miniatures, both for collecting and for painting, we offer you a wide variety of scale replicas; All of them related to dinosaurs, extinct prehistoric fauna and current fauna.
So if you love dinosaurs and animals as much as we do, this is your favorite store to collect and paint them :)
We are authorized distributors of all the replicas and figures we offer. We use 3D printers with 8K - 14K resolution, and high-quality resins with additives to improve hardness and flexibility, thus offering replicas of impeccable quality.
Different scales will be used to make the replicas (depending on the size of the species), although we are open to making other suggested scales upon request as long as they fit in our printing trays, for which you will have to contact us via email and request the required size.
Replicas are supplied with the option of airbrush priming in dark grey. If you require another colour, please let us know which one you prefer in the box with special instructions for the seller. Without priming, we do not guarantee that the resin will accept paint.
We also offer the option of choosing a professionally painted replica, which is agreed upon throughout its development with the painter, through a private chat available.
Complete replica (one piece): We supply complete replicas in those models that are small, and models that are medium, large or not very bulky, will have the prerogative of being presented as a complete replica or assembly kit as the case may be.
Complete replicas will be supplied separately from their base.
Replica assembly kit: We supply replicas whose models are large, very large or bulky, only with this option.
The indicated replicas (generally composed of base, head, body and tail) will come prepared for the subsequent assembly that will be required by the client, by sanding, putty, adhesive or technique chosen by the client.
All replicas are thoroughly inspected before shipping and will be carefully packaged to prevent damage during transport.
Information about the models
The poses of the models aim to represent each character in the most scientifically viable way, thus revealing the life and customs of prehistoric and modern fauna.
Each character has its own personality and develops in different life scenarios; birth, adolescence and play, hunting, feeding, fighting, courtship, death and many other scenes from their daily life, always from the creative perspective of their designers.
Handmade
All orders are individually prepared on the cutter for subsequent prototyping, obtaining a resin part that will require post-processing by manual and ultrasonic cleaning, support removal, ultraviolet curing, labeling and packaging.
We are authorized distributors
We offer both our own physical replicas and those that have been modeled by many of the best 3D designers, in order to offer you the greatest possible variety.
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