4th Oct 2012 12:57pm | By Dan Thorne
Pegomastax africanus, a plant-eating dinosaur about the size of a cat with distinctive porcupine-like quills on its head and body has been revealed by scientists.
The perfect pet for any aspiring punk, this unusual looking creature also had a large beak with 'vampire bat' teeth. Its Latin name translates as 'thick jaw from Africa'.
A scientist from the University of Chicago believes Pegomastax was one of the first plant-eating dinosaurs. It was first discovered inside 200 million-year-old rocks in South Africa.
A recreation of the dinosaur's head was modelled by the Tyler Keillor of the University, who told Scientific American “At first, I didn’t think the model would be all that visually interesting. But by the time one combines a beak, tusks, cheeks, quills, and scales, it ends up being quite a frightful little beast!”
Though such fangs and tusks are unusual for a herbivore, it may have used them in self defence against other creatures. "Pegomastax and kin were the most advanced plant-eaters of their day," Professor Paul Sereno told Discovery News.
Image: YouTube/University of Chicago
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