2026 is kicking off with a bit of a bang as this week saw the release of a paper describing a new species of iguanodontian that also happened to sport some heretofore unknown integument. This new integumentary material is a series of “spikes” that surrounded the main body. These spikes are small (most were ~2–3 mm) and are comprised of epidermal material. Given their small size and numerous presence, this new integument has once again fueled speculation about feathers in ornithischians within the paleophile community. However, a read of the paper makes it clear that we are not dealing with protofeathers.
So, what is it? Read on to find out.