Agustinia

A Defense Specialist Covered in Armor

The most prominent feature of Agustinia was its heavy armor that covered its entire body.
Its skin was covered with hard pieces of bone called osteoderms, giving it a robust armor similar to an ankylosaur.

Additionally, its back had two rows of thick, rod-like spikes that reached up to 75cm long, which protected its sides.
These spikes are believed to have been used as a weapon for self-defense against large carnivorous dinosaurs.
It is also suggested that similar thick spines may have protected it from its neck to its tail, which would have made it an extremely rare kind of sauropod.

It’s possible it was protected by thick spikes from its neck to its tail

Mysterious Evolution and Fragmentary Fossils

Currently, only a partial skeleton of Agustinia has been discovered, and its complete appearance remains a mystery.

Initially, based on the fragmented fossils found, it was thought to be a type of titanosaur.
However, after features reminiscent of Diplodocus were found in the fossils, it has now been reclassified as a unique, independent species that evolved by inheriting characteristics from both.

If new fossils are discovered in the future, the full picture of Agustinia may be revealed, showing an even more bizarre and unique appearance than is currently imagined.
Research is highly anticipated to find out how this sauropod with a unique defense system lived in South America during the Cretaceous period.