New dinosaur species from Chile had unique slashing tail

Fossils are from a dinosaur species that had a unique slashing tail weapon, scientists reported on Wednesday. They were found in Chile. Some dinosaurs had spiked tails that they could use as stabbing weapons and others had tails with clubs. lead author said the new species has something that has never seen before on any animal such as seven pairs of "blades" laid out sideways like a slicing weapon.

After a team examined the pieces of skull and did five different DNA analyses, they concluded it was only distantly related to the stegosaurus. The fossil is from about 72 million to 75 million years ago and appears to be an adult. It was found with its front end flat on its belly and the back end angled down to a lower level. The tail was probably for defense against large predators.