Paleontologists have discovered the remains of a new species of Spinosaurus in central Niger, named Spinosaurus mirabilis. The age of the found remains is estimated to be around 95 million years. This discovery is the first to confirm the existence of Spinosaurus far from the coastline of the ancient sea that once covered modern North Africa.
This is reported by Finway
Debates About the Lifestyle of Spinosaurus
Until now, information about Spinosaurus has primarily been based on the remains of Spinosaurus aegyptiacus, which were found near the ancient Tethys Sea. This has led to the hypothesis that Spinosaurus were aquatic predators that primarily hunted underwater. An alternative view suggested that these dinosaurs behaved like herons: wading in shallow waters and ambushing prey.
To test these assumptions, an international team of researchers led by specialists from the University of Chicago conducted a detailed analysis of the new fossil remains found in central Sahara.
Features of the New Species Spinosaurus mirabilis
The remains of Spinosaurus mirabilis, which translates from Latin as “the marvelous,” are not completely preserved — this is typical for most fossil finds. However, researchers determined that this Spinosaurus reached eight meters in length and exhibited typical features of this genus: an elongated skull, teeth adapted for grasping slippery fish, and a developed dorsal crest. A unique feature of S. mirabilis was the curved bony crest on its head, which was likely covered with keratin and could reach up to half a meter in length. It was probably brightly colored and served a communicative function between individuals.
“The discovery of S. mirabilis is significant because it is the first time Spinosaurus has been found so far from the sea — nearly a thousand kilometers inland. The remains of the new species were found in river deposits alongside other animals, providing strong evidence for the theory of its hunting in shallow waters. Moreover, scientists believe that S. mirabilis and S. aegyptiacus are very similar, so it is likely that these species had similar lifestyles.”
To confirm their findings, the scientists conducted a statistical analysis examining the relationship between the morphological characteristics of various animals and their hunting strategies. The results indicate that the physical features of Spinosaurus most closely match the style of fishing near the shore.
- Despite Spinosaurus being larger than Tyrannosaurus, the analysis showed that the jaws and skulls of Tyrannosaurus were better adapted for powerful bites and hunting large prey.
- Additionally, in northeastern Brazil, paleontologists discovered the remains of a new species of pterosaur in the vomit of a dinosaur, likely a Spinosaurus, as teeth from these predators have already been found in pterosaur bones.