US EditionFossils of a new species of huge dinosaur Spinosaurus unearthed in Niger
Spinosaurus mirabilis, a fish-eating wader with a distinctive scimitar-shaped crest, lived 95 million years ago far inland, challenging views of spinosaur aquatic habits, scientists said.
- On Thursday, University of Chicago paleontologist Paul Sereno published findings in Science revealing fossils of Spinosaurus mirabilis from Jenguebi, Niger, based on skulls and bones recovered in the 2022 expedition.
- A local Tuareg guide led Sereno's 2019 team to a remote Sahara fossil field, prompting a 2022 return expedition after pandemic delays.
- Researchers noted that the bony cranial crest measured at least 40 centimetres and the interdigitating teeth formed a 'fish trap' for catching slippery prey.
- The inland discovery of Spinosaurus mirabilis fossils, roughly 300 to 600 miles from ancient shorelines, supports the research team conclusions that it was a wading predator, not fully aquatic.
- Next month, replicas of Spinosaurus mirabilis's skull and crest will be displayed at the Chicago Children's Museum, raising public interest after long being overshadowed by Spinosaurus aegyptiacus.
75 Articles
75 Articles
This Massive, Meat-Eating Dinosaur Was a 'Hell Heron' That Waded Into Shallow Waters to Nab Slippery Fish
Paleontologists unearthed a new species of Spinosaurus in the Sahara Desert in Niger, a discovery that adds to the debate over whether the prehistoric creatures were fully or semi-aquatic
New Fish-Eating Spinosaurus Species Discovered in the Sahara
Spinosaurids. Credit: Андрей Белов / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY 3.0 A new species of fish-eating Spinosaurus has been unearthed in the Sahara, scientists announced, offering the clearest picture yet of how these ancient river predators lived and ultimately vanished. The species, named Spinosaurus mirabilis, carries a towering scimitar-shaped bony crest above its skull, a feature that sets it apart from its closest relative, Spinosaurus aegyptiacu…
‘Astonishing” New Scimitar-Shaped Crested Dinosaur Discovered in Sahara Desert: ‘You might uncover a lost world’
Scientists called “astonishing” the first indisputable evidence of a new species of Spinosaurus found in over a century—uncovered in a remote area of the Sahara Desert. The newly discovered scimitar-crested dinosaur was described as a “hell heron” that fed on fish despite living hundreds of miles from the sea. Paleontologists say it appears to have […] The post ‘Astonishing” New Scimitar-Shaped Crested Dinosaur Discovered in Sahara Desert: ‘You …
“Hell Heron”: New Dinosaur Species with A Head-mounted Sword Discovered in Africa
It’s not every day that a new dinosaur is discovered, but it is a great day. Paleontologist Paul Sereno experienced one in Niger when his team unearthed what turned out to be a new species of spinosaurus: Spinosaurus mirabilis. They published their findings in the latest issue of Science. Nautilus Members enjoy an ad-free experience. Log in or Join now . Sereno’s journey started with the writings of a French geologist in the 1950s who mentione…
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