Spinosaurus: A Changing Aquatic Predator!
An old model Spinosaurus in a Cretaceous River Delta. Our new understanding of the creature has a much rounder body.
Our understanding of dinosaurs is always in flux. The discovery of a new fossil, or the reexamination of an old one, can upend everything we know about a given species. Consider the Spinosaurus, one of the largest carnivorous dinosaurs to ever walk the Earth. This massive theropod topped out at about 60 feet, and weighed 8.8 tons. Still, so much remains unknown about these giant hunters and what we do is subject to constant reexamination.
Nearly everything about Spinosaurus defies traditional thought about carnivorous dinosaurs. To begin with, Spinosaurids are the only known family of semi-aquatic dinosaurs, paddling around shallow water to snap up unsuspecting prey. They also had long, narrow skulls, almost crocodile-like in appearance, and their jaws were lined with conical teeth instead of the curved, blade-like ziphodont teeth of most theropods.
A group of fossil Spinosaurus teeth from Mini Museum
As its name suggests, Spinosaurus also had elongated neural spines forming a massive dorsal sail. In some species, the spines in the namesake sail measure more than 6ft (2m) in length, providing the framework for an impressive structure that would rise high above the water. The shape and function of this spine sail have been hotly debated topics, with no consensus formed on the spine’s exact evolutionary function.
Some theories suggest that the sail wasn't a sail at all but a "fatty-hump". However, a detailed reconstruction in 2014 concluded that the spines were too poorly vascularized to support such a structure and the spines were likely covered by skin and used for display. The same study also suggests that its limbs were somewhat shorter than previously thought, and appear to be specifically adapted to paddle-swimming like early whales
A Spinosaurus skeletal formation posed in a swimming motion to mimic its movement in life.
The species was first discovered by explorer and fossil collector Richard Markgraf in 1912 near the Bahariya Oasis in Western Egypt. At the time, Markgraf was working for German paleontologist Ernst Stromer. He sent the partial remains to Stromer in Munich who announced the discovery in 1915 and named the species Spinosaurus aegyptiacus. But in 1944, the allied bombing of Munich destroyed Erich Stromer's entire dinosaur collection including the holotype, or original, specimen of Spinosaurus aegyptiacus.
Recently, a brand new paper has turned the Spinosaurus' lifestyle on its head once more. A study of the animal's bone density shows Spinosaurus would have been quite heavy, which may have helped it submerge and hunt below the water as well. Without flippers, compacted bones may have been a solution for the species to move underwater. Not only would this be a new way of looking at Spinosaurus, but it would change our understanding of all dinosaurs, as previously underwater hunting was only within the realm of marine reptiles outside the dinosaur group, such as Mosasaurs and Plesiosaurs.
This is how the new Spinosaurus may have looking while hunting. (Illustration from Davide Bonadonna)
This new Spinosaurus would have been much rounder as well, helping it make swifter diving and swimming movements. A thick, paddle-like tail could give it powerful propulsion capabilities to catch up with prey. It's easy to see the connection between a creature like this and the hunting styles of modern water birds that dive after fish.
Perhaps soon another, more complete Spinosaurus fossil will be discovered that will again upend everything we know about this creature, or else further cement our current theories.
The Spinosaurus is a reminder that the work of paleontology is never quite complete, that our understanding of any fossil must always be open to evolve as we discover more.
Read More!
Brusatte, Stephen L. “Spinosaurus.” Current Biology 31.20 (2021): R1369–R1371. Web.
Ibrahim, Nizar, et al. "Semiaquatic Adaptations in a Giant Predatory Dinosaur." Science 345.6204 (2014): 1613-1616.
Smith, Joshua B., et al. "New Information Regarding the Holotype of Spinosaurus Aegyptiacus Stromer, 1915." Journal of Paleontology 80.02 (2006): 400-406.
Stromer, Ernst. "Wirbeltier− Reste der Baharije− Stufe (unterstes Cenoman). 3. Das Original des Theropoden Spinosaurus Aegyptiacus nov. gen. nov. spec." Abhandlungen der Königlichen Bayerischen Akademie der Wissenschaften, Mathematisch− Physikalische Klasse 28 (1915): 1-32.
Fabbri, Matteo, Guillermo Navalón, Roger BJ Benson, Diego Pol, Jingmai O’Connor, Bhart-Anjan S. Bhullar, Gregory M. Erickson et al. "Subaqueous foraging among carnivorous dinosaurs." Nature (2022): 1-6.
Featured Product
Boeing 747 - EI-BED Horizontal Stabilizer
Latest News
-
Mar 26, 2025 The Crazy Story of How Star Wars Got Made! Read More -
Mar 26, 2025 Skin, Eggs, and Poop: Unique Types of Dinosaur Fossils! Read More -
Mar 24, 2025 Learn How Scientists Made Woolly Mice! Read More -
Mar 21, 2025 Organic Glass Found Among Remains of Roman Guard Read More -
Mar 19, 2025 The Top 5 Most Expensive Star Wars Collectibles Ever Sold Read More -
Mar 19, 2025 The Biggest Dinosaurs to Walk The Earth Read More
Cool Things!
Learn How Scientists Made Woolly Mice!
Organic Glass Found Among Remains of Roman Guard
One of the most dramatic events in the history of the Roman Empire was the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 CE. It is unknown how many perished during the eruption and its fallout, however, haunting images of contorted Pompeiians frozen in time by searing gas and ash paints an image of hellish, alien conditions. In a bizarre twist of the otherworldly occurrence, scientists have found the only documented instance of a victim whose brain was turned to glass by flows from the eruption.
The Mysterious Origin of the St. Mark's Square Lion!
Keeping a watchful eye over what Napoleon knew as “the drawing room of Europe,” the winged lion of St. Mark’s Square in Venice, Italy, is a majestic sight. The origin of this iconic statue has been cloaked in mystery, but in September of 2024, a group of chemists, archaeologists, geologists, and art historians shed more light on this sculpture’s story.
Specimen Deep Dives
Returning to the Moon: The Apollo 14 Mission
The Secrets of the Space Shuttle: Learn about Mini Museum's Shuttle Tile Material!
Gondwana: When the Earth Was One
Long Form Articles
The Crazy Story of How Star Wars Got Made!
On May 14, 1971, George Lucas flew into London for the first time. For a while now, the young director had been workshopping ideas for a space opera, jotting down an increasingly long list of bizarre names for people and places he could build a story around. So when he landed in London, Lucas marched into the office of United Artists head David Picker and convinced the executive to provide the seed money for his next movie.
Skin, Eggs, and Poop: Unique Types of Dinosaur Fossils!
While their bones tend to be the most show-stopping examples, the dinosaurs actually left behind many different traces of their anatomy, many of which have been crucial to scientists’ understanding of their lives. Whether you’re looking to grow your collection or just starting out, here are 5 unique types of dinosaur fossils!
The Top 5 Most Expensive Star Wars Collectibles Ever Sold
When Star Wars debuted in theaters on May 25th, 1977, it launched an international phenomenon spanning decades of film history. Today, the series has had countless spinoffs, tv shows, books, and merchandising emblazoned with its characters and symbols, for which fans are ready to part with a pretty penny. Here are the top 5 most expensive Star Wars memorabilia items ever sold.