In the Sahara, researchers uncovered a previously unknown species of Spinosaurus. Its skull bore a distinctive crest unlike any seen before in this group of dinosaurs.
The official name of the new species is Spinosaurus mirabilis, which translates to “wonderful spiny lizard.” The team nicknamed the creature the “hellish heron.”
“I envision this dinosaur as a sort of ‘hellish heron’ that could easily wade through waters up to two meters deep on its sturdy legs,” said expedition leader Paul Sereno. Sereno believes this Spinosaurus likely spent more time hunting large fish in shallower water.
Spinosaurus is among the largest terrestrial predators to have ever roamed Earth. These creatures averaged about 14 meters long and weighed roughly 7.4 tons, living in Africa about 100 to 94 million years ago. They had a large “sail” on their backs that many scientists think helped with thermoregulation and attracting mates. The first Spinosaurus remains were discovered in Egypt in 1912.
What Else Did the Scientists Report?
This discovery highlighted the Spinosaurus’s extravagant features and also left researchers puzzled. Previously, bones of this genus had mostly been found in coastal areas, but this specimen was discovered deep inland—in Niger, hundreds of kilometers away from any ocean.
As a result, Sereno’s team was surprised, as reported by Science Alert. “This unexpected and astonishing find stirred strong emotions within us,” Sereno said.
Sereno recalled that he and his colleagues gathered around a laptop in camp to examine the new species for the first time. One researcher used solar power to create 3D models of the bones in the middle of the Sahara. At that moment the paleontologists grasped the discovery’s significance.
The previously unknown Spinosaurus had deadly teeth and resembled long-necked dinosaurs found in nearby river deposits. Sereno’s team believes this fearsome predator may have led a semi-aquatic lifestyle in wooded areas.
Researchers suggested that the Spinosaurus’s impressive saber-shaped crest was once covered in keratin and possibly had bright coloring, similar to a toucan’s beak.
The findings were published in the journal Science.
