Overview
- The University of Chicago–led team formally named Spinosaurus mirabilis in a Science paper published February 19, identifying only the second known species in the genus.
- Fossils from the remote Jenguebi site in Niger were recovered from river-deposited sediments hundreds of kilometers from ancient shorelines alongside remains of long‑necked dinosaurs.
- The skull bears a roughly 20‑inch scimitar‑shaped crest likely sheathed in keratin for display and interdigitating upper and lower teeth that formed a specialized fish trap.
- Researchers estimate the animal at about 12 meters long and 5–7 tons and describe it as a wading “hell heron,” arguing the find undercuts claims that spinosaurs were fully aquatic.
- Fieldwork in 2019 and 2022 was followed by CT scanning and 3D reconstruction of the skull, with public replicas—including a touchable crest—scheduled to debut March 1 at the Chicago Children’s Museum.