The spinosaurus aegyptiacus is a theropod dinosaur that roamed the continent of today’s modern name North Africa. If you have watched all the Jurassic Park movies, you will probably know that this carnivore is the star of the third installment of the flick. It is described as the biggest carnosaur that has ever existed and dominated other dinosaurs. Excavated fossils of this flesh eating animal revealed that it is longer compared to the Gigantosaurus or the mighty T-Rex, but much lighter in built.
Etymology
The meaning of the term spinosaurus is spiny lizard which is derived from its large spines on its back. The length of the spines of this dinosaur is six feet, and was believed that skin membrane covers this spine in order to form a fin which resembles a sail. It is speculated that these spines help in the regulation of the dinosaur’s body temperature. Paleontologists have some evidence suggesting that these spines were collapsible and can be extended.
Discovery of the Spinosaurus
In 1912, the very first complete specimen of the spinosaurus aegyptiacus was discovered by German paleontologist Ernst Stromer in Egypt. But unfortunately, this complete specimen of spinosaurus fossils was destroyed when Munich, Germany was bombed during World War II. Other skeletons of the spinosaurus have been discovered but none of them were as complete as what Stromer has found.
Habitat of the Spinosaurus
Most of the skeletons of this dinosaur were excavated in North Africa, specifically the Sahara Desert. Other reported finds also revealed that they also inhabited South America and Morocco. North Africa was t natural habitat of the spinosaurus aegyptiacus during the Early Cretaceous Period or 100 million ages in the past when the continent still have a tropical climate than today. During the Early Cretaceous Period, Sahara Desert has wetlands, rivers and lakes.
Size of the Spinosaurus
With the excavated skeleton of the spinosaurus aegyptiacus, paleontologists believed that this carnivore have grown to about 40-56 feet or up to 17 meters. The body structure of the spinosaurus has similarities to that of the T-Rex but with some differences. The built of the T-Rex is heavier compared to the spinosaurus which is lightly built and have heavier and longer front arms. This arms structure of the spinosaurus makes them to easily grasp their prey. Other paleontologists content that the dinosaur sometimes walked using its four legs.
Teeth of the Spinosaurus
The snout of the spinosaurus aegyptiacus is long compared to the T-Rex. Teeth which are long and sharply pointed dominate the jaws of this carnivorous dinosaur. Unlike the teeth of the T-Rex which were serrated, Spinosaurus has round and smooth teeth in their jaws. Other paleontologists believed that the spinosaurus aegyptiacus prefers fish on their diet due to the interlocking characteristic of both their lower and upper teeth. Isotope analysis conducted by Romain Amiot and his colleagues on the teeth of the spinosaurus aegyptiacus showed that ratios of oxygen isotopes are present which revealed that the lifestyle of the dinosaur is semiaquatic.
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