Spinosaurus

PALAEONTOLOGICAL RECORD

Spinosaurus is a genus of large spinosaurid theropod dinosaurs that lived in what is now North Africa during the Cenomanian stage of the Late Cretaceous period, about 100 to 94 million years ago. The genus was known first from Egyptian remains discovered in 1912 and described by German palaeontologist Ernst Stromer in 1915. The original remains were destroyed in World War II, but additional material came to light in the early 21st century. It is unclear whether one or two species are represented in the fossils reported in the scientific literature. The type species, S. aegyptiacus, is mainly known from the Bahariya Formation in Egypt and the Kem Kem beds in Morocco. The other species, S. mirabilis, is known from the Farak Formation in Niger. Although another potential species, S. maroccanus, has been recovered from the Kem Kem beds, this dubious species is likely a junior synonym of S. aegyptiacus. Other possible junior synonyms include Sigilmassasaurus from the Kem Kem beds and Oxalaia from the Alcântara Formation in Brazil, though other researchers propose both genera to be distinct taxa.

DISCOVERY

Discovered in 1912 by Richard Markgraf in Egypt.

DIETARY PROFILE

Piscivore primarily adapted for coastal fishing.