Giant stork-like dinosaur Spinosaurus that lived in North Africa 100 million years ago, fed by grabbing fish from the coastline, study shows
- Spinosaurus was one of the largest carnivorous dinosaurs measuring up to 15 meters in length
- Previous theories suggested they actively hunted prey by swimming in the sea
- British and American researchers now believe it looked more like a heron or stork
- It would have mainly stayed on the shoreline to eat fish and small land prey
The giant carnivorous dinosaur Spinosaurus tore fish from the shoreline while also hunting small prey on land, according to a new study of its behavior.
Previous theories suggested that the 49-foot-long beast that lived 100 million years ago was a “ largely aquatic predator ” that used its long tail to swim and chase fish in the water.
The new study from Queen Mary University in London – based on analysis of other dinosaurs and lizards that lived on land or at sea – found little evidence to support the idea of the huge dinosaur as an aquatic predator.
They found that it was not well adapted to aquatic life and was more like a ‘giant heron or stork’ stalking the shoreline in search of fish and small land predators.
Life reconstruction of a Spinosaurus wading and fishing in the water. Giant carnivorous dinosaur Spinosaurus grabbed fish from the shoreline while also hunting small prey on land, according to a new study of its behavior
Saddle-billed storks in Africa forage with their beaks partially submerged – Spinosaurus may have done something similar on the shoreline for animals and fish
First discovered by paleontologists in 1915, the ecology and biology of the huge carnivorous beast has puzzled researchers for decades.
Dr. David Hone, Senior Lecturer at Queen Mary and lead author of the project said their analysis of other living and extinct creatures revealed evidence of heron-like behavior, but none supported it as an aquatic predator.
‘Some studies suggested that it actively pursued fish in water,’ Hone said, ‘but while they could swim, they wouldn’t have been fast or efficient enough to do so effectively,’ he added.
“Our findings suggest that the idea of wading is much better supported, even if it is a little less exciting,” explains Hone.
Researchers studied the likely position of Spinosaurus’s head in the water and determined that it was unsuitable for opening fish hunting in the water
Co-author Tom Holtz, associate professor in Vertebrae Paleontology, University of Maryland, added that the creature was a “ bizarre animal, even by dinosaur standards. ”
He said the Spinosaurus was “unlike anything that lives today,” adding that “trying to understand its ecology will always be difficult.”
‘We have tried to use the evidence we have to best approximate his way of life. And what we found did not match the traits you’d expect from a predator hunting in the water in the manner of an otter, sea lion, or plesiosaurus with a short neck. ‘
One of the main pieces of evidence unearthed by the researchers relates to the dinosaur’s ability to swim.
Spinosaurus already turned out to be a less efficient swimmer than a crocodile, but also has less tail muscles than a crocodile and would have much more resistance in the water because of its size.
Dr. Hone said: “Crocodiles are excellent at water compared to land animals, but are not as specialized in aquatic life and are incapable of actively chasing fish.
“If Spinosaurus had less muscle on the tail, less efficiency, and more drag, it’s hard to see how these dinosaurs could chase fish in a way that crocodiles can’t,” he added.
Dr. Holtz said nonetheless, the evidence suggests the creature was partially or even largely water-fed – more than any other large dinosaur.
Researchers found that the Spinosaurus (fossil pictured left) looked more like a stork or heron (top right) in how they fed than the crocodile (bottom right)
Reconstructed skeleton of a medium Spinosaurus with its famous sail and tail plume
“But that’s a different claim than that it’s a fast swimmer on the hunt for water prey,” he added.
Although Dr. Hone concludes, “While our study gives us a clearer picture of Spinosaurus’ ecology and behavior, there are many outstanding questions and details that need to be explored for future research.
‘We must continue to revise our ideas as we gather more evidence and data about these unique dinosaurs. This won’t be the last word on the biology of these amazing animals. ‘
The findings are published in the journal Palaeontologia Electronica.
SPINOSAURUS: ONE OF THE LARGEST CARNAVOORDE DINOSAURS
Originally found in Egypt, Spinosaurus is thought to be one of the largest carnivorous dinosaurs in existence – probably over 15 meters in length.
Spinosaurus (right) takes on a T-rex in the movie Jurassic Park III. The 50-foot, seven-ton Spinosaurus was the largest carnivorous dinosaur known and lived in North Africa 100 million years ago
Thoughts on feeding behavior vary, and some research suggests it was an active predator in the water chasing fish in the sea.
Other studies claim it was a heron-like shoreline feeder – grabbing fish and small land preys without going out to sea to actively hunt fish.
It lived in the late Cretaceous – 99 to 93.5 million years ago and lived in what is now North Africa.
Two types of Spinosaurus are known so far:
- Spinosaurus aegyptiacus or Egyptian spiny lizard
- The controversial Spinosaurus maroccanus or Moroccan spiny lizard
The first known fossils of Spinosaurus were destroyed by Allied bombing during World War II, hampering paleontologists’ attempts to understand the unusual creatures.
More recently, the dinosaur found fame in the 2001 film Jurassic Park III, where it fights and defeats a Tyrannosaurus rex.