Spinosaurs were dinosaurs that broke all the rules. Thanks to a smattering of fossils from the 130-million-year-old rocks of Spain, scientists are revealing the beginnings of this unusual dinosaur dynasty
, these Cretaceous carnivores evolved crocodile-like jaws, better suited to holding on to struggling prey. Many sported impressive sails on their backs, and at least a handful of species made a living catching fish along ancient shorelines instead of chasing down prey on land.
And now, thanks to a smattering of fossils from the 130-million-year-old rocks of Spain, scientists are revealing the beginnings of this unusual dinosaur dynasty. A new species, described in a study in, which roughly translates to “champion of Cinctorres” in honor of a nearby town and the 2021 victory of the local football team in the UEFA Europa League. In life, the animal was likely more than 30 feet long and snapped at its prey with long, shallow jaws brimming with conical teeth.
fossils show a particular feature on the jaw not seen in other spinosaurs, says Field Museum paleontologist Matteo Fabbri, who was not involved in the new study. This subtle trait isn’t as obvious as a crest or horn, but still distinguisheswas found reveal that this area was once a prehistoric estuary where salt and fresh water mixed.
The ancient bones help piece together how these fish-eaters were beginning to diversify before spreading to what is now Brazil, Morocco, Laos, and other locales, ultimately becoming some of the largest land predators to stalk the Earth.Paleontologists split spinosaurs into two groups, one that was somewhat smaller and tended to lack sails, called baryonychines, and the larger, sail-bearing spinosaurines.
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