Reconstructed Spinosaurus skeleton on display at The Dinosaur Expo 2016 in Tokyo. The specimen shown does not depict the newly identified species from Niger and is used here for illustrative purposes. Credit: *Photo by ★Kumiko★, via Flickr, licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/ )
Overview:
Paleontologists working in the Nigerien Sahara have identified a new Spinosaurus species, offering fresh insight into how some of the largest predatory dinosaurs lived and hunted far from ancient coastlines. The discovery suggests that spinosaurids were capable of thriving in inland river systems, challenging long-standing assumptions about their ecology. The find also highlights the scientific importance of underexplored fossil regions in Africa.
Paleontologists in Niger have made a discovery reshaping views of giant predatory dinosaurs. A newly identified Spinosaurus species from Niger, referred to by researchers as Spinosaurus mirabilis, is reshaping scientists’ understanding of giant predatory dinosaur adaptation. Past reconstructions of dinosaur evolution often relied on European and North American fossils, possibly skewing views of spinosaurid distribution.
Sand dunes in the Sahara Desert of Niger, where paleontologists uncovered fossils of a newly identified Spinosaurus species. (Illustrative image)
[Boris Ulzibat] / Pexels
Dr. Paul Sereno, lead author and University of Chicago paleontologist, described the find as emotionally profound. “This find was so sudden and amazing, it was really emotional for our team,” Sereno said.
A Predator of Rivers, Not Open Seas
Researchers discovered the fossils in a riverbed deposit in the present-day Nigerien Sahara, far from any ancient shoreline. This inland location suggests it may not have been a fully aquatic marine predator.
Rather, it probably hunted fish in riverine and shallow-water environments. This is consistent with skull and dental features that indicate a fishing specialization. Previous research on spinosaurids shows that these dinosaurs had narrow snouts and conical teeth that were ideal for fishing.
According to a 2014 post on the European Geosciences Union palaeontology blog, “with their long snouts, bulbous tips, and pointy teeth, it’s often been thought that spinosaurid dinosaurs were quite a lot like modern crocodiles.”
What Makes Spinosaurus mirabilis Unique
What distinguishes this newly described Spinosaurus species in Niger is its inland habitat and skull features adapted for riverine, not coastal, hunting.
Unlike other Spinosaurus specimens commonly associated with coastal and deltaic environments, S. mirabilis appears to have occupied a more inland river-based habitat. The curved skull crest was a defining feature and may also have served display or signaling functions.
The interlocking upper and lower teeth likely helped secure fish, a trait shared with other fish-eating vertebrates. Its long limbs and prominent sail link it to theropods adapted to warm Cretaceous ecosystems with large prey.
Life in Inland Rivers
View over the Niger River from an escarpment near the hamlet of Tiloa in Niger. Inland freshwater systems such as this may have provided habitat for the newly identified Spinosaurus species described in this article.
Photo by Vincent van Zeijst / CC BY-SA 4.0via Wikimedia Commons
Beyond its crest and teeth, Spinosaurus mirabilis sheds light on how giant theropods moved in inland environments. The preserved limb proportions in the fossil evidence indicate that the animal was well suited to moving between shallow water and land. This supports the idea that this Spinosaurus species lived in rivers, not open seas. Unlike previous ideas of semi-marine predators, the spinosaurid S. mirabilis has a body type that suggests a more flexible lifestyle based in freshwater environments.
As noted by researchers, this ability may have conferred a selective advantage on spinosaurids living in inland areas during the mid-Cretaceous, when climate change caused the coasts and river systems of northern Africa to fluctuate. By preying on riverine resources, S. mirabilis could have co-existed with other large carnivores that were more dominant in coastal or terrestrial habitats.
This finding also shows that the fossil record for the inside of Africa is still very incomplete. Heavy reliance on European and North American fossils may have skewed views of spinosaurid prevalence. Findings in Niger and other parts of the world are beginning to put this right.
Rethinking Spinosaur Evolution
The discovery of a new Spinosaurus species in Niger challenges the view that the largest spinosaurids were coastal, instead pointing to inland river dominance. In the abstract of the Science paper, the authors describe spinosaurid evolution in three stages: fish-snatching skulls, expansion to top Cretaceous predators, and peak size in the Late Cretaceous. It supports the idea that large predatory dinosaurs evolved in more diverse ways than previously thought.
Access challenges, political instability, and limited funding have left fossils from regions such as Niger underrepresented in international studies. However, finds such as Spinosaurus mirabilis show that such regions are essential in the study of the evolution of dinosaurs. A newly discovered Spinosaurus in Niger challenges the idea that large spinosaurids were coastal, pointing instead to inland river dominance. Researchers are gaining a clearer understanding of carnivorous dinosaur adaptations by studying regions beyond Europe and North America. This finding suggests that giant predatory dinosaurs evolved in ways previously unknown.
Broader Significance and the Future of Discovery
The discovery of Spinosaurus mirabilis has sparked new interest in fossil sites in Africa that haven’t been studied much. The Nigerien Sahara is very hot, far away, and has shifting sands. The discovery shows how much of Earth’s prehistoric life remains buried and undiscovered.
Editor’s Disclaimer: This article is based on peer-reviewed scientific research and reporting from established international news and academic sources. Interpretations of fossil evidence and dinosaur behavior reflect the current scientific consensus at the time of publication and may evolve as new discoveries emerge. Presence News does not independently verify fossil specimens or conduct original paleontological research.
