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uraharafiles · 1 year ago

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file : interesting creatures (#1): spinosaurus !

info requested by anon! rhykar copypasted the ENTIRE spinosaurus fun facts post in our drafts onto this post; therefore, thank us both for this one!

the spinosaurus aegyptiacus was a spinosaurid dinosaur that lived in what is now north africa, its reign taking place in the mid and late cretaceous period around 93.5 to 110 million years ago, in the cenomanian and albain ages. it went extinct near the end f the cretaceous period.

the spinosaurus aegyptiacus' habitat consisted mostly of mangrove forests and tidal flats (muddy, marshy areas of mostly flat land that tend to be covered in sea or delta water). most of the area it lived in included the land that now harbors egypt and morocco.

spinosaurus fossils have been found in egypt, morocco, tunisia, libya, kenya and algeria, in the bahariya formation (egypt)*, aoufous and tegana formations [kem kem beds] (morocco), chenini formation (tunisia), cabao formation (libya), turkana grits formation (kenya), and gara samani, algeria, as well as the ain el guettar formation, also in tunisia. (fossils of similar spinosaurid have been found in thailand, southern england, brazil, niger, laos, and the isle of wight, among others. pelvic bones and vertebrae found to belong to the spinosaurus aegyptiacus have also been found on the isle of wight.)

the first spinosaurus aegyptiacus fossils were found in the bahariya oasis, in the western egypt desert! these fossils were discovered in 1912, and the spinosaurus was named by paleontologist ernst stromer. the original remains were destroyed in world war 2, on april 24th, 1944.

"spinosaurus" translates from latin. it literally just means "spined lizard."

as is generally obvious knowledge, jurassic park was ridiculously inaccurate. there's a lot, but here's a few!

1: the spinosaurus in the movie had inaccurate jaw strength; a real spinosaurus, who would probably have never even encountered a tyrannosaurus rex, would never have had to adapt to develop a bite force strong enough to break a nearly fully-grown tyrannosaur's neck. (probably not any tyrannosaur- not just the rex.)

2: the nasal horn on the spinosaurus in the movie was unrealistically sharp; paleontology has generally shown that it was probably more blunt.

3: the lacrimal ridges on the spinosaurus in the movie were too small for a spinosaurus the age of the one in the movie. a scientific accuracy would have shown a spinosaurus with a much bigger and more developed set of lacrimal ridges.

4: it is trivial knowledge that the spinosaurus aegyptiacus was bigger than the tyrannosaurus rex; the one in the movie was barely a handful of inches taller than the tyrannosaurus rex it killed; that tyrannosaurus rex was also a juvenile.

we used to nearly collectively think that the spinosaurus hunted in deep rivers and on ocean shores, but recent studies have shown substantial evidence that the spinosaurus was more like a gigantic, evil, probably very smart reptilian heron from hell.

spinosaurus most likely spent more time on the river shores of their north african habitats than inland. evidence of this conclusion includes: a) its nostrils are positioned toward the middle of its snout, suggesting it could mostly submerge itself in order to hide from territorial rivals. b) its pelvis was smaller than most other large carniverous theropods, which suggests that it used the things attached to said pelvis, the tail and hind legs, to chase after quick-moving small riverside creatures and assist itself in submerging into rivers when it had to hide. c) the vertebrae of its tail was also oddly loosely connected, which suggests it used it as a sort of balance to swim or run after riverside prey rather than using it as an aid in deep-sea plunder.

recently discovered evidence suggests that the spinosaurus may have been covered in a skin membrane that could change color, which would have assisted in temperature regulation in cold rivers and potentially have aided in attracting mates and intimidating other dinosaurs. the membrane may have also enabled the spinosaurus to act something like the indominus rex, changing its color to camoflauge itself with its surroundings to hunt, or to hide if a water source was not available or safe to hide in.

we used to think the spinosaurus's sail was used solely for swimming and temperature regulation. but recent discoveries seem to suggest otherwise- the sail may have been used for social displays or species recognition. some also believe the sail was used to store water and lipids in case a river any individual spinosaurus lived near began to dry up.

*1: the particular location mentioned, in more specifics, would be the bahariya oasis in the western desert of egypt.

sources : the dominating source i'd like to give credit to for the information in this post is rhykar, my lovely nerdy professional ghost hunting boyfriend, fellow owner and creator and primary organization person of this account!

send an ask if you want more info, or if you've got more to share! please use this post as a source if you post or use information you found on it!

#+ file : creatures #+ subfile : dinosaurs - spinosaurus #+ researcher : hayle #dinosaurs #spino #spinosaurus #spinosaurus aegyptiacus #fun facts #jurassic park #jurassic park inaccuracies #africa #african dinosaurs #prehistory #prehistoric creatures #spinosaurus facts #dinosaur facts

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uk-fossils · 1 month ago

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6" FULLY ROOTED Genuine Spinosaurus Dinosaur Tooth Fossil, Kem Kem Beds, Cretaceous Morocco | Rare Authentic Specimen + COA

6" FULLY ROOTED Genuine Spinosaurus Dinosaur Tooth Fossil – Kem Kem Beds, Tegana Formation, Aptian Stage, Cretaceous: Kem Kem Basin, Morocco

An incredibly rare opportunity to own a fully rooted and beautifully preserved 6-inch fossil tooth from the infamous Spinosaurus aegyptiacus. This extraordinary fossil comes from the Kem Kem Beds within the Tegana Formation, part of the Kem Kem Basin, southeastern Morocco. It is from the Aptian stage of the Early Cretaceous, dating back approximately 113 to 100 million years ago.

Fossil Type & Species:

Type: Vertebrate Fossil (Tooth – Complete with Crown and Root)

Species: Spinosaurus aegyptiacus

Order: Theropoda

Superfamily: Megalosauroidea

Family: Spinosauridae

First Described By: Ernst Stromer, German palaeontologist, in 1915

Geological Details:

Formation: Tegana Formation

Beds: Kem Kem Beds

Geological Stage: Aptian (Early Cretaceous)

Age: ~113–100 million years ago

Biozone: Kem Kem Compound Assemblage Zone

Depositional Environment: Highly dynamic fluvial-deltaic system comprising seasonal rivers, floodplains, and shallow lakes. Ideal conditions for fossil preservation in iron-rich, fine-grained sediments.

Morphology & Features: This fossil tooth exhibits the classic features of Spinosaurid dentition with the rare inclusion of the root:

Complete structure with intact root and crown — exceptionally uncommon

Conical, slightly compressed form designed for grasping fish and aquatic prey

Vertical ridges along the enamel and a smooth surface lacking serrations

Earth-toned coloration from mineral-rich fossilisation (ochres, reds, browns)

Natural tip wear and preserved enamel integrity make this a scientific and visual standout

Notable: Fully rooted Spinosaurus teeth of this size are rarely found due to the fragility of the root during fossilisation and excavation. A complete specimen like this is highly valued by collectors and researchers alike.

Spinosaurus aegyptiacus is widely considered the largest known theropod dinosaur. Its crocodile-like snout, sail-backed posture, and aquatic lifestyle make it one of the most scientifically significant dinosaurs ever discovered.

Specimen Details:

Origin: Kem Kem Basin, near Taouz, Morocco

Formation: Tegana Formation, Kem Kem Beds

Species: Spinosaurus aegyptiacus

Fossil Type: Fully Rooted Tooth (Crown + Root)

Length: Approx. 6 inches

Size Reference: Scale rule square = 1cm (see photo for full sizing)

Note: The specimen shown is the exact one you will receive

Authenticity & Quality: This is a 100% genuine fossil, selected and verified for quality, completeness, and provenance. It comes with a Certificate of Authenticity. No reconstructions or enhancements — this is a rare, natural treasure.

Why Choose This Fossil? This is a museum-grade piece perfect for:

Advanced collectors and fossil investors

Museum or university fossil collections

High-end natural history displays

Rare gift for dinosaur and palaeontology enthusiasts

Shipping & Packaging: Carefully packaged with eco-conscious, protective materials. Fast dispatch and tracked, secure delivery.

Add one of the rarest types of Spinosaur fossils to your collection — a genuine, fully rooted 6-inch Spinosaurus dinosaur tooth.

All of our Fossils are 100% Genuine Specimens & come with a Certificate of Authenticity.

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uk-fossils · 1 month ago

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