So here's the situation, there might actually be 2 species of Spinosaurus. One from Egypt (Spinosaurus aegyptiacus ,) which is all the original material that was lost in WWII, including a partial lower jaw, a few neck vertebrae and some of the back bones with the 'sail' (these were found jumbled together in a bone bed along with crocks and other animals so they might not be from the same beastie, which is why I don't always draw the sail.) And the other consisting of a partial skull or maxilla (it's the front part of the skull containing the upper teeth,) along with a crest, was found in Morocco.It is ASSUMED they belong to the same animal by some, and others think it's 2 separate animals. As you can see the Morocco specimen, which this drawing is based on, had a MUCH more gracile head, so much so that when the original Spinosaurus lower jaw material is added it looks...well comical. We won't know the actual truth about either of these animals (or would that be the truth about THIS animal?) Until more specimens are found:)
Brett
I just relooked (relooked? my God...English please!) at the pic...is that the other Spinosaurus in the background with the larger less gracile sail?
ReplyDelete-Erin
Yep:)He's just across the pond;)
ReplyDeleteBest,
Brett
ok just being overly picky here but. if the maroc spinosaur ripped the tail from that lungfish type coelocanth first wouldn't he then have swallowed it the other way around? tail end first.
ReplyDeleteif we assume hes more bird in his dinner manners than ok he would juggle it around to make sure the fin spines go the other way into his throat.
personally i think he be more croc like and just be a messy eater. great pic as always love the watering hole herbivore ensemble
Hi tch,
ReplyDeleteAh, but the fins have sharp pointy bits that might get stuck if swallowed tail first. Most animals actually eat things headfirst if they can. So everything goes down better. But there are no absolutes in nature and sometimes the tail goes down first.:)
It's possible they were more like crocs, since they branched off the dinosaur tree before birds showed up. But Crocs aren't that bad, they can learn their names and even commands. They have a complex social structure and even take care of the their young.
It's hard to be nice and neat with a huge mouth full of teeth I suspect;)
Best,
Brett
Just read the sad news Nov.4-Jurassic Park Author Michael Crichton Dies of Cancer. Sad to see someone who broadened the appeal of dinosaurs for so many to die at the young age of 66.
ReplyDelete-Steve
Steve,
ReplyDeleteThanks for letting me know. Man that sucks. I had heard some rumors that he was writing JP4.
Best,
Brett