The story of Spinosaurus is one of fortune found, lost, and found again. One of
the largest of the Meat-eaters, Spinosaurus
captured popular imagination with his mysterious sail. However, not much was
known about this popular Dinosaur until 2013, when Dame Fortune smiled on the
paleontologists seeking to know more about Him.
The story of Spinosaurus began with the discovery of fossils in 1912 in Egypt by
Richard Markgraf. Afterwards Baron Ernst Stromer, Markgraf’s employer, named
these bones Spinosaurus aegyptiacus, “Spine
Lizard of Egypt.” Spinosaurus was
named for his dorsal spines, which formed into a sail shape. Returning to
Germany, Stromer housed his fossil collection of Spinosaurus in a museum in Munich. This proved to be disastrous when
the Allies bombed the city in 1944. All that remained as proof that Spinosaurus ever existed were a few
fragments of his snout and “fluted crests” displayed in museums elsewhere. The
only depiction of his sail was Strummer’s drawings, which was all that was left
for paleontologists to study.
Throughout the intervening years, this
Dinosaur remained a mystery. The enigma of Spinosaurus
was partially solved by Nizar Ibrahim, who uncovered more fossils in Morocco. Fascinated
by Spinosaurus since boyhood, Ibrahim
studied to be a paleontologist. After receiving a box of bones in 2008, he
tried to track down the Bedouin who originally brought him the fossils. After
five years of fruitless searching, Ibrahim found the man as he walked by Ibrahim’s
table at an outside cafe. The Bedouin took Ibrahim to a site in Morocco, where
more fossils of Spinosaurus could be
found.
From this treasure trove of fossils
emerged a formable predator. Larger than Tyrannosaurus
rex, Spinosaurus had sharp straight
teeth housed in powerful haws. Unlike many other Dinosaurs, He could walk on
four or two legs, as well as swim. In examining fossils of Spinosaurus, scientists realized that He was a fish eater in a
region of rivers rich with marine life. A swimmer, this huge hunter would feast
on fish.
This realization solved another
mystery referred to as “Stromer’s Riddle.” The question was “Why did North
Africa have more Meat-eaters than Plant-eaters.” Usually, this ratio is
reversed since one Carnivore needs about twenty Herbivores in order to survive.
However, the region of North Africa supported three enormous Carnivores. What
did these hungry Dinosaurs eat if there were only a few Plant-eaters? One
answer: Spinosaurus ate fish.
With his center of gravity structured for
easily moving in water, Spinosaurus
hunted underwater. He had a long narrow head and nostrils high up on his snout.
Resting in the water, Spinosaurus looked
like a crocodile. His dense bones enabled Him to effortlessly dive deep like a
penguin. His webbed front feet and powerful hind legs were like a duck’s. An
accomplished swimmer, Spinosaurus
feasted on fish and other marine life. Paleontologist Paul Sereno observed, “It
was a Chimera – a half-duck, half-crocodile.”
By being a swimmer, Spinosaurus changed how scientists viewed Dinosaurs. He broke
through the established scientific thinking on what Dinosaurs were about.
Perhaps more insights about the nature of these Animals can be made through
further studies of Him.
But mystery still surrounds enigmatic Spinosaurus. What was his sail used for?
Stromer struggled for years to figure out why Spinosaurus needed it. Also, he pondered whether it was a merely a
hump or a large spinal fin. Amongst the Spinosaurids (the Family that Spinosaurus and Baryonyx belong to), Spinosaurus
is the only one with a sail. Perhaps the dorsal “hump” was to warn others that
this was his territory. When other predators saw it rising from his
half-submerged body, They knew to stay away. Perhaps someday, Dame Fortune will
uncover that mystery.
The history of Spinosaurus depicts how the Wheel of Fortune works. First Dame Fortune
smiled, then frowned, and finally smiled again. What can be learned is to remain
steadfast and patient, for Dame Fortune will turn her wheel again. What may be
lost today will be found tomorrow. Along the way, work hard and be prepared for
the opportunity to occur. Nizar Ibrahim continued Ernest Stromer’s work,
against all the odds, and found more fossils of this Dinosaur. What chances Dame
Fortune gave him, he took. Spinosaurus
reminds us that luck changes, and we need to be best prepared. Ride the Wheel
of Fortune with this Dinosaur.
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