New Spinosaurus crest sharpens river-dwelling dinosaur debate

A newly described Spinosaurus mirabilis from Niger (~95 million years ago) features a dramatic scimitar-shaped head crest and interlocking teeth, fueling the longstanding debate over whether Spinosaurus was aquatic, wading, or fish-hunting. The discovery—published in Science—suggests riverine adaptations and possible display signals, but researchers say more complete fossils are needed to settle exactly how this giant predator lived and hunted.