Sahara unearths Spinosaurus mirabilis with colossal head crest
A team led by Paul Sereno has identified a new Spinosaurus species, Spinosaurus mirabilis, from Niger’s central Sahara. The discovery includes jaw fragments, teeth, and three scimitar-shaped head crests up to about 50 cm tall, likely keratin-sheathed and brightly colored for display—the tallest cranial crest yet known in non‑avian dinosaurs. The inland site, dated to about 95 million years ago, suggests an wading, fish‑eating predator that lived far from the coast, challenging the idea that spinosaurids were coastal or aquatic. The findings, published in Science, are accompanied by 3D skull reconstructions and will be exhibited at the Chicago Children’s Museum.