How The Spinosaurus Skeleton Differs From Other Predatory Dinosaurs

The Spinosaurus skeleton seems to be one of the most weird and wonderful arrays of any dinosaur fossils ever unearthed. As opposed to the many famous carnivorous dinosaurs like Tyrannosaurus rex and Allosaurus, Spinosaurus had adaptations that indicate that its structure was designed for extensive activities on land as well as the use of water. These variations have made it one of the most attractive and interesting creatures in the past few years.

Longer Body, Shorter Legs

The body was a big difference between Spinosaurus and other predators. Whereas most large carnivorous dinosaurs had muscular legs, and their bodies were suspended in the air for running and hunting on land, Spinosaurus seems to have had stubby legs. Hence, its limbs suggest that it might not have been very speedy on land. Scientists hold this to be true by conjecturing that it spent much time swimming in rivers and shallow seas.

A Sail-Like Spine

One of the most distinctive features of the dinosaur Spinosaurus is the tall sail on its back. The sail was formed by elongated neural spines protruding from the vertebrae. Some of these spines measured in excess of five feet tall. Though the use of this sail is still greatly debated and theorized to possibly aid in thermoregulation, display, or mate attraction, what is certain is that this feature is missing altogether from most other predatory dinosaurs, thus giving Spinosaurus a very distinctive look.

Adapted for a Semi-Aquatic Life

The configuration of its tail and limbs possibly points toward a semi-aquatic way of life for Spinosaurus. For instance, its long, flat tail-crocodile-like, however different from ordinary land-based carnivores --may have been good for swimming. Fossil evidence also shows that its bones were dense, something that would have aided it in descending underwater without buoying back up, sort of how penguins and hippos do.

The location of Spinosaurus fossils that were uncovered in the riverbed regions of North Africa especially strengthened the assumption that it was an aquatic creature. These discoveries changed previous ideas among researchers: that all dinosaurs who hunted other animals to survive were large-terrestrial predators.

Skull and Jaws Built for Fishing

Another important difference is the skull. Spinosaurus had a long, slender snout with cone-shaped teeth lined all along the jaws. Hence, its jaw was more of a crocodilian one and less of a typical dinosaur. This particular shape would be perfect for catching slippery fish and probably had some sort of sensor on its snout to pick up movements in the water.

Conclusion

The Spinosaurus skeleton shows that, unlike most dinosaurs, this predator was partially aquatic. The build with the high sail on the back, short legs, long tail, and jaws that could help in fishing are characteristic of this particular predator that is different from any other dino on the basis of its form and habits.

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