Spinosaurus Fossils Reveal New Predator In Niger's Sahara Desert

Last Updated:February 20, 2026, 15:31 IST

Paul Sereno, a lead researcher from the University of Chicago, said the crest was key to the dinosaur’s social life, helping attract mates and defend feeding areas.

Deep in the sun-baked Sahara, where the shifting sands of Niger dominate, paleontologists have uncovered a remarkable discovery reshaping our understanding of the Cretaceous Period: the remains of a powerful new predator, a second species of Spinosaurus, which once prowled Africa’s ancient waterways around 95 million years ago.

The discovery offers a vivid glimpse into a long-lost world, where giant, sail-backed reptiles dominated riverbanks as apex predators in a lush, forested ecosystem that no longer exists.

The reptile has been named Spinosaurus mirabilis, a title that translates to “astonishing spine lizard." The nickname directly references the dinosaur’s most striking feature: a large, blade-like bony crest atop its skull. Measuring roughly 20 inches in height, the crest curves like a scimitar, distinguishing it from its well-known relative, Spinosaurus aegyptiacus, Science reported.

While the latter was first documented in 1915 using fossils from Egypt, S. mirabilis boasts a more elongated snout and longer hind limbs, suggesting a slightly different physical profile as it navigated the inland rivers of prehistoric Niger.

Hell Heron

At about 12 metres long and weighing up to 7 tonnes, this predator was a true giant, comparable in size to Tyrannosaurus and Giganotosaurus. Yet its hunting style was unique. Scientists have nicknamed it the “hell heron" because it would wade into shallow waters to catch prey.

Its nostrils sat farther back on its skull than in most dinosaurs, letting it dip its snout underwater to hunt fish while still breathing. Coupled with interlocking conical teeth, this setup acted like a natural “fish trap," ideal for snaring slippery coelacanths.

Although S. mirabilis had a fearsome look, its solid bone crest was probably not used as a weapon. The structure was relatively delicate and likely covered in a keratin layer, leading scientists to think it functioned as a visual signal. It may have been brightly colored to attract mates or intimidate rivals.

Paul Sereno, a lead researcher from the University of Chicago, suggested the crest played a key role in the dinosaur’s social life, saying, “It’s about love and life—attracting a mate, defending your hot feeding shallows. What else could be more important?"

Challenging Aquatic Theory

For years, the scientific community has debated whether Spinosaurus was a fully aquatic pursuit predator that swam in the open ocean. However, the discovery of S. mirabilis hundreds of kilometres away from any ancient coastline suggests a different story.

Discovering these fossils so far inland suggests that these dinosaurs were semi-aquatic waders, not deep-water swimmers. Sereno called the discovery “the coup de grâce for the aquatic hypothesis," confirming that the animal lived in the shallow waters of inland river systems.

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