Skeleton of giant water-living Dinosaur unveiled in Morocco

The skeleton of a giant water-living Dinosaur was unveiled in Morocco. This 50-foot Dinosaur belonged to Spinosaurus aegyptiacus group and was the biggest carnivorous dinosaur. The findings were published in the journal Science on 11 September 2014.

The skeleton was brought at the National Geographic Society in Washington, D.C. where scientists studied the creature.  It is after 70 years that a new skeleton of Spinosaurus aegyptiacus was found in Morocco.

German palaeontologist Ernst Stromer first discovered Spinosaurus bones in Egypt in 1912. The bones went back to Europe. But in 1944, most of the bones were destroyed in the bombing of Munich in World War II.

Highlights of the study
• The Dinosaur was far more aquatic than originally thought.
• Spinosaurus had a long neck, strong clawed forearms, powerful jaws and the dense bones of a penguin.
• It propelled itself in water with flat feet that were probably webbed.
• The beast sported a spiny sail on its back that was 7 feet tall when it lived in North Africa some 95 million years ago.
• This new skeleton showed clear evidence of river and lake living with hip bones like a whale’s, dense bones that allowed it to dive for food, and nostrils positioned high on the skull allowing it to submerge.
• It could walk on land, but on land it moved more awkwardly than in water.
• It lumbered on its two hind feet because its powerful forelegs with sharp curved claws were designed more for killing than walking.