Spinosaurus is a large piscivorous dinosaur that lived in North Africa during the Cretaceous, famous for its bizarre features. It is represented by one species: Spinosaurus aegyptiacus.
Spinosaurus was added to Prehistoric Kingdom in Update 9.
In-Game[]
Description[]
Spinosaurus is a truly one of a kind theropod. Its bizarre proportions, unusual anatomy, and spectacular sails make this dinosaur stand out in a way unlike any other.
Prehistoric Kingdom's Spinosaurus aegyptiacus is a large and slow moving animal; it usually drags the end of its tail across the ground on land, only holding it aloft when in a hurry, and swims at a deliberate pace across the water's surface. On land it exclusively walks bipedally, but it will occasionally use its large arms to offer some small support at times. When in the water Spinosaurus uses both its tail and its webbed feet to paddle, keeping its sail above the waterline.
Two model variants of Spinosaurus can be created in-game: A crocodilian inspired model and a smooth scaled model. Both model types have 2 skins each, lack tooth coverings, and bear a sail with a smoothened M shape on their backs.
Management[]
To be announced.
In-Game Trivia[]
āWhile Tyrannosaurus is widely considered the largest predatory dinosaur in terms of sheer bulk, it is not the longest of them. In that competition, it is Spinosaurus who reigns supreme.ā
āOf course, with its stubby legs and stout proportions, Spinosaurus is not suited to rule terrestrial ecosystems as Tyrannosaurus does. Instead, it presides over the aquatic realm. Its dense bones and paddle-like tail provide stability in the water while its long arms and crocodile-like jaws are perfect for snagging and hauling gigantic fish to shore.ā
āMuch of the bizarre body of Spinosaurus remained a mystery for many years! The original specimen was fragmentary and was tragically destroyed during the bombing of Munich during World War II. Fortunately, recent discoveries of more complete specimens have not only brought its peculiarities to light but also provided the genetic material needed to perform the miracle of recreating it here in the park.ā
āThe youngsters on our keeper staff tell me that online dinosaur forums are rife with arguments about which of the two titans would win in a fight: The mighty T. rex or the magnificent Spinosaurus? I'd never really thought about it, the two would never have met during the Cretaceous. But now, after seeing them in the fleshā¦ hmmā¦ I wonderā¦ā
Paleontology[]
Spinosaurus is a large megalosauroid theropod dinosaur and is the type genus of the Spinosauridae family. This dinosaur is one of the most popular theropod dinosaurs to ever exist thanks to its ever increasing number of bizarre traits and its at times alarming size, albeit its gracile build makes it much lighter than what first impressions may imply. While specimens of Spinosaurus can reach 16 meters in length, they usually seem to average at about 12 to 13 meters although the material is often quite fragmentary.
Spinosaurus has one of the most fascinating and complex histories in palaeontology. The first partial skeleton of Spinosaurus was discovered in 1912 by Richard Markgraf in western Egypt and was later described by German paleontologist Ernst Stromer. Stromer discovered many other cretaceous African animals, including sauropods, crocodyliformes and large theropods such as Bahariasaurus and Carcharodontosaurus. Sadly the Spinosaurus holotype and many of Stromer's findings were lost during World War II when the museum in Munich they were housed in was destroyed during an Allied bombing raid. After that, the Egyptian dinosaur faded into obscurity, with only photos of the fossils and early reconstructions available. It was only in the 1990s that interest was sparked again when further fossils were found during a productive series of expeditions throughout North Africa. While there is only one species of Spinosaurus currently considered valid, that being S. aegyptiacus, some scientists speculate that other species in the genus may exist in places like South America and other parts of Africa. Whether these hypothesis are correct or not will be up for future research to discern.
Spinosaurus has gone thorough multiple revisions through multiple discoveries within recent years, and debates surrounding this animal's lifestyle, habits, taxonomy, and appearance are still ongoing. Most agree that Spinosaurus was primarily a fish eater, as demonstrated by isotope values in its teeth and general anatomical specializations such as its long snout and conical dentition. These same isotopes also seem to show that it was not opposed to snagging some terrestrial animals to munch on from time to time, but it is unknown how exactly these meals were obtained. Spinosaurus also seems to have been quite fond of water, which can be ascertained due to the abundance of Spinosaurus teeth in wet areas where teeth from more terrestrial theropods like Carcharodontosaurus are more scarce. How Spinosaurus interacted with the water it seems to rely on is hotly debated, although it can be assumed that it was able to navigate its wet environment to some degree. How this animal moved on land is another debate, with some arguing that Spinosaurus was utterly inept in terrestrial settings, while others argue that it was much more inclined to spend time high and dry. It is agreed that Spinosaurus was in all likelihood a bipedal animal when on land, with its forelimbs never acting in a locomotory capacity.
Spinosaurus was named by Ernst Stromer in 1915 and its name means "spine lizard" in reference to its long neural spines growing on its back.
Trivia[]
- Spinosaurus was one of the first African animals added to Prehistoric Kingdom, alongside Ouranosaurus and Carcharodontosaurus.
- Spinosaurus was the first Semiaquatic animal to be added to Prehistoric Kingdom.
- One of Nigel's Comments on Spinosaurus references the long-running online debate of whether Spinosaurus or Tyrannosaurus would win in a fight, with Nigel taking no stance on the matter.
- The debate was originally sparked by Jurassic Park 3
- All of Spinosaurus's skins are named after Egyptian Deities:
- Sobek is named after the crocodile-eaded Lord of Crocodiles, a deity often associated with protection and the power of Pharos. This skin's crocodilian inspirations lends itself to its namesake quite well.
- Ammit is named after the Crocodile Headed Lion/Hippo amalgam goddess; the "Devourer of The Dead", a key player in the Judgement of The Dead, consuming those who were unworthy.
- Taweret is named after the Crocodile-Tailed Hippo Goddess who was a figure of protection and fertility. The skin's more subtle appearance and colour palate resemble the deity it is named for.
- Hapi is named after the God of the annual flooding of the Nile River, often hailed as "The Lord of The Fish and Birds of the Marshes".
Gallery[]
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