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Hi everyone I found on internet this object today which should be a complete finger of a Spinosaurus Aegyptiacus. I would like to know from your experience and from your opinion if it is natural as they say, or reconstructed, especially the final hook. Dimensions: 32×20×52cm Origin: Morocco. Keme Kem bed Thank you.

Hi all, new member here. While searching for a gift for my mentors, who collect dinosaur fossils, I came across this (attached) Spinosaurus aegyptiacus tooth. Unfortunately, the vendor's website only has the two pictures attached. They're claiming it is 2-1/2" . Found at the "Kem Kem Region Of Morocco". I would love to hear your thoughts on whether this is real, or worth it at all. Thank you! Fabio

A recent interpretation of the fossil remains Spinosaurus aegyptiacus proposed that it was specially adapted for a semi-aquatic mode of life—a first for any predatory dinosaur. To test some aspects of this suggestion this study developed a three-dimensional, digital model of the animal that incorporates regional density variations, lungs and air sacs, and the flotation potential of the model was investigated using specially written software. It was found that Spinosaurus would have been able to float with its head clear of the water surface, although it was laterally unstable and would tend to roll onto its side. The conclusion is that Spinosaurus was not highly specialized for a semi-aquatic mode of life. Furthermore, the floating characteristics of the Spinosaurus model were similar to those of models of other predatory dinosaurs, indicating that there was nothing special about the buoyant characteristics of this animal, and that other theropods could have successfully taken to water to the same degree as well. So Spinosaurus may have been specialized for a shoreline or shallow water mode of life, but would still have been a competent terrestrial animal. Interesting paper, very reputable and a big deal considering the source, The Royal Tyrrell Museum. Newspaper Article: Royal Tyrrell Research Blows Swimming Dinosaur out of the water https://calgaryherald.com/news/local-news/royal-tyrrell-research-blows-swimming-dinosaur-theory-out-of-the-water https://peerj.com/articles/5409/ Henderson DM. (2018) A buoyancy, balance and stability challenge to the hypothesis of a semi-aquatic Spinosaurus Stromer, 1915 (Dinosauria: Theropoda)PeerJ 6:e5409 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.5409