Troodon Posted August 16, 2018 Share Posted August 16, 2018 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 15 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fossilized6s Posted August 16, 2018 Share Posted August 16, 2018 Interesting. Thanks for sharing this. ~Charlie~ "There are those that look at things the way they are, and ask why.....i dream of things that never were, and ask why not?" ~RFK ->Get your Mosasaur print ->How to spot a fake Trilobite ->How to identify a CONCRETION from a DINOSAUR EGG Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heteromorph Posted August 16, 2018 Share Posted August 16, 2018 Thanks! This is pretty big news. Might need to be revising a lot of books and online lectures soon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Troodon Posted August 16, 2018 Author Share Posted August 16, 2018 7 minutes ago, Heteromorph said: Thanks! This is pretty big news. Might need to be revising a lot of books and online lectures soon. It is and it continues to cast another shadow on Nizar Ibrahim/Paul Sereno's 2014 paper. Will be interesting to see if they come back and argue the findings 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sseth Posted August 16, 2018 Share Posted August 16, 2018 That is the problem when you write a paper based on a composite skeleton. Many of us have been arguing with Ibrahim for several years over his dimensions based on other material that exists. Fascinating topic. 2 _____________________________________ Seth www.fossilshack.com www.americanfossil.com www.fishdig.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LordTrilobite Posted August 16, 2018 Share Posted August 16, 2018 Quite interesting. Maybe its back to stork-like feeding behaviour for Spinosaurus. Both the neck and head would fit that pretty well. Olof Moleman AKA Lord Trilobite Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Troodon Posted August 16, 2018 Author Share Posted August 16, 2018 7 minutes ago, LordTrilobite said: Quite interesting. Maybe its back to stork-like feeding behaviour for Spinosaurus. Both the neck and head would fit that pretty well. Yes and it had long arms with huge claws perfect for grasping fish. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LordTrilobite Posted August 16, 2018 Share Posted August 16, 2018 As far as I know no complete arms have been found. So I don't think we can say much about the proportions. Olof Moleman AKA Lord Trilobite Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Troodon Posted August 16, 2018 Author Share Posted August 16, 2018 True no associated elements but the reconstruction gives us some idea of what they looked like. The large claws were there for a reason Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Troodon Posted August 17, 2018 Author Share Posted August 17, 2018 Comments from Ibrahim and National Geographic who I believe funded the original study. Trying to put their spin on an embarrassment. Not sure but I dont believe the 2014 paper was ever put through a peer review. https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/2018/08/news-spinosaurus-dinosaurs-buoyancy-swimming-fossils/ @sseth @LordTrilobite @Heteromorph @fossilized6s 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Miocene_Mason Posted August 17, 2018 Share Posted August 17, 2018 Now there’s a jolt. Did always think it was a weird thought, that body swimming. Glad they cleared it up. “...whilst this planet has gone cycling on according to the fixed law of gravity, from so simple a beginning endless forms most beautiful and most wonderful have been and are being evolved.” ~ Charles Darwin Happy hunting, Mason Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Troodon Posted August 17, 2018 Author Share Posted August 17, 2018 Tom Holt on twitter ( one of the leading Paleontologist on theropods) "In fact, pretty much every theropod paleontologist has some issues with it, even before this new paper came out" 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Troodon Posted August 18, 2018 Author Share Posted August 18, 2018 J. Knuppe Twitter "New confirmed swimming style for Spinosaurus! ". 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Troodon Posted August 23, 2018 Author Share Posted August 23, 2018 A blog with a recap of the most recent paper https://blog.everythingdinosaur.co.uk/blog/_archives/2018/08/22/a-challenge-to-the-aquatic-spinosaurus-theory.html 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Troodon Posted August 24, 2018 Author Share Posted August 24, 2018 Artwork by Gaffa Mondo 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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