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Spinosaurus News ~

Italy Ngala Offline
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#16
( This post was last modified: 07-10-2016, 03:21 AM by Ngala )

The holotype collected and described by E. Stromer (1915) was incomplete, however it remains the most complete discovered. These is the plate of the bones discovered in Egypt by Stromer:

*This image is copyright of its original author


*This image is copyright of its original author

This is a photo with skeleton reconstruction of the original bones, in Munich (Germany), sadly destroyed in the world war II:

*This image is copyright of its original author

Now there aren't a complete skeleton of Spinosaurus. In this photo there is a reconstruction of skeleton proposed by Ibrahim et al. (2014), with the all known Spinosaurus bones (including the holotype) colored in red:

*This image is copyright of its original author


According to Ibrahim et al. (2014): 
"Center-of-mass estimates for several theropods have been expressed as a percentage of femoral length measured anteriorly from the hip joint. The center of mass in a biped must be located over the middle one-third of the pes to generate a plausible mid-stance pose. In our flesh rendering of Spinosaurus, the center of body mass is positioned in front of both the hip and knee joints at a distance greater than femur length, suggesting that forelimb support was required during terrestrial locomotion. Spinosaurus appears to have been poorly adapted to bipedal terrestrial locomotion. The forward position of the center of mass within the ribcage may have enhanced balance during foot-propelled locomotion in water. These adaptations suggest that Spinosaurus was primarily a piscivore....." 

"The locomotor adaptations outlined above, however, mark a profound departure in form an function from early spinosaurids. Prominent among these are the reduced pelvic girdle; short hindlimb; short femur; and long, low, flat-bottomed pedal unguals, all of which can be verified in the second partial skeleton described by Stromer as “Spinosaurus B”. We note here that Spinosaurus must have been an obligate quadruped on land, the first discovered among theropod dinosaurs, given the usual horizontal sacroiliac joint and the anterior location of the estimated center of body mass."

"In smaller-bodied bipedal dinosaurs, short femoral proportions indicate increased stride length and enhanced speed. In Spinosaurus this is clearly not the case, given the short hindlimb. The femur in Spinosaurus has an unusually robust attachment for the caudofemoral musculature, which is anchored along nearly one-third of the femoral shaft, suggesting powerful posterior flexion of the hindlimb. The articulation at the knee joint for vertical limb support, in contrast, is reduced. The distal condyles of the femur are narrow, and the cnemial crest of the tibia is only moderately expanded. Together these features recall the shortened condition of the femur in early cetaceans and in extant semiaquatic mammals that use their hindlimbs in foot-propelled paddling." 

PS: I saw the anterior portion of skull exposed at the Natural History Museum in Milan, and it's really impressive, look like an enormous Mecistops sp./Crocodylus sp. Really exciting!
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United Kingdom Spalea Offline
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#17

@Ngala:

When I see the known bones colored in red in this picture (#16) I don't understand how we could imagine the spinosaurus being bipedial and not being an aktive swimmer. The beast seen in the movie Jurassik Park III is completely fantasized.
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India brotherbear Offline
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#18

Incredible homework you did there Ngala. Thums up. 
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United States Pckts Offline
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#19

I wonder if it moved similarly to a cross between a hippo and crocodile while in water?

What are the popular hypothesis' in regards to the fin's purpose?
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Italy Ngala Offline
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#20

@Pckts

According to Ibrahim et al. (2014):

"Reduction of the pelvic girdle and hindlimb and the concomitant enhancement of axial-powered locomotion are common among semiaquatic vertebrates. The flexibility of the tail and the form of the neural spines in Spinosaurus suggest tail-assisted swimming. Like extinct and extant semiaquatic reptiles, Spinosaurus used lateral undulation of the tail, in contrast to the vertical axial undulation adopted repeatedly by semiaquatic mammals.
The dorsal “sail” in Spinosaurus, the tallest axial structure documented among dinosaurs, has been argued to be a thermoregulatory surface, a muscle- or fat-lined hump , or a display structure. Stromer drew an analogy to the skin-covered neural spines of the crested chameleon, Trioceros cristatus (Fig. 4E). As in T. cristatus, the sail of Spinosaurus is centered over the trunk. The shape and positioning of the spine are also similar, and the base of the neural spine is expanded anteroposteriorly, with edges marked by ligament scars. In Trioceros, a tendon of multisegmental axial musculature attaches to the expanded base of the neural spine (Fig. 4E). The upper portion of the spine has sharp anterior and posterior edges, is marked by fine vertical striae, and is spaced away from adjacent spines, unlike the broader, contiguous, paddle-shaped dorsal spines of other spinosaurids. The striated surface, sharp edges, and dense, poorly vascularized internal bone of the spines suggest that they were wrapped snugly in skin and functioned as a display structure that would have remained visible while swimming."

*This image is copyright of its original author

Fig.4 (E): Dorsal vertebrae with tall neural spines and spinal tendons in a cleared and stained specimen of Trioceros (Chamaeleo) cristatus (FMNH 19886).
Abbreviations: ns, neural spine; sc, scapula; te, tendon of multisegment spinal muscle.
Photo credits: Ibrahim et al. (2014)
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United States Polar Offline
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#21

So Spino's sail wasn't used for thermoregulation, but as a display against other potential rival males? The more we know!
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United Kingdom Spalea Offline
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#22

Another implicit question about these descriptions of the Spinosaurus: How were the relationships between spinosaurus and big crocodiles like sarcosuchus ? If the spinosaurus was quadrupedial on land, the coexistence between them would have been hard. Spinosaurus quadrupedial is supposed to be less fast, less "movable" than bipedial... And, on the other hand, despite being an aktive swimmer, under the water among these formidable opponents... I don't know.

Rather to imagine interactions with big theropods, spinosaurus had certainly to share his environment with various species of crocodiles. And I have some difficulties to imagine him as a top predator. Unless the crocs with which he coexisted were not so great and huge.

I believe there are always numerous unknown facts !
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Italy Ngala Offline
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#23
( This post was last modified: 07-12-2016, 12:18 PM by Ngala )

(07-11-2016, 05:27 AM)Polar Wrote: So Spino's sail wasn't used for thermoregulation, but as a display against other potential rival males? The more we know!

Thermoregulation is one of the many hypothesis about the function of the sail, but there isn't a real evidence that contained abundant blood vessels, that it's many vascularized, as he said Ibrahim et al. (2014) in their work. They have compared with the sail of Trioceros cristatus, saying: 

"The striated surface, sharp edges, and dense, poorly vascularized internal bone of the spines suggest that they were wrapped snugly in skin and functioned as a display structure that would have remained visible while swimming."

(07-11-2016, 09:56 AM)Spalea Wrote: Another implicit question about these descriptions of the Spinosaurus: How were the relationships between spinosaurus and big crocodiles like sarcosuchus ? If the spinosaurus was quadrupedial on land, the coexistence between them would have been hard. Spinosaurus quadrupedial is supposed to be less fast, less "movable" than bipedial... And, on the other hand, despite being an aktive swimmer, under the water among these formidable opponents... I don't know.

Rather to imagine interactions with big theropods, spinosaurus had certainly to share his environment with various species of crocodiles. And I have some difficulties to imagine him as a top predator. Unless the crocs with which he coexisted were not so great and huge.

I believe there are always numerous unknown facts !

It's an interesting question, but i think there isn't a complete answer because we can't know exactly which relationship they could have, but we can only guess. Surely it must have been a sight see a meeting between these two giants.

Actually, Spinosaurus is a quadruped obligate according to Ibrahim et al. (2014), but there are no current evidence now that demonstrate quadrupeds in Theropoda suborder. All theropods is bipeds obligate, because they couldn't pronate their hands. The quadruped Spinosaurus it's calculated with a virtual reconstruction based on the center of mass estimate, but not to a fossil data. Spinosaurus ambulate in quadrupedal posture leaning alternately forelegs, particularly with the support of the knuckles. This hypothesis is to the detriment of the Spinosaurus quadruped, especially for a theropods like a spinosaurus with the estimated weight of 6-8 tons.

I think that as long as you don't find a complete skeleton, you will not know for sure many question marks.

I hope i have writed clearly.
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genao87 Offline
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#24

Dear god,  I hope for the love of god Spino is not quad but a bipedal like in Jurassic Park....
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United Kingdom Spalea Offline
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#25

@genao87:

about #24: I fear that the vision of the spino in the Jurassik Park 3 was a Horner's fantasy. He wanted to imagine a more powerful predator than the tyrex whom he imagined and depicted as a pure scavenger.
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United States tigerluver Offline
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#26
( This post was last modified: 08-23-2016, 12:40 AM by tigerluver )

@genao87, the investigation is still up in the air, leaning toward a quadruped, semiaquatic creature. Nonetheless, here is the critique of the Ibrahim et al. (2014) paper. The author's main point is correcting the scaling results in this body type:

*This image is copyright of its original author



Also, Ibrahim et al. (2014) may have incorrectly meshed two different species into one skeleton according to this paper. The same paper says Spinosaurus B (our semiaquatic quadruped from Ibrahim et al. (2014)) was not the same as Stromer's (1915) famous Spinosaurus specimen due to morphological differences in the long bones.

I'm not advocating either stance as I have no where near enough knowledge on the subject.
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genao87 Offline
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#27

(08-23-2016, 12:33 AM)tigerluver Wrote: @genao87, the investigation is still up in the air, leaning toward a quadruped, semiaquatic creature. Nonetheless, here is the critique of the Ibrahim et al. (2014) paper. The author's main point is correcting the scaling results in this body type:

*This image is copyright of its original author



Also, Ibrahim et al. (2014) may have incorrectly meshed two different species into one skeleton according to this paper. The same paper says Spinosaurus B (our semiaquatic quadruped from Ibrahim et al. (2014)) was not the same as Stromer's (1915) famous Spinosaurus specimen due to morphological differences in the long bones.

I'm not advocating either stance as I have no where near enough knowledge on the subject.


Now this is refreshing news...I hope this gives rise to the old Spino.  Good to know that a different specimen was used and it is still up in the air.
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United States tigerluver Offline
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#28

A Spinosaurus Series Regarding Posture
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United States tigerluver Offline
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#29

More on Spinosaurus

Here are some big points the author proposed:
  • "The long dorsal and hypertrophy of neural spines vertebrae are a strong indication to deny a vertical bipedal posture. The man himself is sub-optimal in the upright posture, as we recall our sore schena, then a fortiori it would Spinosaurus."
  • "This question is more complex than the discussed and controversial hypothesis if Spinosaurus was capable of quadrupedal gait... Ibrahim et al. (2014) conclude that, based on their reconstruction, Spinosaurus "on the mainland must have been an obligatory quadruped". However, the "evidence" in support of what they are only that the proportions of her body imply that he was physically unable to maintain this a bipedal posture "classical" typical of all theropodi. But this does not necessarily imply that took on a quadrupedal locomotion. As I wrote in a past post, there is a wide range of alternatives to not being able to maintain the classic posture: the tripod (like some mammals, such as kangaroos), the upright biped (like the man and the penguins), or posture horizontal, creeping with his belly on the ground (such as seals or penguins when they skate on pushing snow with your feet)."
  • "Based on what we already know, I exclude that Spinosaurus was capable of quadrupedal locomotion. Based on direct data, in fact, the only element of the forelimb bone preserved in Spinosaurus C, the phalanx of the hand, crying vigorously a clear answer: it is completely devoid of adaptations to support the weight on the hands."
  • "Furthermore, until we have elements of the pectoral girdle, it is totally unjustified to think that Spinosaurus was able to alternately move his arms in a quadrupedal locomotion."
  • "Based on these considerations, I think that the hypothesis of a creeping horizontal posture, to "seal" or, to remain in Theropoda, from "Penguin crawling on his belly", can be the key to understanding Spinosaurus out of the water. Namely, by extending the reasoning of D. Nash, I think that a horizontal posture animal compulsorily in contact with the substrate, Short hind limbs still capable of generating a strong thrust locomotor (the fourth trochanter of the femur is huge) both in water and on a muddy substrate, can be the solution of the anomalies proportional Spinosaurus, without having to resort to a quadrupedal posture that, until proven otherwise, has no morphological evidence in his favor. The shape of the rib cage of Spinosaurus, deductible from the coasts of present nell'olotipo Stromer, suggests a large ventral chest area, ideal for maximizing the distribution of body weight on the muddy substrate."
Yikes, we went from a biped to quadruped to Sealosaurus rex as the big Spinosaurus is continuously investigated.
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Italy Ngala Offline
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#30
( This post was last modified: 09-13-2016, 03:46 PM by Ngala )

Morphofunctional Analysis of the Quadrate of Spinosauridae (Dinosauria: Theropoda) and the Presence of Spinosaurus and a Second Spinosaurine Taxon in the Cenomanian of North Africa Hendrickx, Mateus & Buffetaut, 2016

*This image is copyright of its original author

Fig 11. Comparison of the snout of two specimens of Spinosaurus from the ‘Continental intercalaire’ of Northwestern Africa.
A–H, Fused maxillae and premaxillae of A–B, E, G, MSNM V4047 referred to Spinosaurus aegyptiacus by Dal Sasso et al. [21] (courtesy of Simone Maganuco); and C–D, F, H, MNHM SAM 124 referred to Spinosaurus maroccanus (nomen dubium) by Taquet and Russell [93] in A, C, lateral; B, D, anterior; E, F, ventral; and G, H, dorsal views. Abbreviation: mx9, ninth maxillary alveolus; pmx6, sixth premaxillary alveolus, pmx7, seventh premaxillary alveolus. Scale = 20 cm (A, E, G), 10 cm (C, F, H), 5 cm (B), 2 cm (D).


*This image is copyright of its original author

Fig 15. Jaw mechanics in the spinosaurid Spinosaurus.
A–D, Mandibular articulation; and F, G, skull in A, C, F–G, lateral; and B, D, anterior views; when A–B, F, the mouth is closed; and C–D, G, fully open, illustrating the lateral movement (in red) of the mandibular ramus for a 45° rotation of the lower jaw (courtesy of Jaime A. Headden); E, skeletal reconstruction of Spinosaurus aegyptiacus by Ibrahim et al. [22]) in swimming position in lateral view with a human (1.8 m) as a scale (modified from Ibrahim et al. [22]). This model is based on spinosaurid cranial and postcranial remains (colored in red) from the Albian-Cenomanian of Northern Africa which possibly belong to two spinosaurine taxa (see also Evers et al. [27]); H, reconstruction of a semi-aquatic Spinosaurus in fishing position (i.e., jaws wide open) in anterolateral view (courtesy of Jason Poole). Abbreviations: an, angular; ar, articular; d, dentary; ecc, ectocondyle; enc, entocondyle; j, jugal; m, maxilla; n, nasal; p, parietal; pm, premaxilla; po, postorbital; pt, pterygoid; ptf, pterygoid flange; q, quadrate; qf, quadrate foramen; qj, quadratojugal; retp, retroarticular process of the articular; sa, surangular; sq, squamosal.

Abstract:
"Six quadrate bones, of which two almost certainly come from the Kem Kem beds (Cenomanian, Upper Cretaceous) of south-eastern Morocco, are determined to be from juvenile and adult individuals of Spinosaurinae based on phylogenetic, geometric morphometric, and phylogenetic morphometric analyses. Their morphology indicates two morphotypes evidencing the presence of two spinosaurine taxa ascribed to Spinosaurus aegyptiacus and? Sigilmassasaurus brevicollis in the Cenomanian of North Africa, casting doubt on the accuracy of some recent skeletal reconstructions which may be based on elements from several distinct species. Morphofunctional analysis of the mandibular articulation of the quadrate has shown that the jaw mechanics was peculiar in Spinosauridae. In mature spinosaurids, the posterior parts of the two mandibular rami displaced laterally when the jaw was depressed due to a lateromedially oriented intercondylar sulcus of the quadrate. Such lateral movement of the mandibular ramus was possible due to a movable mandibular symphysis in spinosaurids, allowing the pharynx to be widened. Similar jaw mechanics also occur in some pterosaurs and living pelecanids which are both adapted to capture and swallow large prey items. Spinosauridae, which were engaged, at least partially, in a piscivorous lifestyle, were able to consume large fish and may have occasionally fed on other prey such as pterosaurs and juvenile dinosaurs."
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