New dinosaur species unearthed in Sahara (PHOTOS/VIDEO)
Scientists have reported a new dinosaur species from Niger with a dramatic crest Read Full Article at RT.com
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Fossils from Niger has revealed a 95-million-year-old predator with a striking head crest
Scientists have identified a new species of Spinosaurus in the Sahara Desert in Niger. The fossils show a fish-eating predator with a dramatic scimitar-shaped crest that lived about 95 million years ago.
The discovery was detailed in the journal Science on Thursday and highlighted by the University of Chicago News. The 20-person group making the discovery was led by Paul Sereno, professor of organismal biology and anatomy at the university. It named the new dinosaur ‘Spinosaurus mirabilis’.
“This find was so sudden and amazing, it was really emotional for our team,” Sereno stated.
The professor led expeditions to Niger in 2019 and 2022, when the material for the report was collected.
The study states that “the new species is based on the dramatic extension and scimitar form of the cranial crest and other subtle features that differentiate it from its closest relative, Spinosaurus aegyptiacus.”
Now that the dust has settled I can finally talk about #Spinosaurus mirabilis for #FossilFriday. A spinosaurid that I am looking forward to incorporating into my thesis research. Art by @playerDNG. #spinosaurs #dinosaurs #paleontology pic.twitter.com/JjpGErcaAB
— Evan Johnson-Ransom (@EJR_Paleo_MSc) February 20, 2026
Sereno said the animal resembled a giant heron adapted for hunting in rivers, which inspired the nickname “hell heron.” Researchers compared the dinosaur’s crest to similar head features in modern birds. The study says the crest was covered by a hard outer layer made of keratin, the same material found in human fingernails.
