Science
Newly discovered ‘hell heron’ adds evidence in longstanding dinosaur debate
edition.cnn.com · Mar 26, 2026
Fossils found in Niger revealed a new dinosaur species called Spinosaurus mirabilis, living about 95 million years ago.
It is closely related to Spinosaurus aegyptiacus, a large fish-eating dinosaur discovered in 1915.
The study, published in Science, suggests Spinosaurus was a shoreline hunter rather than a deep-water predator.
According to Paul Sereno, it behaved like a giant “hell heron,” stalking fish in shallow rivers.
Its long snout, strong neck, and long legs were adapted for striking prey in shallow water, not open seas.
The large crest on its head likely served for display or signaling, not combat, helping confirm it as a distinct species.