Re: What did Spinosaurus eat? New species of Lepidotes found

[Tim Williams <tijawi@gmail.com>]

On Sat, Feb 19, 2011 at 5:17 AM, Emily Vickers <emilyvvickers@yahoo.com> wrote:

> A new species of Lepidotes from Morocco is described in the latest issue of
> Palaeontologia Electronica. Lepidotes pankowskii, found in the Cenomanian Kem
> Kem beds of Morocco, reached an estimated length of 1.6 meters. That would be 
> a
> nice size for Spinosaurus to lunch on.


You should have seen the one that got away.

The evidence that spinosaurids were semi-aquatic now seems pretty
compelling, especially in light of isotopic data.  While on the topic
of semi-aquatic theropods, there is also Andrea Cau's hypothesis that
the Madagascan abelisaurid _Majungasaurus_ was also semi-aquatic.  The
topic was thrashed out in Darren Naish's blog a few years ago.

http://scienceblogs.com/tetrapodzoology/2009/06/aquatic_majungasaurus_or_not.php

Note in particular Andrea's comments in support (e.g., #17) and
Darren's comment #29, in which he concedes that relatively minor
osteological changes in certain non-avian theropod taxa might indicate
semi-aquatic habits.

Nevertheless, IMHO it is curious that it was not until the evolution
of Avialae that dinosaurs became specialized for fully aquatic habits.
 Some (like the spinosaurids) flirted; but none 'took the plunge'.


Cheers

Tim