Short Wave Spinosaurus Makes Waves
Jun 11, 2020
Nizar Ibrahim, a National Geographic Explorer and paleontologist known for discovering the Spinosaurus, shares his thrilling journey of unearthing the first known swimming dinosaur. He reveals the challenges faced during their expedition in the Sahara Desert, including lost WWII fossils and a quest to understand Spinosaurus' unique anatomy. Ibrahim stresses the importance of African representation in paleontology, advocating for the preservation of Morocco's fossil heritage while reshaping our understanding of this aquatic predator's lifestyle.
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The Mysterious Fossils
- Nizar Ibrahim's journey began in 2008 with a box of fossils.
- These fossils, bought from a mustached man in Morocco, turned out to be from a Spinosaurus.
Connecting the Bones
- Nizar later saw similar fossils in an Italian museum.
- He realized the fossils were from the same Spinosaurus, leading him back to Morocco.
Finding the Mustached Man
- Nizar searched for the Moroccan fossil dealer, only remembering he had a mustache.
- He miraculously found the man, who agreed to lead him to the dig site.