Instant Genius The real story behind Jurassic Park’s most controversial dinosaur
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Dec 5, 2025 Join palaeontologists David Hone, a dinosaur biology researcher, and Mark P. Witton, a professional paleoartist, as they delve into the captivating world of spinosaurs. They discuss how fragmentary fossils challenge our understanding of these unique dinosaurs. Discover their distinctive features, from sailbacks to long snouts, and learn why many reconstructions are still hypotheses. The duo also offers insights into their feeding strategies, preferred aquatic habitats, and the ongoing quest for more complete fossils to unveil the mysteries surrounding these fascinating reptiles.
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Incomplete Fossils Are The Norm
- Fragmentary fossils like spinosaurs are actually more typical for ancient life than the few exceptionally complete dinosaur skeletons.
- Paleontology often reconstructs animals from scattered bits, not perfect museum specimens.
Treat Reconstructions As Hypotheses
- Build skeletal reconstructions from the best specimens and fill gaps using close relatives while noting uncertainties.
- Treat every full-body image as a hypothesis that can change with new data.
Sails Likely For Display
- Spinosaur sails and other exaggerated ornaments likely served mainly for display and communication rather than primary thermoregulation.
- Variation in sail shapes across species supports a signaling function.
