Spinosaurus was Largest Carnivorous Dinosaur

Scientists have unveiled the fossil remains of what they are calling the largest meat-eating dinosaur that ever lived. The Spinosaurus aegyptiacus was a 50-foot long monster that was a cross between a giant duck and a crocodile. Apparently, the dino lived most of its life in water, which is a dinosaur-first, according to scientists.

CBS News reports that scientists have known about Spinosaurus since the early 20th century, however, much of the then known fossils were destroyed in World War II. But thanks to this new discovery in Morocco, scientists now have their best look yet at what this aquatic predator was like.

With a long neck and powerful jaws and arms, Spinosaurus was made to glide through water. Scientists think it may have had webbed feet, like a duck, which allowed it to propel itself as it swam. The water dino also had a 7 foot tall spiny fin on its back.

One research at the University of Chicago, Nizar Ibrahim, said working with Spinosaur's fossils is like "working on an extraterrestrial or an alien. It's so different than anything else around."

Previous to the discovery of this latest Spinosaurus skeleton, scientists believed that dinosaurs just lived on land. Yet they now believe that, based on Spinosaur's whale-like hips and higher positioned nostrils, it could not only swim, it could submerge as well. Whale bones are apparently more dense, which allows them to dive deep in water with greater ease.

Spinosaurus is thought to have layed eggs on land but hunted for food in water. Based on its bones, scientists feel that moving about on land was probably harder for Spinosaurus than when in water. According to Paul Sereno of the University of Chicago, the giant dino probably walked on its hind legs when on land, since its arms were meant more for attacking than walking.

The first Spinosaur fossils were unearthed in Egypt back in 1912. A German paleontologist named Ernst Stromer made the discovery and the bones were sent to Munich where they were damaged in the second World War.

But Luckily Ibrahim was able to discover this new skeleton back in 2008 in Morocco, otherwise Spinosaurus might have been forgotten forever.

Spinosaurus was approximately "9 feet longer" than a Tyranosaurus Rex, and probably fed on car-sized sea creatures, reports CBS. Back then, the ocean was also filled with ancient sharks and crocodiles that would have made for an interesting matchup for Spinosaurus if they ever crossed paths. And you know they did.