Scientists believe that this aquatic dinosaur was the largest predator to ever roam the planet. | National Geographic

A newfound fossil tail is changing what we know about Spinosaurus—and stretching our understanding of how and where dinosaurs lived. For more iconic storytelling like this, subscribe to National Geographic: https://on.natgeo.com/3aJdDvL | National Geographic

Could Spinosaurus swim? A new fossil with a scimitar-like head crest provides new evidence on the unsettled question. While other spinosaurids had head crests, the newly discovered Spinosaurus mirabilis has a more dramatic protrusion that may have served as a signaling function for potential mates or rivals. It also had interlocking, cone-shaped teeth, like those seen in modern crocodiles and ancient aquatic reptiles used to snag fish. This “fish trap” is just one of several traits that have fue