Dinosaurs That Lived In The Water

Discovering the aquatic giants: dinosaurs of the deep

Imagine, if you will, a time before the existence of humans, when colossal reptiles were the undisputed masters of the Earth. Until recently, these giants were associated with a life where they ruled the lands. But recent discoveries suggest that some dinosaurs mastered the rivers. One very specific discovery of a fossil in Egypt was of spinosaurus aegyptiacus. Their era, known as the mesozoic era , was an age filled with a broad array of incredible life forms, each more awe-inspiring than the last. Let’s get to know a few of these beasts.

Which was the first-known aquatic dinosaur?

Our journey begins with a creature of remarkable stature and extraordinary capability—the Spinosaurus. Sporting a long, narrow snout packed with needle-sharp teeth and bearing a large, sail-like structure along its back, the Spinosaurus is an unforgettable sight. But it’s not just the unique appearance that makes this dinosaur remarkable. Unlike many of its kin, the Spinosaurus wasn’t just land-bound; it loved to swim! The fossils found in Egypt suggest that this riverine monster had a fin-like tail, much like how an eel has, though these two animals are not related at all. With its sturdy limbs, paddle-like feet and an agile tail, it would glide through the water with ease. Its conical teeth were perfectly adapted to grip onto slippery fish. The highly placed nostrils suggested that they would occasionally pop those out of water for a quick puff of air, much like how crocodiles do.

Where did spinosaurus live?

Spinosaurus are believed to have lived along the rivers in the Sahara. Perhaps the name Sahara will ring a bell, but not about rivers. Rather, you are probably picturing a desert and sand all around. Well, a hundred million years ago, the Sahara desert was lush and green, and there were river systems running through its heart. These were the camping spots for Spinosaurus. Who would miss a chance to hunt down loads of fish!

How did scientists figure out that spinosaurus were great swimmers?

Modern technology and simulation makes anything possible. Simulation is a program that runs by itself using predetermined algorithms. After reconstructing the fin-like tail of Spinosaurus, the researchers predicted how it would fare while swimming. The comparison was made with other aquatic reptiles, including crocodiles and newts.

The results showed that Spinosaurus was not a dinosaur that lived on land, but a beast of the waters. That burst the bubble of Jurassic Park III, which has the famous fight sequence between a T-Rex against a Spinosaurus in the opening sequence, on land.

The mystery that still remains is whether these dinosaurs chose the rivers for their hunting ground. Adaptation is not an overnight change, and what actually made them aquatic is a question yet to be answered.

What happened to these aquatic reptiles?

Other reptiles that were not dinosaurs dominated the seas. Some of them were the ichthyosaurs , mosasaurus , and the plesiosaurs . Even now, there is lore of a monster that looks like the plesiosaur living in Loch Ness, a water body on the River Ness of the Scottish Highlands.

However, the fascinating journey of these ancient sea creatures ended in tragedy. Approximately 65 million years ago, a cataclysmic event led to their demise. This event, known as the cretaceous–paleogene (K-Pg) extinction event , is believed to have been triggered by an asteroid impact that drastically altered the Earth’s climate. The change was so severe that it resulted in the extinction of about 75% of all species on Earth, including the dinosaurs.

Glossary

Mesozoic Era: A geological era that occurred between 252 and 66 million years ago, often called the Age of Reptiles because it is when dinosaurs dominated the land.

Spinosaurus: A genus of dinosaur known for its size and distinctive spinal sail that lived in what is now North Africa during the Cretaceous period.

Plesiosaurs: A group of extinct marine reptiles characterized by their long necks and paddle-like limbs, which lived during the Jurassic and Cretaceous periods.

Ichthyosaurs: A group of extinct marine reptiles resembling modern dolphins, which lived during the Mesozoic era.

Mosasaurus: An extinct group of aquatic reptiles that lived during the late Cretaceous period, known for their large size and powerful jaws.

Cretaceous–Paleogene (K-Pg) extinction event: The mass extinction event that occurred 65 million years ago, leading to the extinction of most dinosaur species, believed to be caused by an asteroid impact.

Conical Teeth: Teeth that are broad at the base and taper into a sharp point, like a cone. They are excellent for gripping and tearing flesh.