A dinosaur footprint from a Tyrannosaurus rex was found in Hawaii. Photo courtesy of Greg Willis. CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
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The skull found in northern Africa was estimated to be 95 million years old.
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By Hayden Randolph
TAMPA, Fla. — A new species of Spinosaurus was discovered in the Sahara Desert last month, according to a study published in the Journal of Science.
The study said the skull found in North Africa has been named Spinosaurus mirabilis. It is estimated that the remains are estimated to be 95 million years old. Scientists believe the species hunted fish in shallow water.
Stephanie Baumgart is a lecturer at the University of Florida’s College of Medicine. She is one of the authors of the paper published in the Journal of Science.
“Spinosaurus mirabilis is the second species of Spinosaurus; the first species, Spinosaurus aegyptiacus, was first discovered over 100 years ago,” Baumgart said. “Having an additional species gives us more information regarding Spinosaurus as a whole and what sort of variation we can begin to expect from this group of dinosaurs.”
The discovery of a new species is about luck and knowing what you are looking at, Baumgart said.
“Studying geologic maps to pick out exposed rock of the age you are interested in and reading the scientific literature to see if other discoveries were made in the area helps prioritize areas of potential interest,” Baumgart said, “but you still have to travel to the site and walk around, eyes glued to the ground looking for bits of bone sticking up.”
Baumgart said new dinosaur species are discovered “all the time.” More than 40 species were discovered in just 2025.
“Spinosaurus mirabilis was first discovered in 2019 during a prospecting trip, then we went back in 2022 to collect the specimen and spent the next few years studying it, finally publishing it in 2026,” Baumgart said.
New analytical techniques, such as CT scanning and photogrammetry, allow researchers to make 3D models of the bones available to others in their field, Baumgart said. This is done through MorphoSource, “a publicly accessible 3D data repository,” according to its website.
“This new species, in addition to the several other species named from past expeditions to Niger, also increases the profile of Niger as a valuable location for paleontological research and discoveries,”
Baumgart said.
Baumgart said the value of paleontological research being done in Niger highlights the need for a national museum. This is being developed by the NigerHeritage group, “a Chicago-based, international effort dedicated to the preservation, study and public appreciation of the world-class paleontological, archaeological and cultural heritage of the Republic of Niger,” according to its website.
Spinosaurus also had a starring role in Jurassic Park III, according to the Natural History Museum. The movie grossed $368.7 million worldwide with a $98 million budget, according to IMDb.
Kaitlyn Lee, a junior psychology major at the University of Tampa, said her two brothers were interested in dinosaurs as children.
“I definitely think we should keep doing as much research as possible,” Lee said.
Anya Dembowski, a junior management major at the University of Tampa, said dinosaurs freaked her out as a child.
“Obviously, when we were learning about it in school, I was like ‘cool dinosaurs,’” Dembowski said.
Baumgart said the discovery of Spinosaurus mirabilis contributes to paleontological knowledge.
“This new species of Spinosaurus helps build a better, more complete picture of what life in Late Cretaceous Africa looked like,” Baumgart said.
View Spinosaurus mirabilis bones here.