In the Sahara desert, in the country of Niger, near the city of Tesker, a team of scientists has discovered a new species of dinosaur which lived in the area 95 million years ago. The new species, named Spinosaurus mirabilis, measures 12 m long, has a long snout adapted for catching fish, and features a spectacular curved crest on its head which is the largest ever found on a predatory dinosaur.

The expedition has been led by American paleontologist Paul Sereno from the University of Chicago who explains that the crest was likely ornamental, similar to features seen in some modern birds, rather than a weapon; this could later be found not to be the case, as we, humans, often interpret some ancient findings through our modern eyes. The dinosaur also had interlocking teeth, ideal for gripping slippery fish, showing its adaptation to life near water. This rare finding was cause for great joy within the team. Using modern tools including solar-powered laptops, members of the team were able to digitally assemble the images of the bones right in the middle of the Sahara.

The team will be returning to Niger for further work. Sereno and his team are helping to establish a Heritage Center at the University of Niamey and planning 2 museums, one in the capital and the other in Agadez to showcase the country’s rich paleontological history.

This discovery sheds a light on the fact that the Niger’s desert is a major dinosaur fossil site, with many more discoveries to be made. There is a great need to train Nigerien and African archaeologists, paleontologists, and museum specialists as the field is overall a virgin field in Africa. Africans need to learn, so that they can tell their own history!

Check out Sci News, Discover Magazine, UChicago News, as well as the interview in RFI for more.