Spinosaurus mirabilis / Stomatosuchus inermis

This diorama depicts a scene inspired by the riverine and deltaic ecosystems of Late Cretaceous North Africa, featuring Spinosaurus mirabilis and Stomatosuchus inermis, two of the most unusual reptiles associated with the Cenomanian deposits of Egypt. The composition recreates a warm, humid environment dominated by channels, muddy banks, sandbars and shallow waters, where large semi-aquatic predators shared the landscape with fishes, turtles, crocodyliforms and other vertebrates characteristic of the famous Bahariya Formation. Rather than being a purely fictional association, this pairing is palaeobiologically coherent within the broader framework of Cenomanian African faunas.

Spinosaurus mirabilis is a spinosaurid species described in 2026 by Paul Sereno and colleagues from Early–Middle Cenomanian fossils from Niger, approximately 95 million years old. It represents the first new valid species of Spinosaurus described in more than a century and differs from Spinosaurus aegyptiacus in several diagnostic features, including an enormous scimitar-shaped cranial crest positioned over the nasal and prefrontal region.

It is estimated to have reached approximately 12–13 metres in length and between 5 and 7 tonnes in body mass. Its elongated, narrow skull, posteriorly positioned nostrils and conical, unserrated teeth indicate a clear adaptation for capturing fish. The interlocking anterior teeth would have functioned as an effective trap for holding slippery aquatic prey.

Unlike the more aquatic interpretations proposed for some other spinosaurids, Spinosaurus mirabilis is interpreted as a riverbank predator and wading hunter adapted to inland fluvial ecosystems far from the coast. It probably hunted mainly in shallow water, perhaps in a manner somewhat comparable to a “giant heron”, moving through rivers and flooded areas in search of large fish.

Stomatosuchus inermis, by contrast, was a large crocodyliform with an extraordinary morphology, known for its long, broad and flattened skull, highly unusual jaws and anatomy that clearly distinguished it from other contemporary crocodyliforms. Its name may be interpreted as referring to a “crocodile mouth”, although its actual appearance would have been far more unusual than that of a modern crocodile. It has traditionally been interpreted as a large semi-aquatic reptile associated with rivers, lagoons and slow-moving waters, with a snout adapted for capturing aquatic prey or small animals in marginal environments. The extremely low and expanded shape of the skull suggests a feeding strategy different from that of more robust crocodyliforms, possibly specialised for aquatic organisms, fishes or small vertebrates captured near the surface or bottom.

From a palaeoecological perspective, the interaction between Spinosaurus mirabilis and Stomatosuchus inermis is particularly compelling, as both would have occupied water-dominated environments while probably exploiting partially different ecological niches. Spinosaurus appears as the larger and more mobile vertebrate predator, capable of moving between terrestrial and aquatic settings, whereas Stomatosuchus is interpreted as being more closely associated with flooded areas, backwaters and quiet channels. This ecological distinction allows for a visually rich and scientifically suggestive scene in which both animals may be shown in territorial tension, mutual observation or simply coexisting within the same riverbank environment.

The setting of the diorama evokes a lush African Cenomanian ecosystem, with vegetation adapted to wet habitats, soft soils, muddy banks, exposed roots, driftwood and the warm atmosphere of a large tropical river system. In this context, the simultaneous presence of a giant spinosaurid and an exceptionally broad-snouted crocodyliform reinforces the idea that Bahariya ecosystems were characterised by a remarkable diversity of large predators specialised for aquatic or semi-aquatic lifestyles.

Approximate Spinosaurus Dimensions

1:57 Scale — Complete Model
Length: 161 mm
Height: 70 mm
Width: 86 mm
Snout-to-tail length: 210 mm

1:35 Scale — Complete Model
Length: 264 mm
Height: 114 mm
Width: 86 mm
Snout-to-tail length: 343 mm