{"product_id":"suchomimus-tenerensis-8","title":"Suchomimus tenerensis","description":"\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSuchomimus tenerensis\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cem\u003e \u003c\/em\u003ewas a large spinosaurid theropod dinosaur from the Early Cretaceous of Africa, known from fossil remains recovered from the Elrhaz Formation in the Gadoufaoua region of the Ténéré Desert, Niger. Formally described in 1998 by Sereno and colleagues, this taxon represents one of the best-known spinosaurids from Gondwana and an important species for understanding the evolution of large, long-snouted theropods associated with fluvial ecosystems. Its name means “crocodile mimic”, referring to the elongated and low profile of its skull, while the specific epithet \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan\u003etenerensis\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e refers to the Ténéré Desert, where its fossils were discovered.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe fossil material of \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSuchomimus\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e includes a partial skull and a substantial portion of the postcranial skeleton, preserving elements of the jaws, vertebrae, ribs, shoulder girdle, forelimbs, pelvis and hind limbs. The original description identified it as a spinosaurid closely related to \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan\u003eBaryonyx\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, sharing a combination of an elongated skull, narrow jaws, conical teeth and a large manual claw on the first digit.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eIts discovery reinforced the interpretation of spinosaurids as a specialised theropod lineage with cranial adaptations distinct from those of more generalised large predators such as allosauroids and tyrannosauroids.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eFrom a morphometric perspective, \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSuchomimus tenerensis\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e was a large theropod, with the known specimen generally estimated to have reached approximately 10–11 metres in total body length. However, this individual may not have attained its maximum adult size.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eIts body was bipedal and elongated, with a relatively low skull, robust hind limbs, a long balancing tail and particularly powerful forelimbs. The forelimbs were more strongly developed than those of many other large theropods and bore enormous manual claws, especially on the thumb. These claws may have been used to capture, secure or manipulate prey.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThis combination of large body size, powerful arms and an elongated snout gave \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSuchomimus\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e a silhouette markedly different from that of other carnivorous dinosaurs from Cretaceous Africa.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe skull of \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSuchomimus\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e was long, narrow and low, with a rostrum broadly similar in proportion to that of certain long-snouted crocodilians, although it belonged to a completely different lineage of theropod dinosaurs.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe jaws contained numerous conical, slightly recurved teeth that were less laterally compressed than those of macropredatory theropods specialised for slicing flesh. This dentition, together with the expanded terminal portion of the snout and the elongated jaws, suggests a diet with a strong piscivorous component, enabling the animal to capture large fish and other aquatic or semi-aquatic prey.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eNevertheless, \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSuchomimus\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e should not be interpreted as exclusively piscivorous. Its large size, powerful forelimbs and functional dentition would also have allowed it to capture small or medium-sized terrestrial vertebrates, consume carrion and exploit a variety of resources along river margins.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eComparative studies of the teeth of \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSuchomimus\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e and \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSarcosuchus\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e from the same Elrhaz Formation have also suggested a degree of ecological proximity between these two large predators in water-associated environments.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe dorsal anatomy of \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSuchomimus\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e included vertebrae with elongated neural spines, forming a low sail or ridge along the back. This structure was much less extreme than that seen in \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSpinosaurus\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, but still sufficient to create a distinctive elevated profile.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eIt may have served in visual display, signalling, soft-tissue storage or support for a dorsal crest, although its precise function remains uncertain. Overall, \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSuchomimus\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e represents an intermediate body plan within Spinosauridae: anatomically closer in many respects to \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan\u003eBaryonyx\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e than to more highly specialised forms, while already displaying clear adaptations to riverine environments and aquatic prey.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSuchomimus tenerensis\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e inhabited the continental ecosystems of the Elrhaz Formation during the Aptian–Albian, approximately 120–112 million years ago. These environments included river systems, floodplains, channels and wetlands inhabited by an exceptionally diverse fauna.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eIt coexisted with herbivorous dinosaurs such as \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan\u003eOuranosaurus\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan\u003eLurdusaurus\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e and \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan\u003eNigersaurus\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, as well as large crocodyliforms such as \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSarcosuchus\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, large fishes, turtles and numerous other vertebrates.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWithin this ecosystem, \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSuchomimus\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e probably occupied the role of a large predator specialised in aquatic margins, combining the abilities of a terrestrial hunter with clear adaptations for capturing prey in fluvial environments.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eApproximate Suchomimus Replica Dimensions\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e1:57 Scale — Complete Model\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eLength: 97 mm\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eHeight: 71 mm\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWidth: 79 mm\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSnout-to-tail length: 175 mm\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e1:35 Scale — Complete Model\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eLength: 157 mm\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eHeight: 116 mm\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWidth: 129 mm\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSnout-to-tail length: 285 mm\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Remote Times","offers":[{"title":"1:57 \/ Sin imprimar","offer_id":54880148947212,"sku":"DC-1486-157-SINI","price":42.7,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true},{"title":"1:57 \/ Imprimado","offer_id":54880148979980,"sku":"DC-1486-157-IMPRI","price":49.7,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true},{"title":"1:57 \/ Pintado a mano","offer_id":54880149012748,"sku":"DC-1486-157-PINTA","price":165.9,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true},{"title":"1:35 \/ Sin imprimar","offer_id":54880149045516,"sku":"DC-1486-135-SINI","price":69.6,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true},{"title":"1:35 \/ Imprimado","offer_id":54880149078284,"sku":"DC-1486-135-IMPRI","price":79.6,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true},{"title":"1:35 \/ Pintado a mano","offer_id":54880149111052,"sku":"DC-1486-135-PINTA","price":207.0,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0672\/1106\/7660\/files\/Suchomimus_40.jpg?v=1784886409","url":"https:\/\/dinosauriacreatures.com\/en\/products\/suchomimus-tenerensis-8","provider":"Dinosauria Creatures","version":"1.0","type":"link"}