Baryonyx
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Baryonyx was discovered in England in 1983, and soon proved to be one of the best-known spinosaurids, known from a fairly complete specimen. It shows an "intermediate" morphology between that of a more normal theropod and the big weird Spinosaurus. It has a long, narrow snout with conical teeth. Like other spinosaurs, it has a notch in the upper jaw and a corresponding rise in the lower, with the front expanded into a rosette. It also has large hook-like hand claws, legs the size of most other theropods', and no sail on the back. The distinctive snout morphology and hooklike claws are well-suited for catching fish, and additional fossil evidence comes in the form of fish scales in the gut region. Fish wasn't the only component in its diet, though - bits of bone from a young iguanodont were also found in its stomach region. An inhabitant of wet lowlands, Baryonyx is a good wader, though not as adept at swimming as Spinosaurus. Barbarossa, our Baryonyx, is the youngest of our spinosaurs, and lives with the rest of them in the Deadly Shores exhibit. He is a bit of a troll, and often bugs the other two spinosaurs. |
Scientific name Location Time Length Weight Diet |