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Suchomimus
was a member of a group of theropod dinosaurs known as
the spinosaurids. This group included the large carnivores
Spinosaurus and Baryonyx, among others, and thrived in prehistoric
North Africa and Europe. Besides their large bodies, powerful teeth,
long skulls, and thumb claws, a telltale sign of any spinosaurid
were its back spines. These spines are very obvious in Suchomimus.
This
photograph shows how these spines, which reach over a foot tall on
parts of the spine, line up on Suchomimus' back. Likely these spines
were used to support a sail on the back of the spinosaurids.
The
one on Suchomimus has been reconstructed at about three feet tall.
But, recent research by Western Illinois University paleontologist
Dr. Jack Bowman Bailey suggests that these spines are more like
those in modern bison. Bison spines are used to support a large
hump. Therefore, Baily reconstructs a hump on the back of all
spinosaurids, including Suchomimus. This idea has yet to gain much
steam in paleontology circles, but is considered a very valid
hypothesis.
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