Contributions to a Discussion of <i>Spinosaurus aegyptiacus</i> as a Capable Swimmer and Deep-Water Predator
The new findings on <i>Spinosaurus’</i> swim tail strongly suggest that <i>Spinosaurus</i> was a specialized deep-water predator. However, the tail must be seen in the context of the propelled body. The comparison of the flow characteristics of <i>Spinosaurus</i>...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2021-08-01
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| Series: | Life |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-1729/11/9/889 |
| _version_ | 1797518485231763456 |
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| author | Jan Gimsa Ulrike Gimsa |
| author_facet | Jan Gimsa Ulrike Gimsa |
| author_sort | Jan Gimsa |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The new findings on <i>Spinosaurus’</i> swim tail strongly suggest that <i>Spinosaurus</i> was a specialized deep-water predator. However, the tail must be seen in the context of the propelled body. The comparison of the flow characteristics of <i>Spinosaurus</i> with geometrically similar animals and their swimming abilities under water must take their Reynolds numbers into account and provide a common context for the properties of <i>Spinosaurus</i>’ tail and dorsal sail. Head shape adaptations such as the head crest reduced hydrodynamic disturbance and facilitated stealthy advance, especially when hunting without visual contact, when <i>Spinosaurus</i> could have used its rostral integumentary mechanoreceptors for prey detection. The muscular neck permitted ‘pivot’ feeding, where the prey’s escape abilities were overcome by rapid dorsoventral head movement, facilitated by crest-mediated lower friction. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T07:30:35Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-0faf4071af58431a84842019a90ae285 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2075-1729 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T07:30:35Z |
| publishDate | 2021-08-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Life |
| spelling | doaj.art-0faf4071af58431a84842019a90ae2852023-11-22T13:55:26ZengMDPI AGLife2075-17292021-08-0111988910.3390/life11090889Contributions to a Discussion of <i>Spinosaurus aegyptiacus</i> as a Capable Swimmer and Deep-Water PredatorJan Gimsa0Ulrike Gimsa1Department of Biophysics, University of Rostock, Gertruden Str. 11A, 18057 Rostock, GermanyResearch Institute for Farm Animal Biology (FBN), Institute of Behavioural Physiology, Wilhelm-Stahl-Allee 2, 18196 Dummerstorf, GermanyThe new findings on <i>Spinosaurus’</i> swim tail strongly suggest that <i>Spinosaurus</i> was a specialized deep-water predator. However, the tail must be seen in the context of the propelled body. The comparison of the flow characteristics of <i>Spinosaurus</i> with geometrically similar animals and their swimming abilities under water must take their Reynolds numbers into account and provide a common context for the properties of <i>Spinosaurus</i>’ tail and dorsal sail. Head shape adaptations such as the head crest reduced hydrodynamic disturbance and facilitated stealthy advance, especially when hunting without visual contact, when <i>Spinosaurus</i> could have used its rostral integumentary mechanoreceptors for prey detection. The muscular neck permitted ‘pivot’ feeding, where the prey’s escape abilities were overcome by rapid dorsoventral head movement, facilitated by crest-mediated lower friction.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-1729/11/9/889dorsal sailswim tailhead crestpivot feedinghydrodynamicsallometry |
| spellingShingle | Jan Gimsa Ulrike Gimsa Contributions to a Discussion of <i>Spinosaurus aegyptiacus</i> as a Capable Swimmer and Deep-Water Predator Life dorsal sail swim tail head crest pivot feeding hydrodynamics allometry |
| title | Contributions to a Discussion of <i>Spinosaurus aegyptiacus</i> as a Capable Swimmer and Deep-Water Predator |
| title_full | Contributions to a Discussion of <i>Spinosaurus aegyptiacus</i> as a Capable Swimmer and Deep-Water Predator |
| title_fullStr | Contributions to a Discussion of <i>Spinosaurus aegyptiacus</i> as a Capable Swimmer and Deep-Water Predator |
| title_full_unstemmed | Contributions to a Discussion of <i>Spinosaurus aegyptiacus</i> as a Capable Swimmer and Deep-Water Predator |
| title_short | Contributions to a Discussion of <i>Spinosaurus aegyptiacus</i> as a Capable Swimmer and Deep-Water Predator |
| title_sort | contributions to a discussion of i spinosaurus aegyptiacus i as a capable swimmer and deep water predator |
| topic | dorsal sail swim tail head crest pivot feeding hydrodynamics allometry |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-1729/11/9/889 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT jangimsa contributionstoadiscussionofispinosaurusaegyptiacusiasacapableswimmeranddeepwaterpredator AT ulrikegimsa contributionstoadiscussionofispinosaurusaegyptiacusiasacapableswimmeranddeepwaterpredator |