A striking Spinosaurus skull found in the Sahara Desert has been named a new species.

With a large sword-shaped crest on its head, Spinosaurus mirabilis would have been able to attract mates and compete with rivals.

Astonishing’ fossils discovered in Niger have been identified as a new species of Spinosaurus.

When a scientific expedition first encountered scimitar-shaped bones in the Sahara Desert, they weren’t sure what to make of them. Further research revealed that they belonged to a previously unknown species which has now been named Spinosaurus mirabilis.

A study published in the journal Scienceopens in a new window has reveals this 95-million-year-old dinosaur had a distinctive curved crest on top of its head. The scimitar-shaped bones would have been covered in a layer of keratin, similar to the casque of a cassowary, which would have made the crest even longer in life.

Along with a sail running along its back, the crest would have helped S. mirabilis to stand out in the ancient wetlands of north Africa. They might have been used to catch the attention of potential mates, or to scare rivals away from its territory.

Professor Paul Serenoopens in a new window, the lead author of the study, says that the “amazing” find gives an insight into the life of this fish-eating dinosaur.

“I envision Spinosaurus mirabilis as a kind of ‘hell heron’,” Paul says. “It would have had no problem wading on its sturdy legs into two meters of water but probably spent most of its time stalking shallower traps for the many large fish of the day.”