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Overheard at National Geographic

The Strange Tail of Spinosaurus

Overheard at National Geographic

National Geographic

Science, Society & Culture

4.510.1K Ratings

🗓️ 24 November 2020

⏱️ 28 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Spinosaurus has long been a superstar among dinosaur fans, with its massive alligator-like body and a huge “sail” of skin running the length of its spine. Though the fossil was unearthed a century ago, scientists hadn’t been able to say exactly what it looked like because only a few bones had ever been found. But new fossil discoveries by National Geographic explorer Nizar Ibrahim will forever change the way we think about Spinosaurus—and all other dinosaurs. For more information on this episode, visit nationalgeographic.com/overheard Want more? Michael Greshko has a lot more to say about Spinosaurus. Take a look at his article full of pictures and animations of what Spinosaurus might have looked like in the water.  Or learn about why dinosaurs went extinct in the first place. You can also make Spinoaurus and other prehistoric creatures appear in your living room by using Nat Geo's dinosaur instagram AR filter. Follow us at instagram.com/NatGeo.  Also explore: Check out our previous episode about the illegal trade of dinosaur fossils in the United States. And for paid subscribers: In our cover story, “Re-imagining dinosaurs,” you can read about how paleontologists are learning more than ever by using advanced techniques like giving CT scans to frozen crocodiles or using lasers to figure out what color Velociraptor eggs were. If you like what you hear and want to support more content like this, please consider a National Geographic subscription. Go to natgeo.com/exploremore to subscribe today.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0

So thanks to Watch Out for when we're actually out in the field and this is really serious.

0:09.1

It kind of feels really surreal and you think like you know this is like in a movie or something

0:13.7

but the problem is in a movie it's stuntman and fake snakes and you know a wind machine.

0:18.0

We will have real snakes and scorpions and if you fall you actually break your leg and

0:22.2

there's no stuntman so you really have to watch yourself.

0:25.1

I hope you all have good shoes.

0:27.4

This is a recording from early 2019.

0:30.8

Paley and Tyler just Nizar Ibrahim is about to take a few students and one of our riders

0:36.2

out into the field to investigate a new discovery and maybe even find a few fossils.

0:42.2

If you find a little piece of bone you know sure if it's bone one of the things you can

0:45.0

do and you will do that is stick your tongue on it.

0:49.9

So if it sticks.

0:51.4

It sticks.

0:52.7

Yeah.

0:53.7

The bones they hope to be licking once supported the hulking body of a dinosaur called Spinosaurus.

0:59.4

Alright, I confess I was that kid who was way into dinosaurs and I remember this guy from

1:05.0

a coloring book as the one with the big sail on his back kind of looked like a dragon.

1:10.4

As it turns out there's only one known skeleton of Spinosaurus in existence.

1:15.8

Nizar discovered the first half of that skeleton in 2013 but the rest of the dinosaur was

1:20.7

buried under tons of rock that is until now.

1:24.5

We hit the jackpot and we found bone after bone after bone.

1:31.1

You always heard someone say bone you know somewhere.

...

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