Paleontology

Could Spinosaurus swim? The fierce dinosaur ignites debate

An upcoming Jurassic World cameo fuels ongoing controversy about this utterly strange dinosaur

An illustration of a Spinosaurus swimming in the water next to Cretaceous-era fish

The debate roils on about a swimming Spinosaurus, as illustrated here, even as the fierce dinosaur gets back in the spotlight thanks to the latest Jurassic World movie.

Davide Bonadonna

By Carolyn Gramling

Scene: A small patrol boat cruises through the water, just offshore of an island somewhere in the Caribbean. Cue the pounding drums, movie-trailer speak for danger approaching.

Enter: Spinosaurus. Three large spiny sails slice through the cerulean sea and begin to circle the boat.