Another overinterpreted spinosaurid fossil

[Halichoeres]

A tibia from a lower Cretaceous Brazilian spinosaurid shows high density (osteosclerosis) and is hence interpreted as suggesting a semi-aquatic lifestyle.

Nice art, though:


This might be paywalled, depending on where you are, but if so you know what to do: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0195667117305153

[ITdactyl]

Feeesh!!! "Burddd!!!"  NOM!!!

Sorry, couldn't resist.  But I agree, that's some nice art.  Still weird (for me) seeing sparse proto feathers on a big spinosaurid though - even if there's the slight possibility there did have feathers.

As for the topic of the paper - if we eventually find that relatively dense [limb] bones are a [defining] group trait of spinosaurids, then this is as good a start as any.

[Reptilia]

I'd call them more scaly protrusions, if it makes any sense, rather than proto feathers.

[Smilodon P.]

It is not the free article, but presents two of the responsibles for the paper:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wYqe9j9jjOI

(Don't forget the subtitles)