[Applause] all right so I’m going to take you on a
all right so I’m going to take you on a
all right so I’m going to take you on a journey back in time to the Cretaceous
journey back in time to the Cretaceous
journey back in time to the Cretaceous period now you might say well I know
period now you might say well I know
period now you might say well I know what life was like in the Cretaceous
what life was like in the Cretaceous
what life was like in the Cretaceous that’s when t-rex was roaming North
that’s when t-rex was roaming North
that’s when t-rex was roaming North America well I’ll take you to a very
America well I’ll take you to a very
America well I’ll take you to a very different kind of place I’ll take you to
different kind of place I’ll take you to
different kind of place I’ll take you to a lost world an African river of giants
a lost world an African river of giants
a lost world an African river of giants a place that did not just have one t-rex
a place that did not just have one t-rex
a place that did not just have one t-rex sized predator but three a place that
sized predator but three a place that
sized predator but three a place that was home to a bizarre creature that is
was home to a bizarre creature that is
was home to a bizarre creature that is going to force paleontologists to
going to force paleontologists to
going to force paleontologists to rethink many things they thought they
rethink many things they thought they
rethink many things they thought they knew about dinosaurs
knew about dinosaurs
knew about dinosaurs now before we travel back to the
now before we travel back to the
now before we travel back to the Cretaceous we’ll just travel back to my
Cretaceous we’ll just travel back to my
Cretaceous we’ll just travel back to my childhood this is how it all started I
childhood this is how it all started I
childhood this is how it all started I always loved animals living and extinct
always loved animals living and extinct
always loved animals living and extinct so as equally happy handling live snakes
so as equally happy handling live snakes
so as equally happy handling live snakes on summer holidays and practicing my
on summer holidays and practicing my
on summer holidays and practicing my dinosaur talks in my grandmother’s
dinosaur talks in my grandmother’s
dinosaur talks in my grandmother’s garden in Germany I should add that my
garden in Germany I should add that my
garden in Germany I should add that my grandmother had no problem whatsoever
grandmother had no problem whatsoever
grandmother had no problem whatsoever with a dinosaur part but she has a
with a dinosaur part but she has a
with a dinosaur part but she has a deep-seated fear of snakes and
deep-seated fear of snakes and
deep-seated fear of snakes and crocodiles so needless to say that at
crocodiles so needless to say that at
crocodiles so needless to say that at least from her point of view things did
least from her point of view things did
least from her point of view things did not really get any better as I got older
so but I wasn’t just interested in
so but I wasn’t just interested in animals I also really liked traveling
animals I also really liked traveling
animals I also really liked traveling and one place I really wanted to visit
and one place I really wanted to visit
and one place I really wanted to visit was the Sahara Desert not just because
was the Sahara Desert not just because
was the Sahara Desert not just because it’s a beautiful place
it’s a beautiful place
it’s a beautiful place but also because I was inspired by the
but also because I was inspired by the
but also because I was inspired by the discoveries of a german paleontologist
discoveries of a german paleontologist
discoveries of a german paleontologist who over 100 years ago made some
who over 100 years ago made some
who over 100 years ago made some incredible discoveries in the sands of
incredible discoveries in the sands of
incredible discoveries in the sands of Egypt he found Egypt’s first dinosaurs
Egypt he found Egypt’s first dinosaurs
Egypt he found Egypt’s first dinosaurs and he did not just describe dinosaur
and he did not just describe dinosaur
and he did not just describe dinosaur fossils he described crocodiles and an
fossils he described crocodiles and an
fossils he described crocodiles and an entire ecosystem really a predators
entire ecosystem really a predators
entire ecosystem really a predators paradise a very strange place probably
paradise a very strange place probably
paradise a very strange place probably his most important discovery was that of
his most important discovery was that of
his most important discovery was that of a large predatory dinosaur he called
a large predatory dinosaur he called
a large predatory dinosaur he called Spinosaurus it’s an animal is probably
Spinosaurus it’s an animal is probably
Spinosaurus it’s an animal is probably larger than t-rex with a big sail on its
larger than t-rex with a big sail on its
larger than t-rex with a big sail on its back some of these spines are as tall
back some of these spines are as tall
back some of these spines are as tall a person it was an incredible find it
a person it was an incredible find it
a person it was an incredible find it was incomplete the dark bones on this
was incomplete the dark bones on this
was incomplete the dark bones on this image are the ones that Homer had found
image are the ones that Homer had found
image are the ones that Homer had found but it became the centerpiece of the
but it became the centerpiece of the
but it became the centerpiece of the dinosaur exhibit in the Munich Museum
dinosaur exhibit in the Munich Museum
dinosaur exhibit in the Munich Museum West Homer worked so his career was
West Homer worked so his career was
West Homer worked so his career was going well but things changed in World
going well but things changed in World
going well but things changed in World War two sheet OVA who was a an outspoken
War two sheet OVA who was a an outspoken
War two sheet OVA who was a an outspoken critic of the Nazi dictatorship lost a
critic of the Nazi dictatorship lost a
critic of the Nazi dictatorship lost a lot he lost most of his scientific finds
lot he lost most of his scientific finds
lot he lost most of his scientific finds when an allied air raid destroyed the
when an allied air raid destroyed the
when an allied air raid destroyed the Munich Museum Spinosaurus was also
Munich Museum Spinosaurus was also
Munich Museum Spinosaurus was also destroyed and seemingly lost forever
destroyed and seemingly lost forever
destroyed and seemingly lost forever all we have are just a few drawings
all we have are just a few drawings
all we have are just a few drawings schwimmer also lost two of his three
schwimmer also lost two of his three
schwimmer also lost two of his three sons in the war Arthur drafted into the
sons in the war Arthur drafted into the
sons in the war Arthur drafted into the Army including the youngest one in the
Army including the youngest one in the
Army including the youngest one in the middle jihad who died just two weeks
middle jihad who died just two weeks
middle jihad who died just two weeks before the end of the war in Germany so
before the end of the war in Germany so
before the end of the war in Germany so I was fascinated by this dramatic story
I was fascinated by this dramatic story
I was fascinated by this dramatic story and by his discovery of Spinosaurus so
and by his discovery of Spinosaurus so
and by his discovery of Spinosaurus so in my early 20s I decided to start a
in my early 20s I decided to start a
in my early 20s I decided to start a series of expeditions to the Sahara to
series of expeditions to the Sahara to
series of expeditions to the Sahara to explore the Cretaceous rocks and this
explore the Cretaceous rocks and this
explore the Cretaceous rocks and this part of the world there are about 100
part of the world there are about 100
part of the world there are about 100 million years old about the same age as
million years old about the same age as
million years old about the same age as the rocks that Homer was was working in
the rocks that Homer was was working in
the rocks that Homer was was working in in Egypt my fieldwork did not take me to
in Egypt my fieldwork did not take me to
in Egypt my fieldwork did not take me to Egypt it took me to the border region
Egypt it took me to the border region
Egypt it took me to the border region between Morocco and Algeria
between Morocco and Algeria
between Morocco and Algeria a place called the chemcam it’s a
a place called the chemcam it’s a
a place called the chemcam it’s a beautiful place and I decided to collect
beautiful place and I decided to collect
beautiful place and I decided to collect everything I could find in that
everything I could find in that
everything I could find in that environment
environment
environment crocodiles flying reptiles turtles you
crocodiles flying reptiles turtles you
crocodiles flying reptiles turtles you name it this here is a skull piece from
name it this here is a skull piece from
name it this here is a skull piece from a crocodile I really wanted to
a crocodile I really wanted to
a crocodile I really wanted to understand the entire ecosystem and it’s
understand the entire ecosystem and it’s
understand the entire ecosystem and it’s hard work most of the fossils are found
hard work most of the fossils are found
hard work most of the fossils are found along this escarpment so there’s a lot
along this escarpment so there’s a lot
along this escarpment so there’s a lot of climbing involved and it’s really
of climbing involved and it’s really
of climbing involved and it’s really hard to find good fossils but we found
hard to find good fossils but we found
hard to find good fossils but we found thousands of really interesting
thousands of really interesting
thousands of really interesting specimens including this one here it’s
specimens including this one here it’s
specimens including this one here it’s the largest dinosaur bone that had ever
the largest dinosaur bone that had ever
the largest dinosaur bone that had ever been found in this part of the Sahara
been found in this part of the Sahara
been found in this part of the Sahara found that on my second expedition it’s
found that on my second expedition it’s
found that on my second expedition it’s a remarkable piece not so much because
a remarkable piece not so much because
a remarkable piece not so much because it’s so big it’s the upper arm bone of a
it’s so big it’s the upper arm bone of a
it’s so big it’s the upper arm bone of a large plant-eating dinosaur but because
large plant-eating dinosaur but because
large plant-eating dinosaur but because it belongs to a plant-eating animal
it belongs to a plant-eating animal
it belongs to a plant-eating animal because the vast majority of the fossils
because the vast majority of the fossils
because the vast majority of the fossils we’re finding belong to predators
we’re finding belong to predators
we’re finding belong to predators t-rex sized predators medium-sized
t-rex sized predators medium-sized
t-rex sized predators medium-sized predatory dinosaurs and crocodile like
predatory dinosaurs and crocodile like
predatory dinosaurs and crocodile like hunters in all shapes and size
hunters in all shapes and size
hunters in all shapes and size so Schwimmer was right North Africa and
so Schwimmer was right North Africa and
so Schwimmer was right North Africa and the Cretaceous was a predators paradise
the Cretaceous was a predators paradise
the Cretaceous was a predators paradise one thing we noticed was that the skulls
one thing we noticed was that the skulls
one thing we noticed was that the skulls of all these predatory animals were
of all these predatory animals were
of all these predatory animals were really different so it appears that
really different so it appears that
really different so it appears that they’re eating different things and that
they’re eating different things and that
they’re eating different things and that may have helped them to coexist in the
may have helped them to coexist in the
may have helped them to coexist in the same place the rivers were not just home
same place the rivers were not just home
same place the rivers were not just home to these giant crocodile like creatures
to these giant crocodile like creatures
to these giant crocodile like creatures we also have a car sized coelacanth a
we also have a car sized coelacanth a
we also have a car sized coelacanth a giant sawfish and even the skies were
giant sawfish and even the skies were
giant sawfish and even the skies were filled with predators this is the
filled with predators this is the
filled with predators this is the largest flying creature ever described
largest flying creature ever described
largest flying creature ever described from Africa we described it in 2010 as
from Africa we described it in 2010 as
from Africa we described it in 2010 as an 18-foot wingspan so we had found this
an 18-foot wingspan so we had found this
an 18-foot wingspan so we had found this incredible ecosystem but really only
incredible ecosystem but really only
incredible ecosystem but really only bits and pieces of Spinosaurus and that
bits and pieces of Spinosaurus and that
bits and pieces of Spinosaurus and that there was the one that I really really
there was the one that I really really
there was the one that I really really really wanted to find but things changed
really wanted to find but things changed
really wanted to find but things changed in early 2008 we’re just coming back
in early 2008 we’re just coming back
in early 2008 we’re just coming back from the field and we stopped in a city
from the field and we stopped in a city
from the field and we stopped in a city called her food on the edge of the
called her food on the edge of the
called her food on the edge of the Sahara Desert it’s a fairly large place
Sahara Desert it’s a fairly large place
Sahara Desert it’s a fairly large place and a man approached me and my
and a man approached me and my
and a man approached me and my colleagues and he had a cardboard box
colleagues and he had a cardboard box
colleagues and he had a cardboard box with fossils they were covered in
with fossils they were covered in
with fossils they were covered in sediment he was kind of difficult to
sediment he was kind of difficult to
sediment he was kind of difficult to tell what exactly we were looking at and
tell what exactly we were looking at and
tell what exactly we were looking at and he asked me you know what you think
he asked me you know what you think
he asked me you know what you think these are and it was really difficult to
these are and it was really difficult to
these are and it was really difficult to tell but one piece really caught my
tell but one piece really caught my
tell but one piece really caught my attention it was a blade shaped section
attention it was a blade shaped section
attention it was a blade shaped section of bone not very long but it had a
of bone not very long but it had a
of bone not very long but it had a really strange cross section you can see
really strange cross section you can see
really strange cross section you can see the cross section is the white creamy
the cross section is the white creamy
the cross section is the white creamy part of the bone and it’s divided in two
part of the bone and it’s divided in two
part of the bone and it’s divided in two with this big red line in the middle I’d
with this big red line in the middle I’d
with this big red line in the middle I’d never seen anything like this I thought
never seen anything like this I thought
never seen anything like this I thought you know maybe this is a rib but maybe
you know maybe this is a rib but maybe
you know maybe this is a rib but maybe this is a part of a spine of Spinosaurus
this is a part of a spine of Spinosaurus
this is a part of a spine of Spinosaurus who knows I thought these are important
who knows I thought these are important
who knows I thought these are important specimens so I made sure that they were
specimens so I made sure that they were
specimens so I made sure that they were brought to the University of Casablanca
brought to the University of Casablanca
brought to the University of Casablanca in Morocco and I thought maybe one day
in Morocco and I thought maybe one day
in Morocco and I thought maybe one day I’ll be able to figure out what this is
I’ll be able to figure out what this is
I’ll be able to figure out what this is well that day came sooner than I
well that day came sooner than I
well that day came sooner than I expected
expected
expected two Italian colleagues of mine told me
two Italian colleagues of mine told me
two Italian colleagues of mine told me that a partial skeleton of a dinosaur
that a partial skeleton of a dinosaur
that a partial skeleton of a dinosaur that had been spirited out of North
that had been spirited out of North
that had been spirited out of North Africa apparently Morocco had gone
Africa apparently Morocco had gone
Africa apparently Morocco had gone through several hands and you know had
through several hands and you know had
through several hands and you know had somehow ended up in Italy and you know
somehow ended up in Italy and you know
somehow ended up in Italy and you know they said I should have a look at it so
they said I should have a look at it so
they said I should have a look at it so when I came to Italy I looked at the
when I came to Italy I looked at the
when I came to Italy I looked at the bones and my jaw dropped tall spines
bones and my jaw dropped tall spines
bones and my jaw dropped tall spines it’s no other dinosaur has spines like
it’s no other dinosaur has spines like
it’s no other dinosaur has spines like this a foot that was almost complete
this a foot that was almost complete
this a foot that was almost complete we’re looking at the first Spinosaurus
we’re looking at the first Spinosaurus
we’re looking at the first Spinosaurus skeleton that had been found in over a
skeleton that had been found in over a
skeleton that had been found in over a hundred years but there was one big
hundred years but there was one big
hundred years but there was one big problem my Italian colleagues didn’t
problem my Italian colleagues didn’t
problem my Italian colleagues didn’t know where the skeleton came from and
know where the skeleton came from and
know where the skeleton came from and that’s a huge problem in paleontology it
that’s a huge problem in paleontology it
that’s a huge problem in paleontology it means you have no geological context you
means you have no geological context you
means you have no geological context you don’t know anything about the
don’t know anything about the
don’t know anything about the environment the animal lived in but
environment the animal lived in but
environment the animal lived in but worst of all you can’t even prove that
worst of all you can’t even prove that
worst of all you can’t even prove that all these bones were found in the same
all these bones were found in the same
all these bones were found in the same place and belong to the same animal
place and belong to the same animal
place and belong to the same animal maybe they found hundreds of kilometers
maybe they found hundreds of kilometers
maybe they found hundreds of kilometers apart so there was a big problem but
apart so there was a big problem but
apart so there was a big problem but then I looked at the cross-section of
then I looked at the cross-section of
then I looked at the cross-section of the spines and saw something very
the spines and saw something very
the spines and saw something very familiar see the line that’s dividing
familiar see the line that’s dividing
familiar see the line that’s dividing the spines in cross-section I thought
the spines in cross-section I thought
the spines in cross-section I thought that looks a lot like this bone I had
that looks a lot like this bone I had
that looks a lot like this bone I had seen in her food and my mind just
seen in her food and my mind just
seen in her food and my mind just started racing I thought so those bones
started racing I thought so those bones
started racing I thought so those bones belong to Spinosaurus but the size shape
belong to Spinosaurus but the size shape
belong to Spinosaurus but the size shape and color of these bones and the ones
and color of these bones and the ones
and color of these bones and the ones that seen in Morocco were so similar I
that seen in Morocco were so similar I
that seen in Morocco were so similar I started wondering maybe this is actually
started wondering maybe this is actually
started wondering maybe this is actually the same skeleton it was a long shot but
the same skeleton it was a long shot but
the same skeleton it was a long shot but I thought if this is the same skeleton
I thought if this is the same skeleton
I thought if this is the same skeleton then all I need to do is to find this
then all I need to do is to find this
then all I need to do is to find this one man in the Sahara Desert
one man in the Sahara Desert
one man in the Sahara Desert ask him to share confidential
ask him to share confidential
ask him to share confidential information with me and show me where he
information with me and show me where he
information with me and show me where he found the skeleton and voila it was a
found the skeleton and voila it was a
found the skeleton and voila it was a crazy idea and I knew it was a crazy
crazy idea and I knew it was a crazy
crazy idea and I knew it was a crazy idea but I travelled back to Morocco and
idea but I travelled back to Morocco and
idea but I travelled back to Morocco and I talked to my Moroccan colleague Samir
I talked to my Moroccan colleague Samir
I talked to my Moroccan colleague Samir and he said okay how are we going to
and he said okay how are we going to
and he said okay how are we going to find this guy
find this guy
find this guy I mean he knows I’m crazy but I mean he
I mean he knows I’m crazy but I mean he
I mean he knows I’m crazy but I mean he was like how we going to find this guy
was like how we going to find this guy
was like how we going to find this guy and you know like you have a name or an
and you know like you have a name or an
and you know like you have a name or an address or you know phone number
address or you know phone number
address or you know phone number anything but all I had was just this
anything but all I had was just this
anything but all I had was just this mental image of this man I had seen
mental image of this man I had seen
mental image of this man I had seen several years earlier for a few minutes
several years earlier for a few minutes
several years earlier for a few minutes in her food so I told him well he had a
in her food so I told him well he had a
in her food so I told him well he had a mustache and I’m paraphrasing what Samir
mustache and I’m paraphrasing what Samir
mustache and I’m paraphrasing what Samir said next but basically he was saying
said next but basically he was saying
said next but basically he was saying something I’m along the lines of that’s
something I’m along the lines of that’s
something I’m along the lines of that’s not an adequate starting point for our
not an adequate starting point for our
not an adequate starting point for our search
but we tried anyway we travel to many
but we tried anyway we travel to many different places we went to places where
different places we went to places where
different places we went to places where people were digging tunnels into the
people were digging tunnels into the
people were digging tunnels into the rock looking for dinosaur bones we’re
rock looking for dinosaur bones we’re
rock looking for dinosaur bones we’re looking at places where local fossil
looking at places where local fossil
looking at places where local fossil hunters were you know selling things but
hunters were you know selling things but
hunters were you know selling things but we couldn’t find the guy we couldn’t
we couldn’t find the guy we couldn’t
we couldn’t find the guy we couldn’t find out anything about the skeleton and
find out anything about the skeleton and
find out anything about the skeleton and so you know we went back to her food it
so you know we went back to her food it
so you know we went back to her food it was the last day of our search and I was
was the last day of our search and I was
was the last day of our search and I was just getting ready to give up throw in
just getting ready to give up throw in
just getting ready to give up throw in the towel
the towel
the towel so we’re sitting in this in this you
so we’re sitting in this in this you
so we’re sitting in this in this you know cafe in our food sipping mint tea
know cafe in our food sipping mint tea
know cafe in our food sipping mint tea and I’m just thinking you know that’s it
and I’m just thinking you know that’s it
and I’m just thinking you know that’s it you know I’ll probably have to give up
you know I’ll probably have to give up
you know I’ll probably have to give up it was a crazy idea it was like looking
it was a crazy idea it was like looking
it was a crazy idea it was like looking for a needle not in a haystack that
for a needle not in a haystack that
for a needle not in a haystack that would be easy I was looking for a needle
would be easy I was looking for a needle
would be easy I was looking for a needle in the Sahara one man so and just at
in the Sahara one man so and just at
in the Sahara one man so and just at that moment when I was at my lowest
that moment when I was at my lowest
that moment when I was at my lowest point and ready to give up this this
point and ready to give up this this
point and ready to give up this this person walks past our table I’m not
person walks past our table I’m not
person walks past our table I’m not kidding you at that very moment and and
kidding you at that very moment and and
kidding you at that very moment and and I look at the man’s face and a look at
I look at the man’s face and a look at
I look at the man’s face and a look at Samir and I look back at the man and
Samir and I look back at the man and
Samir and I look back at the man and he’s walking fast and we run down the
he’s walking fast and we run down the
he’s walking fast and we run down the street and catch up with him and it was
street and catch up with him and it was
street and catch up with him and it was the man I was looking for so I couldn’t
the man I was looking for so I couldn’t
the man I was looking for so I couldn’t really believe my luck the next part
really believe my luck the next part
really believe my luck the next part convincing him to share his field site
convincing him to share his field site
convincing him to share his field site with us was the easy part had never been
with us was the easy part had never been
with us was the easy part had never been done before but I was like I’m not I’m
done before but I was like I’m not I’m
done before but I was like I’m not I’m not letting you go before you tell me
not letting you go before you tell me
not letting you go before you tell me where you found this and so he agreed
where you found this and so he agreed
where you found this and so he agreed and here’s what happened next the man
and here’s what happened next the man
and here’s what happened next the man agrees finally to take bazaar to the
agrees finally to take bazaar to the
agrees finally to take bazaar to the site where the fossils were pulled from
site where the fossils were pulled from
site where the fossils were pulled from the
after nearly an hour drive most of it
after nearly an hour drive most of it off-road and a 30-minute trek up the
off-road and a 30-minute trek up the
off-road and a 30-minute trek up the side of a mountain the dealer leads
side of a mountain the dealer leads
side of a mountain the dealer leads nazar to a nondescript looking hole in a
nazar to a nondescript looking hole in a
nazar to a nondescript looking hole in a outside
within minutes in the fill surrounding
within minutes in the fill surrounding the dig site they discover fragments of
the dig site they discover fragments of
the dig site they discover fragments of bones and teeth all but certainly
bones and teeth all but certainly
bones and teeth all but certainly spinosaurus this is amazing I mean this
spinosaurus this is amazing I mean this
spinosaurus this is amazing I mean this will take some time to sink in but this
will take some time to sink in but this
will take some time to sink in but this is amazing it feels really surreal
is amazing it feels really surreal
is amazing it feels really surreal calm down knees are but it still feels
calm down knees are but it still feels
calm down knees are but it still feels surreal
surreal
surreal it still feels surreal to this day and
it still feels surreal to this day and
it still feels surreal to this day and it was amazing we found our needle in
it was amazing we found our needle in
it was amazing we found our needle in the Sahara I’m glad I’m not a
the Sahara I’m glad I’m not a
the Sahara I’m glad I’m not a statistician I’m thinking about the odds
statistician I’m thinking about the odds
statistician I’m thinking about the odds they were stacked against us you know I
they were stacked against us you know I
they were stacked against us you know I just thought we’ll try so we found the
just thought we’ll try so we found the
just thought we’ll try so we found the site we found more bones of the same
site we found more bones of the same
site we found more bones of the same animal and we had beautiful geology all
animal and we had beautiful geology all
animal and we had beautiful geology all around us so we had all the information
around us so we had all the information
around us so we had all the information we wanted so now we we knew all the
we wanted so now we we knew all the
we wanted so now we we knew all the bones came from one place and we can put
bones came from one place and we can put
bones came from one place and we can put the skeleton together we did it the
the skeleton together we did it the
the skeleton together we did it the modern way with CT scan all of the bones
modern way with CT scan all of the bones
modern way with CT scan all of the bones and build a digital dinosaur filling in
and build a digital dinosaur filling in
and build a digital dinosaur filling in missing parts with information we had
missing parts with information we had
missing parts with information we had from other Spinosaurus bones isolated
from other Spinosaurus bones isolated
from other Spinosaurus bones isolated pieces I had seen in museum collections
pieces I had seen in museum collections
pieces I had seen in museum collections this is work it was largely carried out
this is work it was largely carried out
this is work it was largely carried out by Tyler Keeler when we put the entire
by Tyler Keeler when we put the entire
by Tyler Keeler when we put the entire skeleton together we realized that we
skeleton together we realized that we
skeleton together we realized that we were looking at something that looked
were looking at something that looked
were looking at something that looked unlike any other dinosaur ever found
unlike any other dinosaur ever found
unlike any other dinosaur ever found look at those proportions it’s a truly
look at those proportions it’s a truly
look at those proportions it’s a truly bizarre animal and we also realized that
bizarre animal and we also realized that
bizarre animal and we also realized that it was very big we actually mounted it
it was very big we actually mounted it
it was very big we actually mounted it at life-size and because that’s more
at life-size and because that’s more
at life-size and because that’s more impressive than a CGI model I’ll show
impressive than a CGI model I’ll show
impressive than a CGI model I’ll show you our skeleton it’s an incredible
you our skeleton it’s an incredible
you our skeleton it’s an incredible creature look at that skull a long neck
creature look at that skull a long neck
creature look at that skull a long neck and you’ll see the big spines that Roma
and you’ll see the big spines that Roma
and you’ll see the big spines that Roma had found over 100 years ago
had found over 100 years ago
had found over 100 years ago looks like whale or something it’s the
looks like whale or something it’s the
looks like whale or something it’s the truly bizarre creature I’m going to
truly bizarre creature I’m going to
truly bizarre creature I’m going to touch on this very briefly because this
touch on this very briefly because this
touch on this very briefly because this is the ongoing work but the biology of
is the ongoing work but the biology of
is the ongoing work but the biology of this dinosaur is very very interesting
this dinosaur is very very interesting
this dinosaur is very very interesting we have a lot of really bizarre
we have a lot of really bizarre
we have a lot of really bizarre adaptations in this creature not just
adaptations in this creature not just
adaptations in this creature not just the big sail we have a nose opening
the big sail we have a nose opening
the big sail we have a nose opening that’s pushed back on the skull further
that’s pushed back on the skull further
that’s pushed back on the skull further back than in any other dinosaur we have
back than in any other dinosaur we have
back than in any other dinosaur we have paddle-like feet hind limbs that are
paddle-like feet hind limbs that are
paddle-like feet hind limbs that are really short those are all things that
really short those are all things that
really short those are all things that we see in aquatic animals even the bone
we see in aquatic animals even the bone
we see in aquatic animals even the bone structure of this dinosaur looks more
structure of this dinosaur looks more
structure of this dinosaur looks more like that of
like that of
like that of marine mammals than typical dinosaurs
marine mammals than typical dinosaurs
marine mammals than typical dinosaurs and then we have these big powerful arms
and then we have these big powerful arms
and then we have these big powerful arms that may have been used to tackle large
that may have been used to tackle large
that may have been used to tackle large prey like the big coelacanth you saw
prey like the big coelacanth you saw
prey like the big coelacanth you saw earlier on the teeth are conical the
earlier on the teeth are conical the
earlier on the teeth are conical the snout is just like that of a crocodile
snout is just like that of a crocodile
snout is just like that of a crocodile perfect for snaring slippery prey so it
perfect for snaring slippery prey so it
perfect for snaring slippery prey so it turns out that you know we had not only
turns out that you know we had not only
turns out that you know we had not only rediscovered homas lost giant we’re
rediscovered homas lost giant we’re
rediscovered homas lost giant we’re looking at the first aquatic dinosaur
looking at the first aquatic dinosaur
looking at the first aquatic dinosaur it’s a truly amazing creature this piece
it’s a truly amazing creature this piece
it’s a truly amazing creature this piece of artwork was and all the other artwork
of artwork was and all the other artwork
of artwork was and all the other artwork you saw on this talk is the work of
you saw on this talk is the work of
you saw on this talk is the work of David Urbana Donna my Italian dinosaur
David Urbana Donna my Italian dinosaur
David Urbana Donna my Italian dinosaur illustrator the Michelangelo of dinosaur
illustrator the Michelangelo of dinosaur
illustrator the Michelangelo of dinosaur illustrations and this really shows you
illustrations and this really shows you
illustrations and this really shows you what this river of giants look like a
what this river of giants look like a
what this river of giants look like a place dominated by predators giant fish
place dominated by predators giant fish
place dominated by predators giant fish flying reptiles and Spinosaurus the
flying reptiles and Spinosaurus the
flying reptiles and Spinosaurus the ruler of this strange lost world so I
ruler of this strange lost world so I
ruler of this strange lost world so I will leave you with this beautiful image
will leave you with this beautiful image
will leave you with this beautiful image you know for me this is really this
you know for me this is really this
you know for me this is really this encapsulate everything that that
encapsulate everything that that
encapsulate everything that that Spinosaurus was about it’s the first
Spinosaurus was about it’s the first
Spinosaurus was about it’s the first aquatic dinosaur
aquatic dinosaur
aquatic dinosaur it’s bigger than t-rex it’s you know the
it’s bigger than t-rex it’s you know the
it’s bigger than t-rex it’s you know the story is just so rich it was an amazing
story is just so rich it was an amazing
story is just so rich it was an amazing experience for me and I’m German
experience for me and I’m German
experience for me and I’m German Moroccan I mean and this is German
Moroccan I mean and this is German
Moroccan I mean and this is German Moroccan sign story you know what are
Moroccan sign story you know what are
Moroccan sign story you know what are the odds but then you know I don’t need
the odds but then you know I don’t need
the odds but then you know I don’t need to tell you anything about that so so it
to tell you anything about that so so it
to tell you anything about that so so it was a truly amazing adventure and I feel
was a truly amazing adventure and I feel
was a truly amazing adventure and I feel really privileged to have been a part of
really privileged to have been a part of
really privileged to have been a part of it so I will leave you with this
it so I will leave you with this
it so I will leave you with this beautiful image and a promise that I
beautiful image and a promise that I
beautiful image and a promise that I will take you and many other journeys
will take you and many other journeys
will take you and many other journeys back in time to Lost Worlds that are
back in time to Lost Worlds that are
back in time to Lost Worlds that are more awe-inspiring more
more awe-inspiring more
more awe-inspiring more thought-provoking and more bizarre than
thought-provoking and more bizarre than
thought-provoking and more bizarre than we could possibly imagine thank you
we could possibly imagine thank you
we could possibly imagine thank you [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] [Music]
[Music]
[Music] [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] [Music]
[Music]
[Music] Oh
”
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