A new study suggests that some semiaquatic dinosaurslike Spinosaurus, could “cry salty tears” to eliminate excess salt from the body.
The research, published in the journalanalyzed fossils of different species of spinosaurids and found evidence of possible salt glands located above the eyes — a structure similar to that currently present in seabirds, crocodiles and others.
According to researchers, these glands would help animals survive in brackish water regions, such as estuaries and swampy areas.
Scientists analyzed fossils of species such as Baryonyx walkeri, from the United Kingdom, Irritator challengeri, and different species of Spinosaurus found in Morocco.
With the help of high-resolution photographs, tomography scans and detailed analyzes of the fossils, the researchers identified bone depressions above the eye sockets, which may have served to house the glands and blood vessels linked to salt filtration.
The study reignites an insight into the lifestyle of Spinosaurus.
Some scientists believe that the animal spent much of its life in the water, swimming and diving in search of fish. Others argue that it lived mainly on land, hunting on riverbanks and shallow areas.
Anatomical features, such as a snout similar to that of crocodiles, teeth adapted to capture slippery prey and a tail shaped to aid swimming, reinforce the hypothesis of semi-aquatic behavior.
According to the authors, the discovery of possible salt glands may indicate that these dinosaurs were better adapted to aquatic environments than previously imagined.
