4.5" Spinosaurid Dinosaur (Suchomimus) Hand Claw - Niger

Suchomimus was a large predatory carnivorous dinosaur from the early Cretaceous period of Niger, 125-112 million years ago. As a theropod, Suchomimus's post-cranial skeleton was similar to many other theropods of the time, with two strong legs and comparatively smaller arms. However, being a spinosaurid, those arms were larger compared to other theropods, and their claws were especially massive and recurved. This, combined with their unique skull anatomy-- crocodilian in shape and function--would have made them excellent predators of all things piscine. Suchomimus was fairly robust and likely not any less dangerous on land as well. Suchomimus reached 30-36 feet long and weighed around 4 tons, which would have been fearsome to anything smaller than it.

The Elrhaz Formation is a geological formation in central Niger first deposited during the Early Cretaceous, about 125 to 110 million years ago. Though it currently sits in the arid Ténéré desert, it provides a snapshot of a once lush, marshy floodplain in the prehistoric world.

Elrhaz is best known for its fossil graveyards, carrying remains of ancient fish, crocodylians such as the famous SuperCroc (Sarchosuchus imperator), several species of ornithischian dinosaurs, the sauropod Nigersaurus taqueti, and several tetrapods including the fearsome Suchomimus tenerensis, a spinosaurid known from a partial skull and associated skeleton.