Irritator challengeri: The Mysterious Spinosaurid

Irritator challengeri was a spinosaurid theropod that lived during the Early Cretaceous period, around 110 million years ago, in what is now Brazil. Measuring an estimated 20–26 feet long, this semi-aquatic predator had a long, narrow skull filled with conical teeth, perfectly adapted for catching fish. Like its larger relatives such as Spinosaurus and Suchomimus, Irritator likely spent much of its time near rivers and lakes, using its crocodile-like snout to hunt aquatic prey. The name Irritator comes from the frustration scientists experienced when they discovered that the original fossil had been tampered with by fossil dealers. Despite this unusual origin, Irritator remains one of the most intriguing South American spinosaurs, shedding light on the diverse adaptations of these prehistoric hunters.