Abstract Remains of enigmatic spinosaurs from mid-Cretaceous North African strata have, for over a century, been the subject of taxonomic deliberations. The gigantic Spinosaurus aegyptiacus Stromer, 1915 has gained iconic status in the vertebrate palaeontological community and amongst the general public. Perhaps the largest predatory dinosaur to have lived, this animal exhibits a bizarre range of adaptations consistent with a piscivorous diet and semiaquatic mode of life. Despite its popularity, the systematics of this taxon remains a matter of considerable debate. African spinosaur taxonomy is complex, with up to three separate species proposed for the Cretaceous Kem Kem Group of Morocco: Spinosaurus aegyptiacus, Spinosaurus maroccanus Russell, 1996 and Sigilmassasaurus brevicollis Russell, 1996 . Here, the taxonomic status of spinosaurs in the Kem Kem Group is examined, and the morphology of the cervical and dorsal vertebrae re-evaluated in the light of this taxonomic reappraisal. The validity of Spinosaurus maroccanus and Sigilmassasaurus brevicollis are not supported, as all autapomorphies of these taxa are proposed here to be the result of intraspecific variation, or morphological changes through the axial column of a single taxon. Both taxa are junior synonyms of Spinosaurus aegyptiacus. This reanalysis has implications for the taxonomy of spinosaurs from other deposits. Based on the currently available material, the Brazilian spinosaurid Oxalaia quilombensis is determined to fall within the Spinosaurus aegyptiacus hypodigm. The prevalence of spinosaurid heterodonty and limited diagnostic potential of spinosaur teeth necessitates that two spinosaurid tooth taxa: Ostafrikasaurus crassiserratus and Siamosaurus suteethorni, be regarded nomina dubia.

中文翻译：

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Sigilmassaurus 是棘龙：对非洲棘龙的重新评估

摘要 一个多世纪以来，来自中白垩纪北非地层的神秘棘龙遗骸一直是分类研究的主题。巨大的埃及棘龙 Stromer，1915 年在脊椎动物古生物学界和公众中获得了标志性的地位。这种动物可能是有史以来最大的掠食性恐龙，表现出一系列奇异的适应能力，与食鱼饮食和半水生生活方式相一致。尽管它很受欢迎，但该分类群的系统学仍然是一个颇有争议的问题。非洲棘龙分类很复杂，摩洛哥白垩纪 Kem Kem 群提出了多达三个独立的物种：埃及棘龙、摩洛哥棘龙，1996 年和短臂龙罗素，1996 年。这里，检查了 Kem Kem 组中棘龙的分类地位，并根据这一分类重新评估重新评估了颈椎和背椎的形态。Spinosaurus maroccanus 和 Sigilmassasaurus brevicollis 的有效性不被支持，因为这里提出这些分类群的所有自体形态都是种内变异的结果，或通过单个分类群的轴柱发生形态变化的结果。这两个分类群都是埃及棘龙的初级同义词。这种再分析对来自其他矿床的棘龙的分类有影响。根据目前可用的材料，确定巴西棘龙 Oxalaia quilombensis 属于埃及棘龙的下位体。