After a two-week public vote, the new Spinosaurus at the Field Museum has a name: Sobek.
Sobek is the name of an ancient Egyptian god with the head of a crocodile, proposed because Spinosaurus had a snout like a crocodile. Scientists say the prehistoric river monster also had a paddle-like tail that helped it hunt for fish. The name was a favorite among voters out of three finalists selected by an internal staff vote.
More than 31,000 votes were cast in the naming contest, with 44 percent going to Sobek, and 42 percent going to the second-place suggestion, Sandy. Sabah, Arabic for swimmer, trailed behind with 14 percent of the vote.
Follow the Field's social media channels to see where Sobek may turn up during his introduction to Chicago!
