Dale Russell
"S. maroccanus" was originally described by Dale Russell in 1996 as a new species based on the length of its neck vertebrae. Specifically, Russell claimed that the ratio of the length of the centrum (body of vertebra) to the height of the posterior articular facet was 1.1 in "S. aegyptiacus" and 1.5 in "S. maroccanus". Later authors have been split on this topic. Some authors note that the length of the vertebrae can vary from individual to individual, that the holotype specimen was destroyed and thus cannot be compared directly with the "S. maroccanus" specimen, and that it is unknown which cervical vertebrae the "S. maroccanus" specimens represent. Therefore, though some have retained the species as valid without much comment, most researchers regard "S. maroccanus" as a "nomen dubium" (dubious name) or as a junior synonym of "S. aegyptiacus".