Spinosaurus was a large, predatory dinosaur that lived during the Upper Cretaceous period, about 95-97 million years ago. It was one of the largest known carnivorous dinosaurs, with some specimens reaching lengths of up to 50-60 feet and weighing as much as 7-20 tons. Spinosaurus is famous for its distinctive sail-like structure on its back, which was made up of elongated neural spines on its vertebrae. It’s not clear exactly what purpose this sail served, but it may have been used for thermoregulation, or for display purposes.
Key facts
| Domain | Description |
|---|---|
| Spinosaurus pronunciation | Spy-noh-sawr-us |
| What does Spinosaurus mean? | Thorn lizard |
| Dinosaur type | Theropod |
| On the menu | Carnivorous |
| Length | 50-60 feet (200 feet) |
| Height | 20 meters (75 feet) |
| Weight | 20,000kg (about 45,000 lbs) |
| Life expectancy | Unknown |
| Legs used to get around | Bipedal |
| Estimated top speed | Unknown |
| When they lived | Upper Cretaceous period, about 95-97 million years ago |
| Where they have been found? | Egypt |
When & Where
The first fossils of Spinosaurus were discovered in Egypt in 1912 by Austrian paleontologist Richard Markgraf and later described by German paleontologist Ernst Stromer in 1915. Stromer found several well-preserved specimens, including parts of the skull, spine, and limbs. However, during World War II, the museum where Stromer’s fossils were being stored was destroyed, and most of the fossils were lost.
Because of this, our knowledge of Spinosaurus is somewhat limited, and there is still much that we don’t know about this fascinating animal. In recent years, additional fossils of Spinosaurus have been discovered in Morocco, which has helped to fill in some of the gaps in our knowledge.
Size & Weight
Spinosaurus was one of the largest known carnivorous dinosaurs, with some specimens reaching lengths of up to 50-60 feet. In terms of weight, it’s estimated that this dinosaur could have weighed anywhere from 7-20 tons. This makes it one of the heaviest dinosaurs known, rivaling even the largest sauropods in size.
Mobility & Diet
As a predatory dinosaur, Spinosaurus would have primarily eaten other animals. Based on the structure of its skull and teeth, it’s likely that Spinosaurus was a specialist predator that primarily ate fish. Its long, narrow snout was well-suited for catching and holding onto slippery prey, and its curved, conical teeth were ideal for gripping and tearing into flesh. It’s possible that Spinosaurus also ate other animals, such as small dinosaurs or mammals if the opportunity presented itself.
In terms of mobility, Spinosaurus was a bipedal dinosaur, meaning that it walked on two legs. Like other large predatory dinosaurs, it would have been a formidable and imposing animal. Very capable of moving quickly to catch and kill prey. Some scientists have suggested that Spinosaurus may have been semi-aquatic. If so it may have used its large sail to help it swim through water. If this is the case, it’s possible that Spinosaurus may have been more agile and maneuverable in water than on land. However, this is just speculation, and more research is needed to know for sure.
Interesting Points
- Spinosaurus is known for its distinctive sail-like structure on its back, which was made up of elongated neural spines on its vertebrae. It’s not clear exactly what purpose this sail served, but it may have been used for thermoregulation, or for display purposes.
- The first fossils of Spinosaurus were discovered in Egypt in 1912 by German paleontologist Ernst Stromer. However, during World War II, the museum where Stromer’s fossils were being stored was destroyed, and most of the fossils were lost.
- Some scientists have suggested that Spinosaurus may have been semi-aquatic and that it may have used its large sail to help it swim through water.
- Spinosaurus was a member of the family Spinosauridae, which also included other “sail-backed” dinosaurs such as Baryonyx and Suchomimus.
Featured Image Credit: PaleoGeekSquared, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
