# Spinosaurus - Source: Wikijunior (en.wikibooks.org), CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikijunior contributors - Reading level: Grades 3 and 4 - Subjects: Dinosaurs, Animals - Topics: spinosaurus, template, bytes, found, lived, sail - Length: 710 words, about 5 min - Published: 2024-05-27 - Original: - Page: - Open in Sprouts: ![](https://sprout.rootsofreason.org/media/wikijunior-wikijunior-dinosaurs-spinosaurus-wikibooks-open-books-for-an-open-worl-1294e2e899.jpg) Spinosaurus probably looked like this. *Spinosaurus* is a very big theropod (meat-eating dinosaur) that lived during the Early Cretaceous period in North Africa. It is the longest theropod found so far. It is known for the tall sail/hump on its back and its croc-like face. ### What was their body shape? Spinosaurus was about 15 metres (45 ft) long and 4 metres tall, with the sail adding another 2 metres. According to scientists, it could've weighed between 5 and 17 tons, more likely the former. Its backbones had long projections called neural spines. The spines could have supported a sail of skin or a fatty hump, like a camel. Some possible functions of the spine sail could have been controlling body temperature (thermoregulation), and display — either to intimidate rivals or to attract mates. Its skull was 6 feet long and shaped like a crocodile's, with one little crest at the top, between the eyes. Its mouth had a notch at the tip, giving it a hook-like appearance. ### What did they eat? ![](https://sprout.rootsofreason.org/media/wikijunior-wikijunior-dinosaurs-spinosaurus-wikibooks-open-books-for-an-open-worl-951990550c.jpg) Skull of a young Spinosaurus. *Spinosaurus* was a predator that lived near and in water. Its croc-like snout was tipped with tiny holes and pits which contained nerves, so it could sense the water pressure. Its teeth were neither curved and blade-like as in *[Allosaurus](https://sprout.rootsofreason.org/r/wikijunior/wikijunior-dinosaurs-allosaurus-wikibooks-open-books-for-an-open-world)* or the raptors, nor thick and banana-shaped as in *[Tyrannosaurus](https://sprout.rootsofreason.org/r/wikijunior/wikijunior-dinosaurs-tyrannosaurus-wikibooks-open-books-for-an-open-wo)*, instead being smooth, straight and cone-shaped: perfect for impaling and holding fish. Its claws were curved for slashing and for stabbing small animals. Evidence for a fish-eating diet include a barb from a giant sawfish stuck in a jaw of a *Spinosaurus*. Other creatures that may were part of its diet include turtles, fish, small dinosaurs and even large crocodiles! ### When did they live? *Spinosaurus* lived 112 to 93 million years ago during the Early Cretaceous. It was the top predator in its region, alongside *Carcharodontosaurus*. ### What was their habitat? ![](https://sprout.rootsofreason.org/media/wikijunior-wikijunior-dinosaurs-spinosaurus-wikibooks-open-books-for-an-open-worl-4432892e1c.jpg) A sawfish, one of Spinosaurus's food sources. Spinosaurus lived in a habitat that may have been humid, like a swamp, where it could hunt coelacants, sawfish, groupers and ambush small crocodiles. Its fossils have been found in Egypt and Morocco, with possibly a similar dinosaur called *Oxalaia* found in South America. ### How were they discovered? The first fossils of this creature were found in 1916 by a German paleontologist called Ernst Stromer. The fossils were displayed in a museum in Munich, Germany. Unfortunately, the Allied Forces bombed the museum during World War I, resulting in everything being destroyed. All that was left was a sketch of the animal's skeleton, so little was known about it. However, all was not lost. In 2014, more complete remains were found, painting a better picture of this weird creature. A replica of the complete skeleton is on display in the National Geographic Museum, with a life-sized 3D printed statue standing outside the building. ### What do we need to know? - What color were they? The sail might have been brightly coloured to attract a female, or scare predators. - Could it run? - Was it really the biggest predator? *Spinosaurus* lived with the giant theropod *Carcharodontosaurus* and may have encountered it now and then. 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Rendering was triggered because: unknown ## Picture credits - User: Mariolanzas, CC BY-SA 4.0 () - Didier Descouens, CC BY-SA 4.0 () - Flavio Ferrari, CC BY-SA 2.0 ()