Spinosaurus facts for kids
Quick facts for kids SpinosaurusTemporal range: Cretaceous
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Spinosaurus
Ernst Stromer, 1915
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Spinosaurus (which means 'spiny lizard') was a huge semi-aquatic dinosaur. It lived during the Cretaceous period, about 112 to 97 million years ago. This amazing creature had paddle-like feet and nostrils on top of its crocodile-like head. These features likely helped it dive underwater, much like a crocodile does today.
Some scientists think Spinosaurus might have been even bigger than Tyrannosaurus rex. However, it was probably not as good at moving on land. It might have walked on all four legs, like a quadruped. These ideas became stronger when a more complete skeleton was found in Morocco. A private collector found the fossil and let scientists study it.
Spinosaurus bones were first found in Egypt in 1912. A German paleontologist named Ernst Stromer described them in 1915. Many paleontologists believe there were two types, S. aegyptiacus and S. marocannus. But some think they were just one type. Spinosaurus looked a bit like Baryonyx, but it was much larger and stronger. Sadly, some important Spinosaurus fossils were destroyed during a WW2 bombing raid.
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Meet Spinosaurus: The Giant Spiny Lizard
Spinosaurus was truly enormous, even bigger than Tyrannosaurus. Scientists believe it could be 12.6 to 18 meters (41 to 59 feet) long. It might have weighed between 7 and 20.9 tonnes (7.7 to 23.0 short tons). That's like a whole bus!
One of its most striking features was a two-meter-high sail on its back. This sail looked a bit like the one on Dimetrodon. Scientists have different ideas about what the sail was for. It might have helped the dinosaur control its body temperature. It could also have been used to attract a mate or to scare away enemies.
Spinosaurus lived in an area that is now the Sahara Desert. But back then, it was a place with mangrove forests, tidal flats, and channels along the shoreline.
What Spinosaurus Ate
The skull of Spinosaurus was long and narrow. It looked similar to the skull of a modern gharial, which is a type of crocodile that eats fish. We know that Spinosaurus ate fish. Evidence suggests it spent time both on land and in the water, just like modern crocodiles.
Spinosaurus in Pop Culture
Spinosaurus became very famous after it was shown as the main dinosaur in the 2001 movie Jurassic Park III. It has also appeared on postage stamps in different countries. Many toy companies have made models of Spinosaurus, letting kids imagine this amazing creature.
A World Record Holder
According to Guinness World Records 2022, Spinosaurus holds a special title. It is the largest meat-eating dinosaur ever discovered! Paleontologists from Italy calculated that Spinosaurus was about 17 meters (56 feet) long. They estimated its weight to be between 7 and 9 tonnes (15,400 to 19,800 pounds).
Images for kids
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Plate I in Stromer (1915) showing S. aegyptiacus holotype elements
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Specimen MNHN SAM 124 of S. maroccanus, Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, Paris
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Specimen MSNM V4047 of S. aegyptiacus in the Civic Natural History Museum, Milan
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Skull of a reconstructed subadult skeleton from a private collection
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Life restoration
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Reconstructed replicas of the holotype vertebrae, National Geographic Museum, Washington, D. C.
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S. aegyptiacus head based on the 2005 reconstruction by Cristiano Dal Sasso
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Restoration of various spinosaurids that did not live in the same time or space
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1915 illustration of S. aegyptiacus dorsal vertebrae
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Side view of reconstructed skeleton
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Reconstructed skull and neck
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Tooth from Morocco in various views
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Restoration of Spinosaurus attacking the sclerorynchid Onchopristis
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S. aegyptiacus hunting a Mawsonia in an aquatic pursuit predator model
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Reconstructed skeleton with traditional, long-legged posture
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Reconstructed foot, note straight claws and large hallux
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Restoration of Spinosaurus with contemporaneous animals of the Bahariya Formation
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Sculpture based on the 2014 reconstruction, prior to the discovery of the paddle-like tail, Museum of Natural Science, Barcelona
See also
In Spanish: Spinosaurus aegyptiacus para niños
