Spinosaurus was a carnivore (meat-eater) that lived during the late
Cretaceous period,
about 95 to 70 million years ago.
Until recently, it was thought that Spinosaurus was 39 feet (11.9 meters) long, and probably weighed 7 tons.
However, new research published in
2006, suggests that some Spinosaurus were
as much as 51 feet (17 meters) long and could have weighed 9 tons: This
would make Spinosaurus the largest known carnivore,
Spinosaurus had 6 feet (1.8 meters) spines on its back,
forming
a large fin (sometimes also called "sail").
The fin was probably used for temperature
regulation: the animal could face it towards or away from the sun, depending
on whether it needed to heat up or cool down.
The creature's name comes from this feature: Spinosaurus means
"spine lizard".
Spinosaurus also had surprisingly large arms, compared to related carnivores,
so it is possible that it may have been able to walk on all fours.
Spinosaurus was a member of the Saurischia ("lizard-hipped") order of dinosaurs. What this means, is that although Spinosaurus was not closely related to lizards, it did have similarly shaped pelvic bones.
Spinosaurus was a Theropod - a member of a group of related bipedal dinosaurs that included the ancestors of birds (although Spinosaurus was not itself an ancestor of birds).
Spinosaurus lived between about 95 million years ago and 70 million years ago, during the late Cretaceous period.
Spinosaurus lived in Africa.
Spinosaurus was a carnivore (meat-eater).
Spinosaurus's diet is believed to have included fish, like that of its relative, Baryonyx.
Spinosaurus was somewhere between 39 feet (11.9 meters) and 51 feet (17 meters) long - its exact size remains a subject of research and debate.
Spinosaurus weighed somewhere between 7 and 9 tons - its exact weight remains a subject of research and debate.
Spinosaurus Books
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