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Spinosaurus (name meaning "spine lizard") is a genus of large spinosaurid theropod dinosaur that lived in Africa during the Middle to Late Cretaceous period.

Description[]

Measuring in at a length of 17 metres and a weight of 11 tonnes, Spinosaurus was the largest terrestrial predator of all time. It had a large sail on its back, long arms with hook-like claws, and a long, crocodile-like snout. However, despite its large size and deadly armaments, it was primarily a piscivore, spending most of its time by the water's edge hunting for fish. However, if fish is scarce, especially during the dry season, it will hunt terrestrial prey.

In Planet Dinosaur[]

Lost World[]

A Spinosaurus spooks a herd of Ouranosaurus which mistake it as a threat. The Spinosaurus, fortunately, is not interested in the dinosaurs as they are not its usual prey.

The Spinosaurus arrived at a river and scared off some crocodiles. The reason why the Spinosaurus came to the river was to feed on skates called Onchopristis. The Spinosaurus went into the river and waited for the Onchopristis to come close. It was able to snatch one out of the water and kill it on the river bank where it fed on the fleshier parts of the carcass. This was wasteful, letting a smaller Rugops to scavenge on the remains. It returned to river and killed another Onchopristis and ate that one too. Later, it swam down the river.

During a drought, a Spinosaurus confronted a small crocodile but was then repelled by a Sarcosuchus, which had been disturbed from its hibernation. The Spinosaurus was at great risk of being dragged in by the 40-foot Sarcosuchus, which in this case, the Spinosaurus was fully aware and was forced to move on. It later attacked a feeding flock of Alanqa, killing one in the process.  It then moved on due to its hunger.

It later came across a Carcharodontosaurus feeding on an Ouranosaurus carcass. The Spinosaurus confronted it and the two predators fought over the carcass. The Carcharodontosaurus managed to bite the Spinosaurus' sail during the battle, however, the Spinosaurus proved victorious and successfully stole the carcass. However, in the process, its sail had been broken by the Carcharodontosaurus' bites. These injuries later proved fatal, as they soon became infected, and ultimately led to the Spinosaurus' death days later.

Gallery[]

Trivia[]

  • Spinosaurus is the largest theropod dinosaur in the show.
  • Alongside Rugops, Spinosaurus is the only African species that didn't appear in the fifth episode, New Giants, as well as Lost World.
  • While the Spinosaurus died due to its spinal injury in the documentary, the real-life specimen who suffered the wound survived it and continued to live for many more years.
  • The same Spinosaurus model used in the show was later reused in three other documentaries, NOVA's National Geographic special, Bigger Than T. Rex, Top 10 Biggest Beasts Ever, and Deadly Dinosaurs: With Steve Backshall.
    • The model in Bigger Than T. Rex was slightly edited to reflect the new findings discussed in the special and in the 2014 paper redescribing the genus.

Errors[]

For more of its errors, see List of scientific errors

  • In 2014, Spinosaurus was discovered to have a different sail shape.
  • Spinosaurus, according to the 2014 paper, had shorter back legs than previously thought.
  • The shorter back legs (and the already known 'crocodilian' snout) suggest that Spinosaurus had a semi-aquatic lifestyle and could swim.
    • While the show has depicted Spinosaurus as a creature that spent some time in the water, its swimming capabilities have been a topic of debate since 2018, with current understand being that Spinosaurus was not a very good swimmer and most likely spend most of its time on land and/or shallow water.
      • This is accurate to what was depicted in the show.
  • In 2014, Spinosaurus was proposed to have been primarily quadrupedal, in accordance to the description of the 2014 specimen. This has since been debunked.
  • In 2020, a paper described the tail of Spinosaurus, which was flat and paddle-like. It was considered as evidence supporting the Swimming Spinosaurus theory, but another paper has since countered this conclusion, claiming that the tail was unable to generate enough force to propel Spinosaurus through the water.
  • In 2021, a new paper claimed that the degree of aquatic attributions for Spinosaurus is not consistent. Spinosaurus was most likely a terrestrial generalist carnivorous theropod that wade through waterways and shores, much akin to herons, pelicans, shoebills, giant petrels, and skuas.

Planet Dinosaur Database and Mentioned Creatures

Lost World: Tyrannosaurus  • Spinosaurus  • Irritator  • Baryonyx  • Siamosaurus  • Onchopristis  • Carcharodontosaurus  • Allosaurus  • Aerosteon  • Lacusovagus  • Iguanodon
Feathered Dragons: Microraptor  • Sinornithosaurus  • Epidexipteryx  • Sinosauropteryx  • Anchiornis  • Sinraptor  • Oviraptor  • Gigantoraptor  • Caudipteryx  • Troodon  • Beipiaosaurus  • Jeholosaurus  • Tianyuraptor  • Velociraptor
Last Killers: Gorgosaurus  • Daspletosaurus  • Tarbosaurus  • Tyrannosaurus  • Albertosaurus  • Chasmosaurus  • Psittacosaurus  • Raptorex  • Protoceratops  • Alectrosaurus  • Triceratops  • Mojoceratops  • Styracosaurus  • Alioramus  • Troodon  • Edmontosaurus  • Majungasaurus  • Carcharodontosaurus  • Centrosaurus
Fight for Life: Kimmerosaurus  • PliosaurusTyrannosaurus  • Stegosaurus  • Camptosaurus  • Allosaurus  • Saurophaganax

New Giants: Argentinosaurus  • Mapusaurus  • TyrannosaurusAllosaurusDiplodocusNeovenatorOrnithopsisSinraptorMamenchisaurus  • Paralititan  • Sarcosuchus  • Carcharodontosaurus  • Sauroposeidon  • Acrocanthosaurus
The Great Survivors: Ampelosaurus  • Iguanodon  • Neovenator  • Hypsilophodon  • Paralititan  • Spinosaurus  • Carcharodontosaurus  • Deltadromeus  • Erectopus  • Quaesitosaurus  • Tarbosaurus  • Therizinosaurus  • Gallimimus  • Achillobator  • Mononykus  • Tyrannosaurus  • Triceratops  • Edmontosaurus  • Albertosaurus  • Gorgosaurus  • Anodontosaurus  • Dromaeosaurus  • Variraptor  • Argentinosaurus  •Mapusaurus  • Ankylosaurus  • Gasparinisaura  • Magyarosaurus  • Zalmoxes  • Telmatosaurus  • Hatzegopteryx  • Styracosaurus  • Stygimoloch  • Parasaurolophus  • Archaeoceratops  • Oviraptor  • Baryonyx  • Polacanthus  • Pelecanimimus  • Nothronychus  • Suskityrannus  • Clostridium  • Majungasaurus  • Microraptor  • Gigantoraptor  • Oviraptor  • Didelphodon

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