Animal Profiles
Reptiles

Spinosaurus

Spinosaurus

Extinct

This animal is extinct. No living individuals remain.

Status source

Spinosaurus was a large Cretaceous predator of North Africa with a narrow snout and tall back spines. New fossils have transformed its reconstruction, but its exact swimming habits remain debated.

Spinosaurus, AI-generated lifelike reconstruction
AI-generated reconstruction. Colors and soft tissues are interpretive.

At a glance

Habitat
Wetlands
Diet
Carnivore
Food
Fish and other animals.

Classification

Common name
Spinosaurus
Browse group
Reptiles
Scientific name or taxon
Spinosaurus
Taxon rank
genus
Family
Spinosauridae
Genus
Spinosaurus
Source classification
Reptilia

Taxonomy checked against GBIF. For breeds and hybrids, this describes the listed parent taxon.

Three things to know

  • Its teeth were cone-shaped.
  • Tall back spines supported a sail.
  • Its aquatic hunting style remains debated.

Habitat and range

Spinosaurus fossils are known from North Africa, including Egypt and Morocco. Ancient river and coastal wetland environments supported fish and other prey during the Late Cretaceous.

Appearance and adaptations

Tall neural spines supported the conspicuous back sail. The jaws were long and narrow, with conical teeth. Recent reconstructions include relatively short hind limbs and a deep tail.

Diet and behaviour

Jaw shape indicates fish were important prey, with other animals also possible. Researchers disagree about how much hunting occurred underwater versus along shorelines. The back sail’s precise function is also unresolved.

Sources

Explore reptiles

Browse all reptiles