Bryan McAllister’s personal reference notebook
July 30, 2026Short & citedBlog
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Kept by Bryan McAllister — short guides, clear facts, and the Canadian angle when it matters.
Field Notes • Paleontology

Spinosaurus

Spinosaurus was a large carnivorous dinosaur from Cretaceous North Africa, best known for its tall back spines that formed a sail-like structure.

Updated July 30, 20261 min readCited sources

Spinosaurus was a large carnivorous dinosaur from Cretaceous North Africa, known for its tall back spines that formed a sail-like structure. It is widely interpreted as a semi-aquatic theropod adapted for hunting fish.

What it is

Spinosaurus was a theropod dinosaur with a long skull, conical teeth, and tall back spines. These features are often linked to a lifestyle that involved hunting in and around water.

Key details

Spinosaurus lived about 100 to 95 million years ago in what is now North Africa. It is considered one of the longest known predatory dinosaurs, with length estimates from 14 to 18 metres and weight around 6 to 9 metric tons.

Why it matters

Spinosaurus is of broad interest to Canadian museum visitors, students, and dinosaur enthusiasts. Canadian natural history institutions and science educators often use it to explain dinosaur diversity, evolution, and aquatic adaptations.

In short

  • Spinosaurus was a meat-eating dinosaur from Africa with a sail-like back.
  • Its jaws and teeth were adapted for catching fish.
  • Scientists think it may have lived partly in water.
  • It was longer than Tyrannosaurus rex in many estimates.
Canadian angle

Spinosaurus is of broad interest to Canadian museum visitors, students, and dinosaur enthusiasts; Canadian natural history institutions and science educators often use it to explain dinosaur diversity, evolution, and aquatic adaptations.

Quick questions

What is a Spinosaurus?
Spinosaurus was a large meat-eating dinosaur from North Africa, known for its sail-like back spines and fish-eating adaptations.
How big was Spinosaurus?
Estimates vary, but many reconstructions place it at about 14 to 18 metres long, with weight estimates commonly around 6 to 9 metric tons.
Did Spinosaurus eat dinosaurs?
Possibly. Most evidence points to fish as its main food, but some sources say it may also have eaten smaller dinosaurs or other terrestrial prey.

Sources

  1. Natural History Museum — https://www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/dino-directory/spinosaurus.html
    Supports: Diet, semi-aquatic lifestyle, African origin, fish-eating adaptations
  2. Encyclopaedia Britannica — https://www.britannica.com/animal/Spinosaurus
    Supports: Fish-catching skull and teeth, piscivory
  3. National Geographic Kids — https://kids.nationalgeographic.com/animals/prehistoric/facts/spinosaurus
    Supports: Preferred food, large size, North African context
  4. FossilEra — https://www.fossilera.com/pages/spinosaurus
    Supports: Length and weight estimates, mid-Cretaceous age
  5. Active Wild — https://www.activewild.com/spinosaurus-facts/
    Supports: Length estimates, mid-Cretaceous age, semi-aquatic lifestyle