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Spinosaurus vs. Tyrannosaurus: What's the Difference?

Edited by Sumera Saeed || By Sawaira Riaz || Published on November 4, 2023
"Spinosaurus, a semi-aquatic dinosaur with a sail-like spine, lived in Cretaceous Africa. Tyrannosaurus, a bipedal carnivore with massive jaws, roamed late Cretaceous North America."

Key Differences

"Spinosaurus," a dinosaur known for its distinctive spinal sail, likely ate fish, indicating a semi-aquatic lifestyle. In contrast, "Tyrannosaurus," recognizable by its massive skull and sharp teeth, was likely an apex land predator.
Sawaira Riaz
Nov 04, 2023
"Spinosaurus" is believed to have walked on all fours due to its long forelimbs, unlike the "Tyrannosaurus," which was distinctly bipedal and balanced by a heavy tail.
Sawaira Riaz
Nov 04, 2023
The physical habitat of the "Spinosaurus" included riverbanks of prehistoric North Africa, facilitating its fish-based diet. "Tyrannosaurus," however, thrived in various environments across western North America, hunting large herbivorous dinosaurs.
Sawaira Riaz
Nov 04, 2023
"Spinosaurus" possessed a series of elongated neural spines, forming a sail-like structure on its back, perhaps for thermoregulation or display. "Tyrannosaurus" lacked such a feature, but had one of the largest bite forces among all terrestrial animals.
Sawaira Riaz
Nov 04, 2023
Fossil records suggest the "Spinosaurus" was among the largest of all known carnivorous dinosaurs, potentially longer and heavier than the "Tyrannosaurus," which was, however, more robustly built and had a broader skull.
Janet White
Nov 04, 2023
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Comparison Chart

ZzzzzHabitat

Semi-aquatic, near water
Terrestrial, various environments
Sawaira Riaz
Nov 04, 2023

Physical Characteristic

Sail-like spine, quadrupedal
Massive skull, bipedal
Sawaira Riaz
Nov 04, 2023

Diet

Mainly fish
Large dinosaurs, scavenging
Sawaira Riaz
Nov 04, 2023

Location

Cretaceous Africa
Late Cretaceous North America
Aimie Carlson
Nov 04, 2023

Function of Unique Feature

Thermoregulation/display
Powerful bite force
Aimie Carlson
Nov 04, 2023
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Spinosaurus and Tyrannosaurus Definitions

Spinosaurus

Semi-aquatic dinosaur
The Spinosaurus was adept at swimming, hunting for fish in ancient rivers.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 20, 2023

Tyrannosaurus

North American dinosaur
The Tyrannosaurus is a well-known dinosaur from western North America.
Sara Rehman
Oct 20, 2023

Spinosaurus

Distinctive sail-backed
The Spinosaurus is easily identified by the unique sail on its back.
Aimie Carlson
Oct 20, 2023

Tyrannosaurus

Apex predator
The Tyrannosaurus was an apex predator at the top of the food chain.
Harlon Moss
Oct 20, 2023

Spinosaurus

Cretaceous period
The Spinosaurus lived during the Cretaceous period, around 95 million years ago.
Harlon Moss
Oct 20, 2023
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Tyrannosaurus

Bipedal carnivore
The Tyrannosaurus walked on two legs, making it a bipedal creature.
Sara Rehman
Oct 20, 2023

Spinosaurus

Large carnivore
As a carnivore, Spinosaurus was one of the largest predatory dinosaurs.
Sara Rehman
Oct 20, 2023

Tyrannosaurus

Giant skull
The massive skull of the Tyrannosaurus housed some of the largest teeth of any known land predator.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 20, 2023

Spinosaurus

African dinosaur
Fossils of Spinosaurus have been predominantly found in what is now North Africa.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 20, 2023

Tyrannosaurus

Late Cretaceous
Tyrannosaurus rex lived in the Late Cretaceous period, around 68 to 66 million years ago.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 20, 2023

Spinosaurus

A very large carnivorous theropod dinosaur of the genus Spinosaurus of the Cretaceous Period, characterized by a long narrow snout and long spines on the back that may have formed a sail-like structure.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 13, 2023

Tyrannosaurus

Any of various tyrannosaurid dinosaurs of the genus Tyrannosaurus, having a large head and teeth and short forelimbs, and including T. rex and possibly some other species. Also called tyrannosaur.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 13, 2023

Spinosaurus

A large, extinct, carnivorous dinosaur of genus Spinosaurus, with a long snout like that of a crocodile and with a sail on its back. It is considered to be the largest Theropod dinosaur.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 13, 2023

Tyrannosaurus

See T. rex.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 13, 2023

Tyrannosaurus

A large carnivorous dinosaur, of the genus Tyrannosaurus, found in North America during the late Cretaceous period.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 13, 2023

Tyrannosaurus

Large carnivorous bipedal dinosaur having enormous teeth with knifelike serrations; may have been a scavenger rather than an active predator; later Cretaceous period in North America
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 13, 2023

FAQs

What did Spinosaurus eat?

Likely fish and other aquatic prey.
Sawaira Riaz
Nov 04, 2023

Was Tyrannosaurus a scavenger?

There's debate, but it likely scavenged and hunted.
Sawaira Riaz
Nov 04, 2023

How big was Tyrannosaurus's brain?

Large for a dinosaur, suggesting it was relatively intelligent.
Sawaira Riaz
Nov 04, 2023

Did Tyrannosaurus have feathers?

Some evidence suggests it had feather-like structures, at least as juveniles.
Harlon Moss
Nov 04, 2023

Was Spinosaurus bigger than Tyrannosaurus?

In length, likely, but not necessarily in mass.
Sawaira Riaz
Nov 04, 2023

Could Spinosaurus swim?

Yes, it's believed to have been semi-aquatic.
Sawaira Riaz
Nov 04, 2023

How strong was a Tyrannosaurus's bite?

Extremely strong, among the most powerful in the animal kingdom.
Sawaira Riaz
Nov 04, 2023

How tall was the sail on Spinosaurus?

Estimates suggest about 5.4 to 5.9 feet tall.
Sawaira Riaz
Nov 04, 2023

How fast could Tyrannosaurus run?

Estimates vary, with upper limits around 25 mph.
Sara Rehman
Nov 04, 2023

Did Spinosaurus walk on two legs?

Recent evidence suggests it was primarily quadrupedal.
Sara Rehman
Nov 04, 2023

Did Spinosaurus have enemies?

It likely faced threats from other large predators and environmental factors.
Harlon Moss
Nov 04, 2023

Where have Spinosaurus fossils been found?

Primarily in North Africa.
Sawaira Riaz
Nov 04, 2023

Were Tyrannosaurus and Spinosaurus contemporaries?

No, they lived in different times and regions.
Sara Rehman
Nov 04, 2023

How long was Spinosaurus?

Possibly up to 59 feet, though estimates vary.
Aimie Carlson
Nov 04, 2023

How strong were Tyrannosaurus's arms?

They were small but may have been quite strong.
Janet White
Nov 04, 2023

Could Spinosaurus regulate its body temperature?

The sail may have helped with thermoregulation.
Aimie Carlson
Nov 04, 2023

How did Tyrannosaurus reproduce?

It laid eggs, like other dinosaurs.
Harlon Moss
Nov 04, 2023

What colors were Tyrannosaurus?

Unknown, as soft tissues preserving color are rarely fossilized.
Janet White
Nov 04, 2023

Could Tyrannosaurus see well?

Yes, it likely had excellent vision.
Sawaira Riaz
Nov 04, 2023

Was Spinosaurus the largest carnivorous dinosaur?

It's among the largest known, but exact rankings are debated.
Sawaira Riaz
Nov 04, 2023
About Author
Written by
Sawaira Riaz
Sawaira is a dedicated content editor at difference.wiki, where she meticulously refines articles to ensure clarity and accuracy. With a keen eye for detail, she upholds the site's commitment to delivering insightful and precise content.
Edited by
Sumera Saeed
Sumera is an experienced content writer and editor with a niche in comparative analysis. At Diffeence Wiki, she crafts clear and unbiased comparisons to guide readers in making informed decisions. With a dedication to thorough research and quality, Sumera's work stands out in the digital realm. Off the clock, she enjoys reading and exploring diverse cultures.

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