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Just How Big Was Spinosaurus?

Spinosaurus Size

April 4, 2022 Scott Kraus

Spinosaurus goes down in the record books as the largest carnivorous dinosaur to be discovered to date. Perhaps one of the most characteristic features of Spinosaurus is the incredible sail that jutted from its back and added to this carnivores height. This sail is believed to have played a role in thermoregulation. Let’s take a look at just how enormous this prehistoric beast was.

Spinosaurus
Spinosaurus Image Courtesy of Flickr User Kabacchi

Take a look at some Spinosaurus Numbers!

Spinosaurus Length

The estimated length of Spinosaurus is approximated to be 46 feet.

46 feet is equal to:

Just over the length of four average male American alligators (11.2 feet)

Just less than the length of two fully grown male African elephants (24.6 feet per elephant)

6 feet longer than the length of a double decker bus (40 feet)

…and just for fun: equal to the length of 661 nickels.

Spinosaurus Weight

Estimates of Spinosaurus’ weight vary considerably but it is believed to have weighed in at between 12 and 19 tons or 24,000 to 38,000 lbs.

31,000 lbs (the mid point between these two estimates) is equal to:

6,200 five pound bags of sugar.

The approximate weight of a Mesco SOLAR/DX 140-V excavator.

2583 average 12lb housecats.

…and just for fun: equal to the weight of 24,800,000 average goose feathers.

Spinosaurus Height

Current estimates state that Spinosaurus with its spine included stood approximately 18 feet tall, that’s the average height of a giraffe and the same height as Quetzalcoatlus.

18 feet is equal to:

A little more than three Ryan Seacrest’s (why choose him? Go to Google and type “how tall is” and you’ll get the answer.)

The approximate size of two stories of a building (roof not included.)

Just over ten of the shortest person in the world in 2012.

…and just for fun: equal to the height of 3,541 pennies stacked on top of each other.

Spinosaurus Size

Would you challenge Spinosaurus for the biggest fish in the pond?

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