The Spinosaurus was larger than the Carchardontosaurs, but that doesn't mean it would win in a fight. While it was larger, it was a little slower and better in the water than on land. So, which dinosaur would walk away the victor in a battle to the death?
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Battle Facts about Spinosaurus & Carcharodontosaurus
| Name | Spinosaurus (Spinosaurus aegyptiacus, or Spine Lizard) | Carcharodontosaurus (Carcharodontosaurus saharicus, or Shark-Toothed Lizard) |
| Size | 46-52 feet long, weighed 16,000 pounds | 39–41 feet long, weighed 14,000 pounds |
| Speed | Up to 15 miles per hour | Up to 20 miles per hour |
| Offense | Strong forelimbs | Impressive bite force |
| Defense | Intimidating sails to scare away predators, ability to swim | Very fast |
| Endurance and Behavior | Waits along the water’s edge, stalking prey and waiting for an opportunity to strike | Aggressive behavior, outran prey |
The Spinosaurus and Carcharodontosaurus were two enormous late Cretaceous dinosaurs that lived in the upper regions of Africa.
With a mouth of razor-sharp teeth, fast speeds, and powerful limbs, these were some of the scariest theropods to roam the earth.
But what would happen if they crossed paths? Which of these mighty dinosaurs would reign supreme? The answer might not be what you think.
Unique Features of the Spinosaurus
The Spinosaurus’s build was unique compared to other carnivorous theropods like the Allosaurus, Tyrannosaurus Rex, Giganotosaurus, Carnotaurus, or Acrocanthosaurus. It had a colossal spine called a sail, and paleontologists have a few theories about its use.
Some believe that the Spinosaurus used its gigantic sail to intimidate carnivorous dinosaurs and send a message that they better stay away.
While the Spinosaurus was slightly bigger than other predators like the Tarbosaurus or Carcharodontosaurus, it could make itself look even bigger by fanning its giant sail.
Was the Spinosaurus Bigger Than Carcharodontosaurus?
The Spinosaurus was larger than the Carcharodontosaurus, but only by a hair.
The Spinosaurus was a gigantic dinosaur that stood almost 18 feet tall and could reach lengths of up to 52 feet. To put that into perspective, the Spinosaurus was as long as a semi-truck you see on the highway.
Even its spine, or sail, measured over 6 feet tall. That’s some pretty scary stuff. But the Carcharodontosaurus was almost as large. It stood an impressive 43 feet long and stood 12 feet tall.
What Did These Dinosaurs Eat?
If you were a sauropod or a plant-eating quadruped, you didn’t have to worry about the Spinosaurus. The Spinosaurus was a fish-eating semi-aquatic dinosaur that spent most of its time in the water.
Because it spent so much time in the water, it wasn’t equipped to fight land animals like raptors. One of its biggest predators was a sea-dwelling creature called the Sarcosuchus, similar to a modern crocodile.
The Carcharodontosaurus, on the other hand, didn’t spend any time in the water. It ate plant-eating sauropods like the Ankylosaurus and the Triceratops or smaller theropod dinosaurs like the Velociraptor.
Because the Carcharodontosaurus was a land dinosaur, it was better equipped to fight other land dinos and become a problem for the Spinosaurus.
Did the Carcharodontosaurus Fight the Spinosaurus?
These two cretaceous theropods were likely neighbors and probably fought each other at one moment. They both lived in parts of North Africa almost 100 million years ago and were among some of the scariest predators of the Cretaceous period.
They were so big and scary that they would even give the T-Rex a run for its money if they lived on the same continents. Theropods dinosaurs were aggressive creatures and often fought for territory and food.
Can a Spinosaurus Beat a Carcharodontosaurus?
In a battle of these two, the Carcharodontosaurus wins.
While the Spinosaurus was larger than the Carcharodontosaurus, it couldn’t match its speed and impressive bite force. The Spinosaurus was a semi-aquatic animal, which meant it had a skeleton structure equipped for both land and sea. This meant that if it got into a land battle, it wasn’t as well equipped to fight as the Carcharodontosaurus.
Despite Spino’s size, its bite force was also surprisingly weak. It was game over if Spino got into the grips of the Carcharodontosaurus’ jaw. However, if Spino caught the Carcharodontosaurus in the water, it would likely come out on top.