The T-Rex and Spinosaurus are two of the biggest dinosaurs that have ever lived on Earth. Although they both existed in the Cretaceous epoch, they were never in direct contact.
But who would prevail in a battle between the two species in a fictitious Jurassic Park?
The largest carnivorous dinosaurs were the Spinosauri, which could reach a height of 59 feet and a weight of more than 20 tons. They were capable of producing a force of up to 690,000 pounds per foot-second and running up to 15 miles per hour. Although T-Rexes were slower and smaller, their jaws were stronger and could bite with a force of nearly 10,000 pounds. There would be opportunities for both dinosaurs to prevail in combat.
The following table lists the facts and strength differences between the Spinosaurus vs T Rex:
| Characteristics | Spinosaurus | T-Rex |
|---|---|---|
| body length | 46 to 59 feet | 36 to 40 feet |
| Weight | 13 to 23 tons | 5.5 to 8 tons |
| Locomotion type | Primarily quadrupedal | Bipedal striding |
| Footprint | 2.13 feet | 2.6 feet |
| Speed | 15 mph | 12 mph |
| Skull size | 6 feet | 5 feet |
| Teeth length | 8 inches | 6 inches |
| Bite force | 11,936 N | 48,505 N |
| Strike force | Up to 690,000 lb.-ft./s | Up to 186,000 lb.-ft./s |
| Classification | Spinosaurus aegyptiacus | Tyrannosaurus rex |
| Geographic range | North Africa | North America |
| Habitat | Semi-aquatic | Terrestrial |
| Behavior | Aggressive | Gregarious |
| Diet | Carnivorous | Carnivorous |
| Geological Period | 112 to 97 million years ago | 90 to 66 million years ago |
Research papers, scientific journals, studies, periodicals, and other official sources provided the data in the table. The top weight (in pounds) stated for each Spinosaurus vs T Rex dinosaur species was multiplied by the top speed to determine the strike forces.
15 Differences Between Spinosaurus Vs T-Rex
1. Size
If we’ve learned anything from combat sports, it’s that size counts in a battle. Usually, physical characteristics like height and weight are used to compare boxers and MMA combatants.
As far as dinosaurs are concerned, Spinosauri would be superior.
At 46 to 59 feet in length, these extinct reptiles were the largest of all carnivorous dinosaurs.
The average height of a Spinosaurus is thought to have been between 16 and 20 feet, in addition to having long bodies and powerful tails.
In comparison to a Spinosaurus vs T Rex, T-Rexes were very small, while being among the most vicious reptiles.
Actually, a T-Rex’s typical length is thought to be between 36 and 40 feet. They could reach a height of 12 feet, making them lesser than Spinosaurus.
2. Weight
Weight is another element that can make or break a fight, in addition to stature. The fact that Spinosauri were heavier than T-Rexes is also not surprising given the disparity in height and length.
In particular, it is thought that a Spinosaurus weighs between 13 and 23 tons on average.
It is thought that the T-Rex, the most well-known of the upright dinosaurs, weighed between 11,000 and 15,500 pounds, or roughly 5.5 to 8 tons.
3. Locomotion Type
Spinosaurus vs T Rex are both members of the theropods, a group of upright, bipedal dinosaurs.
But the T-Rex is the only one of the two dinosaurs that walked on two feet.
Originally belonging to this genus, spinosaurus dinosaurs were later shown to be largely quadrupedal based on their comparatively long front limbs and short hind limbs.
Furthermore, researchers have come to the conclusion that these dinosaurs were truly semi-aquatic, mostly moving through the water with their powerful tails.
T-Rexes, on the other hand, moved on two legs and were mostly terrestrial. Although the exact function of its small front limbs is unknown, several ideas contend that they may have served as ferocious weapons.
Sea also: Giganotosaurus Vs tyrannosaurus rex -15 Amazing Differences (Sizes & Fights)
4. Footprint Size
Spinosaurus vs T Rex both had three-toed hind feet, regardless of whether they were quadrupedal or bipedal. The startling thing is that T-Rexes had bigger feet than Spinosauri, even if their bodies were smaller.
South American tridactyl dinosaur footprints ranged in length from 1.67 to 2.13 feet. Despite the fact that spinosauri did not inhabit South America, scientists came to the conclusion that their feet must have been comparable in size.
Montana T-Rex footprints, on the other hand, are roughly 2.5 feet long. An estimated range of 2.5 to 2.6 feet is suggested by other footprints. The locomotion type is the most plausible explanation for this conundrum.
The Spinosaurus dinosaurs most likely walked on four feet, as previously mentioned. Because they walked on two feet, T-Rexes required larger feet to stay balanced.
5. Speed
Despite the fact that speed and size aren’t exactly the same thing, some of the largest terrestrial species, such elephants and rhinoceros, can run at over thirty miles per hour.
For dinosaurs, this isn’t the case, though.
T-Rexes were found to run between 10 and 12 miles per hour, which is roughly the same speed as the average human runner.
With a top sprint speed of about 15 miles per hour, spinosauri weren’t much faster. Although this additional boost might not seem like much, it could offer the Spinosaurus a fighting edge.
An additional benefit would be the ability to swim at a speed of roughly 5.5 miles per hour, which is comparable to that of a polar bear.
6. Skull Size
It is hardly surprising that the Spinosaurus vs T Rex dinosaurs had enormous skulls considering their enormous size.
According to archeological discoveries, Spinosaurus heads were about six feet long. T-Rex heads were around five feet long, only marginally shorter.
For many years, craniometry has been used to estimate the size and intelligence of different animals’ brains.
It is reasonable to presume that T. Rex’s brain was larger than Spinosaurus’s in relation to its body size based on the information currently available. T-Rexes may therefore have been smarter.
7. Teeth Length
The diet of the Spinosaurus vs T Rex was similar; both dinosaurs were carnivorous and possessed long, pointed teeth that could readily rip through meat and skin.
Strong jaws and roughly 64 conical teeth, each measuring eight to ten inches in length, were characteristics of the Spinosaurus.
T-Rexes possessed roughly 60 serrated teeth, which were duller and broader than those of Spinosaurus. However, at roughly six inches in length, they were long enough to cause potentially fatal injuries and strong enough to crush bones.
8. Bite Force
One significant advantage that T-Rexes had over Spinosaurus was their extremely powerful jaws, even with their smaller skulls and shorter teeth.
Scientists estimated that a T-Rex’s biting force was approximately 48,505 Newton, or roughly 10,904 pounds of force, in a research evaluating bite forces in extinct dinosaurs.
The Spinosaurus still had a strong bite, although it was far weaker than the T-Rex’s. The same study found that they were only able to bite with only 11,936 Newton (2,683 pounds of force).
Even though Spinosaurus was around four times as strong as T-Rexes, the latter could still easily shatter bones and kill prey. For comparison, humans possess a bite force of only 292 pounds, or roughly 1,300 Newtons.
9. Strike Force
Finding out which species could hit the other with more force is crucial for determining the likelihood of winning a conflict, even if there are no studies assessing the strike force of dinosaurs.
For this reason, the force at the point of impact was regarded as the strike force.
By multiplying the mass by the speed of the impact, the momentum may be easily calculated. For comparison, we took into account each dinosaur species’ maximum weight and speed.
As one might expect, the Spinosaurus regains control and can knock the T-Rex down with a force of 690,000 lb.-ft./s.
10. Classification
Like every other species in the Dinosauria order, the T-Rex and Spinosaurus are extinct from this order. But they’re from different families.
Spinosauri are members of the Spinosauridae family and the Spinosaurus genus, even though both species are members of the Theropoda division.
Spinosaurus aegyptiacus is the true name of the species that is most frequently referred to as Spinosaurus. According to certain theories, Morocco was home to another species, Spinosaurus marocannus.
The Tyrannosaurus Rex is a member of the Tyrannosaurus genus and Tyrannosauridae family. Tyrannosaurus Rex was thought to be the sole species in the genus for a very long period.
But according to current scientific theory, there were three distinct species—the Tyrannosaurus Regina, Tyrannosaurus Imperator, and T-Rex.
11. Geographic Range
Despite never having lived together, the T-Rex and the Spinosaurus shared a common geological epoch. Even if they did, there was little chance that the two species would cross paths.
They lived in different parts of the world, which explains why.
North Africa may have been home to Spinosauri, according to archeological data. North America is where Tyrannosaurus Rex originated.
12. Habitat
The habitat choice is one way that Spinosaurus vs T Rex differ from one another. The semi-aquatic creatures known as spinosauri were primarily located along rivers, although they were also found along the coast.
Terrestrial, T-Rexes inhabited a variety of environments. Numerous sub-tropical and semi-arid environments, such as plains and coastal regions, have yielded fossils.
13. Behavior
The powerful jaws of the T-Rex might harm opponents. Maybe this explains why these primitive reptiles are portrayed in popular culture as vicious killing machines.
Even though they may have engaged in fierce combat with one another, evidence points to the possibility that they were social animals.
Although it is widely believed that T-Rexes were predators, experts are still unsure if this is accurate or if their primary function was scavenging.
The behavior of Spinosaurus is likewise debatable. Since these reptiles were the first dinosaurs to swim and were primarily piscivores, it is possible that they killed prey more frequently than T-Rex.
But instead of hunting prey in the water, experts say they behaved more like herons or storks without wings.
14. Diet
T-Rexes, like the majority of carnivorous creatures, were opportunistic hunters that mostly hunted huge prey. They mostly consumed herbivorous dinosaurs, such as Triceratops.
Specialists thought for a long time that these dinosaurs were likewise cannibalistic. These theories are not well supported by the available data, though.
As previously stated, the majority of Spinosauri were piscivores, or predominantly consumed fish. But they also probably consumed terrestrial prey.
15. Geological Period
We pointed out that the Spinosaurus vs T Rex that shared a common geological epoch. This does not, however, imply that they were both alive at the same time.
Although both species existed throughout the Cretaceous period, Spinosaurus lived between 112 and 97 million years ago.
According to the majority of the evidence, when the first T-Rex arrived, about 90 million years ago, spinosauri were long extinct. The extinction of these dinosaurs occurred approximately 66 million years ago.
Who Would Win A Fight?
As previously demonstrated, the Spinosaurus vs T Rex did not coexist. What would be the outcome of a battle between these two enormous reptilian species if they were brought back?
Interestingly, the odds of both winning would be roughly equal.
Even though a T-Rex is smaller and heavier than a Spinosaurus, its bipedal mode of locomotion may make it more nimble on land. Because the T-Rex’s bite is far more powerful than a Spinosaurus’, it may cause more severe damage.
T-Rexes may be hit more forcefully by Spinosauri if they would crash into the opponent while sprinting at full speed. The information at hand suggests that the outcome of the battle would mostly rely on the situation.
If the T-Rex could be ambushed by the Spinosaurus and forced to a body of water, the former would probably prevail. The Spinosaurus might increase its chances of winning if it crashes into the T-Rex at full speed and knocks it off.
But the T-Rex would only need to bite its victim in a weak region, like the throat or abdomen, to bring it down.