Fossil Spinosaurus: The Largest Known Carnivorous Dinosaur
Spinosaurus is one of the most spectacular and horrible creatures that ever stalked the Earth. Evidence suggests that it was semi-aquatic, so there was nowhere to escape from this fish- and dinosaur-eating monster. It belonged to a genus of theropod dinosaur, and lived in what is now North Africa during the Cretaceous period, about 112 to 97 million years ago. The original fossil evidence of S. aegyptiacus from Egypt was destroyed in WWII. More recently, relatively abundant Spinosaurus fossils have been found in the Kem Kem Beds of Morocco, and there are almost certainly multiple species present.
Spinosaurus Fossil Facts
Spinosaurus teeth are relatively common fossils, but large (3+ inches), well-preserved examples are rare. These large Spinosaurus teeth will often be heavily doctored. We’ve seen many examples where multiple partial teeth can been glued to together to create a larger fake tooth, or where enamel has been painted on. One giveaway to look for is a ring of sand around the middle of the tooth, usually glued on to hide a break. Sometimes this is a sign that multiple partial teeth have been composited, but other times it is used to disguise a badly done repair job.