The record · Diet

What did Spinosaurus eat?

For the largest predatory dinosaur, Spinosaurus had a surprising main course: fish. Here is what it ate and how we know.

Quick answer

Spinosaurus was a piscivore, a fish-eater. The rivers of Cretaceous North Africa were full of giant fish like coelacanths, lungfish and sawfish, and Spinosaurus was built to catch them with its long jaws, conical teeth and pressure-sensing snout. It also took smaller prey and carrion when it could.

DietPiscivoreTeethConicalMain preyFish

A fish-eater's toolkit

Everything about Spinosaurus's head points to catching fish. Its jaws were long and narrow, snapping shut with little water resistance. Its teeth were straight, smooth and cone-shaped, perfect for gripping slippery prey but poor for slicing flesh. And the tip of its snout carried pressure-sensing pits that could feel prey moving in murky water, much like a modern crocodile.

What was on the menu

Coelacanths, some as big as a car
Lungfish
Sawfish such as the giant Onchopristis
Smaller dinosaurs and reptiles near the water
Carrion when the chance came

How we know

The evidence stacks up: the fish-catching jaw and teeth, the pressure-sensing snout, and spinosaurid remains found alongside fish scales. Chemical studies of the bones also point to a life spent hunting in water. Like a modern grizzly at a salmon run, Spinosaurus almost certainly took whatever it could, but fish were the staple that let such a giant thrive.

Common questions

Did Spinosaurus eat meat?

Yes, Spinosaurus was a carnivore, but its main prey was fish rather than large land animals. It would also have taken smaller dinosaurs, reptiles and carrion near the water.

Did Spinosaurus eat other dinosaurs?

Occasionally, probably. Its jaws were built for fish, but like a modern bear it would have taken smaller dinosaurs or scavenged carcasses when the opportunity arose. Fish were the staple, though.

What fish did Spinosaurus eat?

The rivers of Cretaceous North Africa held huge fish, including coelacanths, lungfish and sawfish like Onchopristis, which had a saw-like snout. These large fish were ideal prey for a giant fish-eater.

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