Description

Spinosaurus aegyptiacus
Theropod
Early Cretaceous
Tegana Formation
Taouz, Morocco

Huge 158mm rooted tooth.

Spinosaurus is a one of the largest known theropod dinosaurs reaching lengths of perhaps 15-16 meters (over 50 feet). It lived in the early part of the Late Cretaceous (roughly 90-100 million years ago) and is known from sites across north Africa and as far south as Kenya. It’s been interpreted as being semi-aquatic, even having a crocodile-like lifestyle to the point that it was a good a swimmer as a croc.

Spinosaurus got a lot more famous after appearing in a “Jurassic Park” movie. It is seen fighting with a Tyrannosaurus, though in real life, it died out millions of years before Tyrannosaurus appeared.

Many fossil collectors have at least one near-complete Spinosaurus tooth crown but dinosaur specialists are looking for a large one with the root still attached.  Here it is.