T-Rex vs Spinosaurus: Who Would Win in a Fight?

Written by Kyle Glatz
Updated: August 10, 2023
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The T-Rex was a massive dinosaur that roamed the planet 68-66 million years ago. The Spinosaurus was another, an even larger reptile that lived about 93.6 million years ago, so it’s very unlikely that it ever met a T-Rex.

Although they never crossed paths in real life, the question of which of these reptiles would win in a fight against the other is too intriguing to not explore. We have gathered a lot of valuable data to determine the winner of a T-Rex vs Spinosaurus battle, including physical data and information about their hunting patterns.

We’re going to use this information to determine which of these two capable monsters would win in a battle. This is a battle across time and between two titans; see who comes away victorious!

Comparing a T-Rex and a Spinosaurus

T-Rex vs Spinosaurus
Spinosaurus is larger than the T-Rex, but the T-Rex has a far deadlier bite.
T-RexSpinosaurus
SizeWeight: 11,000-15,000lbs
Height: 12-20ft
Length: 40ft
Weight: up to 31,000lbs
Height: 23ft
Length: 45-60 feet
Speed and Movement Type17 mph
– Bipedal striding
15 mph  
– Bipedal striding
Bite Power and Teeth57,000 N
– 50-60 D-shaped serrated teeth
– 12-inch teeth
19,000 N  
– 64 straight, conical teeth, similar to modern crocodiles
– 1-6 inches long
Senses– A very strong sense of smell
– High vision with very large eyes
– Great hearing
–  Poor sense of smell
– Good vision
– Unknown hearing due to lack of skull samples
Defenses– Massive size
– Running speed
– Massive size
– Ability to attack creatures in the water
Offensive Capabilities– Bone-crushing bites
– High running speed to chase down enemies
– Powerful bites
– Speed to chase prey
Predatory Behavior– Possibly a devastating predator that could kill smaller creatures with ease
– Potentially a scavenger
– Possibly a semi-aquatic dinosaur that ambushed prey at the water’s edge.
– Could successfully chase other large therapods

Five Cool Facts About T-Rex vs Spinosaurus

Giganotosaurus vs T-Rex - T Rex hunting

T-Rex had one of the most powerful bites of any animal that has ever lived, with an estimated bite force of over 12,000 pounds per square inch.

©Herschel Hoffmeyer/Shutterstock.com

T-Rex and Spinosaurus are two of the most well-known and fearsome dinosaurs to have ever lived. Both were massive predators that dominated their respective environments, but they had their own unique characteristics that set them apart.

Here are five cool facts about T-Rex vs Spinosaurus:

  1. T-Rex was a land-based predator that relied on its powerful legs and jaws to hunt down its prey, while Spinosaurus was adapted to an aquatic lifestyle, with long, paddle-like feet that helped it swim through water.
  2. T-Rex had one of the most powerful bites of any animal that has ever lived, with an estimated bite force of over 12,000 pounds per square inch. Spinosaurus, on the other hand, had a longer snout and narrower jaws, which may have allowed it to catch fish more easily.
  3. T-Rex had a massive head that was almost 1.5 meters long, with teeth that were over 20 centimeters long. Spinosaurus had a similarly large head, but its teeth were more conical and suited for catching fish.
  4. While T-Rex and Spinosaurus lived during the same general time period, they actually lived on different continents. T-Rex lived in what is now North America, while Spinosaurus lived in what is now North Africa.
  5. T-Rex and Spinosaurus are often portrayed as mortal enemies in popular culture, there is actually no direct evidence that they ever fought each other.

Furthermore, T-Rex and Spinosaurus were both incredible animals that have captured the imagination of people for generations.

The Key Factors in a Fight Between T-Rex and Spinosaurus

Spinosaurus vs Tyrannosaurus

Spinosaurus

vs T-Rex would pit two massive prehistoric predators against one another.

©Herschel Hoffmeyer/Shutterstock.com

When it comes to a fight between two monstrous reptiles like these, the battle will come down to a few key factors.

We have determined that physical components as well as the hunting behaviors of the dinosaurs in question will have the biggest impact on the fight between them. Take a closer look at how each of the elements we summed up in the table above would impact the fight.

Physical Features

The Spinosaurus is taller, heavier, and longer than the T-Rex.

Both the T-Rex and Spinosaurus are known for being absolutely massive dinosaurs. They will need every advantage they can get if they are to survive a battle. We’ve broken down the physical elements of these dinosaurs into five very specific features. Take a look at how these two dinosaurs measure up to each other.

T-Rex vs Spinosaurus: Size

The T-Rex was a very large dinosaur that weighed up to 15,000 lbs, stood anywhere from 12-20ft in height, and was about 40ft long. Many people think the T-Rex is the king of all dinosaurs in terms of size, but the Spinosaurus dwarfs it.

Spinosaurus weighs 31,000 pounds, stood 23ft tall, and could reach 60ft in length. This was a much larger creature, especially for a carnivore.

Spinosaurus gets the advantage in terms of sheer size.

T-Rex vs Spinosaurus: Speed and Movement

The T-Rex was swift for a reptile its size. It could run at 17mph with a bipedal stride. The Spinosaurus was slightly slower on land, running at 15mph, but it’s assumed this creature would spend a lot of time in the water, where it was far better at swimming.

 T-Rex gets the advantage for speed, but only on land.

T-Rex vs Spinosaurus: Bite Power and Teeth

The Spinosaurus has 64 straight, conical teeth and a mouth that was similar to a crocodile. However, its bite power was 19,000 N, and that is nothing compared to the T-Rex. The T-Rex had immensely powerful jaws that allowed the dinosaur to exert upwards of 57,000 N of power on a bite.

Moreover, the T-Rex had teeth up to 12 inches long while the Spinosaurus had a few teeth that measured perhaps 6 inches. The T-Rex was made to hunt and kill with its powerful bite, but the Spinosaurus seems better suited to catching fish.

The T-Rex gets the biting advantage.

T-Rex vs Spinosaurus: Senses

How Long Were Dinosaurs on Earth

Spinosaurus

©Daniel Eskridge/Shutterstock.com

The T-Rex gets the benefit of having many very detailed fossilized remains, so we know it had an amazing sense of smell, vision, and hearing. However, we don’t have as much information about Spinosaurus, but it looks like it had good vision and a poor sense of smell. Not much is known about its hearing.

T-Rex gets the advantage for the senses.

T-Rex vs Spinosaurus: Physical Defenses

Physical defenses will keep a predator alive or stop a fight before it starts. In the case of the T-Rex, its massive size, ability to run 17mph, and intelligence made it an incredibly potent force from a defensive standpoint.

The Spinosaurus was even bigger than T-Rex and it could hide out in the water, too.

The Spinosaurus was not as smart as the T-Rex, but its adaptability and size give it the advantage for the defense.  

Combat Skills

The ability to fight well is very important for surviving a battle. The T-Rex and Spinosaurus have certain habits as predators that set them apart, and they have different offensive powers. Take a look at which dinosaur comes out on top in terms of its fighting prowess.  

T-Rex vs Spinosaurus: Offensive Capabilities

The T-Rex has a powerful bite that would tear a great deal of flesh from an opponent as well as two small arms that could cut deep into the enemy. They also have the speed needed to catch their prey, giving them a small chance of escaping unharmed unless they went somewhere the T-Rex couldn’t reach.

The Spinosaurus also had a strong bite that would cause severe punctures to prey. Their ability to attack in and near the water also sets them apart.

These two creatures get a tie because their offensive powers are strong but too unique to determine a winner.  

T-Rex vs Spinosaurus: Predatory Behaviors

The T-Rex would smell, see, or hear prey and then pursue it until they managed to kill it. Their methods were straightforward but very effective. Spinosaurus could have been a pursuit predator, but it could also be an ambush predator, seeking prey in the water or near the water’s edge.

These two dinosaurs tie because they were both the most vicious predators of their day.

What Are Key Differences Between T-Rex and Spinosaurus?

Giganotosaurus vs T-Rex - T Rex hunting

T-Rex is smaller than Spinosaurus, but the T-Rex is smarter and built to kill.

©Herschel Hoffmeyer/Shutterstock.com

The Spinosaurus was heavier, taller, and longer than the T-Rex, but the latter’s bite was far more powerful. The Spinosaurus was also believed to be semi-aquatic, but the T-Rex lived solely on land. Lastly, the T-Rex was far more intelligent than the Spinosaurus and had more acute senses.

Who Would Win in a Fight Between T-Rex and Spinosaurus?

How Long Were Dinosaurs on Earth

The

T-Rex would win in a fight

against Spinosaurus.

©Orla/Shutterstock.com

In a T-Rex vs Spinosaurus fight, the T-Rex would come away victorious. The Spinosaurus does have the benefit of being able to ambush a T-Rex at the edge of the water, and that might be the lone scenario where the T-Rex loses. It would still be hard to pull off given the T-Rex’s amazing senses.

Yet, the T-Rex had a massive neck that the Spinosaurus wasn’t going to break with its bite power. The T-Rex could thrash free and clamp down on the Spinosaurus. With all that power and the 12-inch teeth, the most likely outcome is that the T-Rex kills Spinosaurus.

In fact, using its high intellect, senses, powerful legs to prevent getting toppled, and tremendous bite, the T-Rex would come into this fight underweight, but it would still have the power to do fatal damage to the other dinosaur. That is where the Spinosaurus comes up short.

The photo featured at the top of this post is ©


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About the Author

Kyle Glatz is a writer at A-Z-Animals where his primary focus is on geography and mammals. Kyle has been writing for researching and writing about animals and numerous other topics for 10 years, and he holds a Bachelor's Degree in English and Education from Rowan University. A resident of New Jersey, Kyle enjoys reading, writing, and playing video games.

FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions) 

Is a T-Rex larger than a Spinosaurus?

The Spinosaurus was longer than a T-Rex, and is the largest known carnivorous dinosaur. Estimates for Spinosaurus’ length reach up to 60 feet while estimates for T-Rex’s length typically range between 40 feet and a high-end of 50 feet for the largest possible specimens.

Thank you for reading! Have some feedback for us? Contact the AZ Animals editorial team.