Spinosauridae Temporal range: Late Jurassic–Late Cretaceous,
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Skeletal reconstruction of Spinosaurus aegyptiacus, National Geographic Museum, Washington, D.C. | |
Scientific classification ![]() | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Clade: | Dinosauria |
Clade: | Saurischia |
Clade: | Theropoda |
Clade: | Avetheropoda |
Infraorder: | †Carnosauria |
Family: | †Spinosauridae Stromer, 1915 |
Type species | |
Spinosaurus aegyptiacus Stromer, 1915
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Subgroups | |
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Synonyms | |
Spinosauridae (meaning 'spined lizards') is a family of carnivorous theropod dinosaurs from the Jurassic and Cretaceous periods. They are unique among other meat-eating dinosaurs from their more water-based lifestyle, which involved a diet of mostly fish. Spinosaurid fossils have been found all over the world, including Asia, South America, Europe, Africa, and Australia.