The Jurassic Park and Jurassic World films have had their fair share of deadly dinosaurs through the years – both real and fictional – and some have even challenged the T-Rex’s throne. Two of the most notable of those would-be contenders are the Spinosaurus from Jurassic Park III, and the Giganotosaurus, who’s set to battle the T-Rex in the upcoming Jurassic World: Dominion. But which challenger is actually the stronger dino?
Despite its portrayal as a land-based apex predator in Jurassic Park III, Spinosaurus was notably different in real life. The dinosaur primarily ate fish, and its long body, short legs, and elongated jaw all helped in that mission. Evidence shows that the Spinosaurus also ate land-based prey, but that fish were its preferred food. In this way, Spinosaurus wasn’t entirely dissimilar to bears in modern ecosystems. In comparison to a T-Rex, Spinosaurus had significantly smaller teeth and a weaker jaw, but a longer tail. Though they never met in history, a T-Rex likely could have beaten a Spinosaurus easily in a battle on land.
Giganotosaurus, in contrast, was much more land-focused in its hunting. The creature is believed to have been a bit larger overall than a T-Rex, and its body type was much closer to that of the T-Rex than Spinosaurus. According to the available evidence, Giganotosaurus still didn’t have the teeth size or jaw strength of a Tyrannosaurus, but it was more accustomed to taking on larger land-based prey than Spinosaurus.
So which dinosaur was actually stronger? In truth, it depends on the environment. In any sort of aquatic or partially aquatic space, the Spinosaurus might have the advantage because of its superior mobility. The Spinosaurus was also longer and, with its spinal fin, taller than the Giganotosaurus. However, in most land-based scenarios, Giganotosaurus would likely have the upper hand. Its teeth and jaw were much stronger for facing off against similarly sized opponents, and the rest of its body was better equipped for mobility and agility on land.
Giganotosaurus would also probably have a better chance against a T-Rex than Spinosaurus would. The creature's slightly larger size and comparable body type would have helped, but it still would have likely fallen short before the Tyrannosaurus. T-Rex was still comparable in size, and its predatory abilities and overall strength were likely superior. So while Jurassic World can keep bringing in new dinosaurs to serve as the movies’ villains, they all would have had major trouble facing a T-Rex in real life.
