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Has a complete skeleton been discovered?
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Illustration of a Spinosaurus, a large theropod dinosaur with a long snout, crocodile-like jaws, and a distinctive sail-like structure on its back.
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Illustration of a Spinosaurus, a large theropod dinosaur with a long snout, crocodile-like jaws, and a distinctive sail-like structure on its back.
Spinosaurus With its crocodile-like snout and sail-like back, the Spinosaurus is one of the most mysterious dinosaurs ever discovered.

Has a complete skeleton been discovered?

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β€’History

A complete skeleton of the Spinosaurus has not yet been discovered. What we know about this giant theropod dinosaur comes from partial fossils unearthed in North Africa, including the Kem Kem beds, a fossil-rich region that stretches across parts of Morocco and Algeria. The Spinosaurus was first identified from fossils unearthed in Egypt in 1912 and formally named by German paleontologist Ernst Stromer three years later. These remains were housed in Munich but were destroyed in Allied bombings during World War II. A full skeletal reconstruction has not yet been possible.

From the discoveries, paleontologists believe that the Spinosaurus had a long, crocodile-like skull, a distinctive sail-like structure on its back, and was adapted for swimming. At about 14–18 meters (46–59 feet) in body length, it was longer than the Tyrannosaurus rex and is considered the largest known carnivorous dinosaur. However, without a complete skeleton, many details of its anatomy and lifestyle remain uncertain, and reconstructions rely on comparisons with related species and educated guesses.

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