Gigantspinosaurus

Gigantspinosaurus was a bizarre early stegosaur that inhabited the lush river plains of Jurassic China, around 160 million years ago. Despite its misleading name, it was unrelated to Spinosaurus; instead, the moniker refers to the remarkably enormous spines jutting outwards from its shoulders. These parascapular spines extended over twice the length of the animal's shoulder blades, serving as imposing defensive weapons against contemporary predators. In contrast to these spectacular spikes, the plates running along its back were relatively small and triangular. Gigantspinosaurus measured roughly four metres long and walked heavily on four stout limbs. It grazed on low-growing vegetation such as cycads and ferns, using its beak and small serrated teeth to clip fibrous plant matter.

Its shoulder spines were exceptionally huge, measuring over twice the length of its shoulder blades.

Where and when

Gigantspinosaurus lived in the Middle Jurassic, from 163.5 to 157.3 million years ago (Oxfordian age). Its remains come from China, in the Shaximiao Formation.

The numbers

Length 4.3 m (estimates run from 4 to 4.5 m). Mass about 920 kg. Hip height about 1.4 m. That is 2.5 human-lengths, or 0.38 of a double-decker bus. These are estimates from partial skeleton; fields marked estimated by the site are length, mass, hip height.

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