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Spinosaur Tales: The Biology and Ecology of the Spinosaurs
The spinosaurs – the dinosaur group that includes the largest land predator of all time, the awe-inspiring Spinosaurus – star in this cutting-edge review.
The giant sail-backed carnivorous dinosaur Spinosaurus is one of the most famous of all dinosaurs; a staple of documentaries, books and video games, and the beast that bested the mighty Tyrannosaurus rex in Jurassic Park III. But what do we actually know about this crocodile-headed monster and its relatives, the spinosaurs?
The spinosaurs were some of the strangest predatory dinosaurs, combining a long low skull with powerfully clawed hands. Some species had huge sails over their backs, as well as fin-like tails. A great deal of scientific mystery surrounds them. Their fossil remains are highly fragmentary, many aspects of their appearance uncertain, their evolutionary relationships elusive, and interpretations of their ecology and behaviour are hotly contested.
Spinosaur Tales explores the exciting, sometimes controversial world of spinosaur science. Bringing these creatures back to life with stunning illustrations, world-renowned palaeontologists David Hone and Mark P. Witton present the latest views on the evolution, anatomy and lifestyles of an enigmatic yet charismatic dinosaur group.
The giant sail-backed carnivorous dinosaur Spinosaurus is one of the most famous of all dinosaurs; a staple of documentaries, books and video games, and the beast that bested the mighty Tyrannosaurus rex in Jurassic Park III. But what do we actually know about this crocodile-headed monster and its relatives, the spinosaurs?
The spinosaurs were some of the strangest predatory dinosaurs, combining a long low skull with powerfully clawed hands. Some species had huge sails over their backs, as well as fin-like tails. A great deal of scientific mystery surrounds them. Their fossil remains are highly fragmentary, many aspects of their appearance uncertain, their evolutionary relationships elusive, and interpretations of their ecology and behaviour are hotly contested.
Spinosaur Tales explores the exciting, sometimes controversial world of spinosaur science. Bringing these creatures back to life with stunning illustrations, world-renowned palaeontologists David Hone and Mark P. Witton present the latest views on the evolution, anatomy and lifestyles of an enigmatic yet charismatic dinosaur group.
320 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 6, 2025
About the author
David Hone
15 books56 followersDavid Hone is a paleontologist and senior lecturer at Queen Mary University of London. He has written about dinosaurs for leading publications such as National Geographic, The Guardian, The Telegraph and HuffPost. His books include The Tyrannosaur Chronicles: The Biology of the Tyrant Dinosaurs
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
December 21, 2025
A fascinating book that gathers together what is known about Spinosaurus, and related species, and presents them in a way that will interest both general readers and specialist (dinosaur and fossil lovers). The author is careful to state what the fossils actually tell us about Spinosaurus, and to provide speculations based on comparisons with other dinosaur families. At various times, the author does say that new fossil discoveries can invalidate what he says, so this should be not be considered an authoritative book with the final word on Spinosaurus.
The book starts out with an introduction to Spinosaurus and why it now in the limelight. Being the main dinosaur 'villain' in the film "Jurassic Park 3" made Spinosaurus well known to the public. Fewer fossils of Spinosaurus are known, especially compared to those for T. rex, and are fragmentary, resulting in media headlines whenever new significant fossils of Spinosaurus are discovered, helping to keep it in the news. But much of the public info on Spinosaurus is incorrect and not based on fossil evidence, which is fragmentary and more prone to reinterpretation.
Next, the author gives a brief history of dinosaurs and the position of Spinosaurus in the family tree, which is somewhat speculative due to a lack of early Spinosaur fossils that would help to place its location and origins.
The anatomy of Spinosaurus is then presented, starting with the head (which has more complete fossils), the neck, body, arms, legs and tail. Despite the lack of a complete skeleton of Spinosaurus, the fossil fragments reveal a very unusual dinosaur: one with a long head, a huge sail that rises above the back (with another sail above the tail) and comparatively short legs. This starts a debate over how Spinosaurus moved (two versus four legs) and whether it could swim. For now, the consensus is that it moved on two legs and can wade in water, but not swim.
The long head, which resembles alligators, presents a case that Spinosaurus was a fish eater. But this does not mean that Spinosaurus did not feed on other animals, like turtles or reptiles. The location of Spinosaur fossils indicates that it inhabits waterways and coastlines, and probably interacted with other animals (and dinosaurs) in those locations. While there is (yet) little evidence on what the sail on Spinosaurus is used for, the author speculates that it may be used as a social display or a mating display.
In the end, the author does a good job of separating fact from fiction about what is now known about Spinosaurs, making this a good book to read to learn about what it really is, rather than what is presented about it in films or hyperbolic press releases.
The book starts out with an introduction to Spinosaurus and why it now in the limelight. Being the main dinosaur 'villain' in the film "Jurassic Park 3" made Spinosaurus well known to the public. Fewer fossils of Spinosaurus are known, especially compared to those for T. rex, and are fragmentary, resulting in media headlines whenever new significant fossils of Spinosaurus are discovered, helping to keep it in the news. But much of the public info on Spinosaurus is incorrect and not based on fossil evidence, which is fragmentary and more prone to reinterpretation.
Next, the author gives a brief history of dinosaurs and the position of Spinosaurus in the family tree, which is somewhat speculative due to a lack of early Spinosaur fossils that would help to place its location and origins.
The anatomy of Spinosaurus is then presented, starting with the head (which has more complete fossils), the neck, body, arms, legs and tail. Despite the lack of a complete skeleton of Spinosaurus, the fossil fragments reveal a very unusual dinosaur: one with a long head, a huge sail that rises above the back (with another sail above the tail) and comparatively short legs. This starts a debate over how Spinosaurus moved (two versus four legs) and whether it could swim. For now, the consensus is that it moved on two legs and can wade in water, but not swim.
The long head, which resembles alligators, presents a case that Spinosaurus was a fish eater. But this does not mean that Spinosaurus did not feed on other animals, like turtles or reptiles. The location of Spinosaur fossils indicates that it inhabits waterways and coastlines, and probably interacted with other animals (and dinosaurs) in those locations. While there is (yet) little evidence on what the sail on Spinosaurus is used for, the author speculates that it may be used as a social display or a mating display.
In the end, the author does a good job of separating fact from fiction about what is now known about Spinosaurs, making this a good book to read to learn about what it really is, rather than what is presented about it in films or hyperbolic press releases.
December 3, 2025
A very rigorous yet accessible account of the enigmatic group of dinosaurs, the spinosaurs. I know much more about how these creatures have been researched, the limited specimens found and the key contentious issues surrounding their behaviour and ecology. Superb book and a great collaboration between Hone and Witton. Focused, concise and well illustrated.
December 4, 2025
Amazingly written and the artwork is beautiful. So easy to follow even though my knowledge of dinosaurs is minimal. Incredible to learn so much about the spinosaurus and discovering how basically all I thought I knew about it was false.
September 21, 2025
Most people like dinosaurs. Dinosaurs are among the most fascinating animals ever to have lived. And for most who are interested, these dinosaurs are discovered early in life. Books on dinosaurs of all types are, therefore, popular publishing matters. But, what do we really know about a particular dinosaur species like the Spinosaur? This type has been described as some of the strangest predatory dinosaurs to have existed and for which a great deal of scientific mystery remains. The authors of this new popular science work observe that the pace of scientific research and understanding has dramatically increased in recent years. The authors of this new book are experienced British paleontologists. David Hone is a senior lecturer in London; his books include The Tyrannosaur Chronicles: The Biology of the Tyrant Dinosaurs (Bloomsbury Sigma 2016). Mark Witton is also a noted paleoartist who restores the life appearance of extinct organisms. An early book illustration shows the changing shape of Spinosaurus and notes that few dinosaurs have been subjected to such dramatic revisions in form and predicted ecology as this peculiar dinosaur. Further scientific exploration and discussions about these characteristics continues even today. The first Spinosaur fossils were discovered in the early 1900s. The original collection of fossil bones were destroyed by Allied bombing in World War II. New discoveries have spurred additional research into this group of dinosaurs. The introductory chapter takes pains to identify the changing characteristics that paleontologists adopted to describe Spinosaurus. This is an engaging and understandable summary of the history, discovery, and scientific study of an intriguing species of dinosaur. It is a "Bloomsbury Sigma" publication which refers to the popular science imprint. The new book is truly a work of popular science aimed for as wide a reading audience as possible. The Bloomsbury Sigma imprint also includes a range of works on diverse topics such as space, climate change, and other scientific subjects. The book should appeal to anyone who has at least a passing interest in the world of dinosaurs. Highly recommended.
November 22, 2025
As objective and concise as one can hope to be when talking about Spinosaurines in 2025.
I love Spinosaurus. A childhood fascination fuelled by Jurassic Park 3 turned into true adoration that came with my love of water-fowl (particularly waders) in adulthood - something something something about being an angry teen in the 00s with the vicious ‘arch nemesis of T-rex’ that evolved into an ostentatious noodle-heron feels partially to blame for my queer awakening, I won’t lie.
But I digress.
This book was like soul food for me.
It aligned all of the blurriness that I ‘sort of’ knew about Spinosaurs as someone who is more focused on mammalian palaeontology, and packed it into this beautiful, digestible hard-back.
I love Hone’s writing and Witton’s illustrations have always been some of my favourite paleo-art out there. The combination is irresistible.
This book reads less like a textbook (good luck writing a textbook on this clade) or literature review, and more like a biography - a blow-by-blow account of every newsworthy controversy, like poor Spinosaurus is a hapless Hollywood actor. The arguments are all put on the table, regardless of whether or not the authors ultimately agree with them. The evidence is presented and weighed in a way that feels measured and fair but not pandering. Speculative analysis vs. true fossil evidence is always clearly labelled, and the authors encourage the reader to keep an open mind throughout the book.
I am truly grateful to own both the physical copy and audiobook (Gavin Osborn’s voice is delicious) and my only regret is that I didn’t manage to pin down either author for a biro squiggle in the cover at SVP last week.
I completely recommend this book to anyone with even a passing interest in Spinosaurs: it won’t fill all the gaps, but it will demystify these immensely cool animals enough to leave you chomping at the bit for new discoveries. This is what palaeontology is all about.
I love Spinosaurus. A childhood fascination fuelled by Jurassic Park 3 turned into true adoration that came with my love of water-fowl (particularly waders) in adulthood - something something something about being an angry teen in the 00s with the vicious ‘arch nemesis of T-rex’ that evolved into an ostentatious noodle-heron feels partially to blame for my queer awakening, I won’t lie.
But I digress.
This book was like soul food for me.
It aligned all of the blurriness that I ‘sort of’ knew about Spinosaurs as someone who is more focused on mammalian palaeontology, and packed it into this beautiful, digestible hard-back.
I love Hone’s writing and Witton’s illustrations have always been some of my favourite paleo-art out there. The combination is irresistible.
This book reads less like a textbook (good luck writing a textbook on this clade) or literature review, and more like a biography - a blow-by-blow account of every newsworthy controversy, like poor Spinosaurus is a hapless Hollywood actor. The arguments are all put on the table, regardless of whether or not the authors ultimately agree with them. The evidence is presented and weighed in a way that feels measured and fair but not pandering. Speculative analysis vs. true fossil evidence is always clearly labelled, and the authors encourage the reader to keep an open mind throughout the book.
I am truly grateful to own both the physical copy and audiobook (Gavin Osborn’s voice is delicious) and my only regret is that I didn’t manage to pin down either author for a biro squiggle in the cover at SVP last week.
I completely recommend this book to anyone with even a passing interest in Spinosaurs: it won’t fill all the gaps, but it will demystify these immensely cool animals enough to leave you chomping at the bit for new discoveries. This is what palaeontology is all about.
December 27, 2025
Spinosaur Tales was a genuinely fun read. It held my attention from start to finish, which isn’t always easy for nonfiction, and I honestly have no critiques.
What I loved the most was how clearly and engagingly Hone and Witton walked through the history of Spinosaurus discovery, from the earliest finds to how new evidence has repeatedly reshaped our understanding of this animal. Seeing how each discovery influenced (and sometimes contradicted) the way Spinosaurus was depicted at the time was interesting, especially when compared to how it’s portrayed today. The evolution of scientific thought was explained in a way that felt easy to understand and was even funny at times.
The balance between scientific depth and readability was perfect. It never felt super technical, yet it never talked down to the reader either. If you’re even remotely interested in dinosaurs, paleontology, or how science changes over time, this book is for you. Informative, engaging, and incredibly well done.
Thank you, NetGalley & Bloomsbury USA, for the ARC copy!
What I loved the most was how clearly and engagingly Hone and Witton walked through the history of Spinosaurus discovery, from the earliest finds to how new evidence has repeatedly reshaped our understanding of this animal. Seeing how each discovery influenced (and sometimes contradicted) the way Spinosaurus was depicted at the time was interesting, especially when compared to how it’s portrayed today. The evolution of scientific thought was explained in a way that felt easy to understand and was even funny at times.
The balance between scientific depth and readability was perfect. It never felt super technical, yet it never talked down to the reader either. If you’re even remotely interested in dinosaurs, paleontology, or how science changes over time, this book is for you. Informative, engaging, and incredibly well done.
Thank you, NetGalley & Bloomsbury USA, for the ARC copy!
December 28, 2025
This book is absolutely gorgeous.
I preordered it as I've been quite hyped when I saw this book was about to publish. I've been a huge dino nerd and reading about them since I've been only 4, the spinosaurus has been my favorite since then, and now holding this in my hands? Wow!! I totally love it!
I personally like the writing style alot and it's so up to date. Furthermore, the illustrations are lovely and the information is easy to understand (English's my second language).
The chapters are quite easy to follow: starting with the history and origins after a short introduction! We've species/relationships and 3 full chapters for the spinosaur anatomy - and alot more!
A must for spino fans - BIG recommendation ^^
I preordered it as I've been quite hyped when I saw this book was about to publish. I've been a huge dino nerd and reading about them since I've been only 4, the spinosaurus has been my favorite since then, and now holding this in my hands? Wow!! I totally love it!
I personally like the writing style alot and it's so up to date. Furthermore, the illustrations are lovely and the information is easy to understand (English's my second language).
The chapters are quite easy to follow: starting with the history and origins after a short introduction! We've species/relationships and 3 full chapters for the spinosaur anatomy - and alot more!
A must for spino fans - BIG recommendation ^^
November 19, 2025
A comprehensive discussion of the family
This was a fantastic book, well written, accessible, and thorough. I have read other books by Dave Hone and it is of equal quality to those. I can only imagine that Mark Witton’s other works will be of comparable quality.
It’s incredible how we can infer so much from so little extant material. I definitely recommend this book to paleo nerds but I also think it would be a good gateway for someone who is interested in dinosaurs but maybe hasn’t read anything about them since their childhood.
This was a fantastic book, well written, accessible, and thorough. I have read other books by Dave Hone and it is of equal quality to those. I can only imagine that Mark Witton’s other works will be of comparable quality.
It’s incredible how we can infer so much from so little extant material. I definitely recommend this book to paleo nerds but I also think it would be a good gateway for someone who is interested in dinosaurs but maybe hasn’t read anything about them since their childhood.
November 26, 2025
Spinosaur Tales brings together two of the finest popular palaeontology writers for a nuanced and detailed overview of this challenging group of dinosaurs. Read the full review at https://inquisitivebiologist.com/2025...
December 9, 2025
Interesting.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews