Carcharodontosaurids: bulkier than you think

Gigadino
MemberCompsognathusNovember 23, 20144771 Views17 Replies
(This comparison isn't completely accurate, but it was the only Carcharodontosaurids image I could find, so I used it)
Carcharodontosaurids are often thought to be slim and skinny. However, they don't appear to be so skinny. Today, I'll show you why I think that Carcharodontosaurids aren't slim as most of the people think. I'm going to use Giganotosaurus as my type of Carcharodontosaurid. Let's see SHartman's Giganotosaurus skeletal:
Look at its neural spines. They appear to be very long. The fact that Giganotosaurus had long neural spines is mentioned on several sources. And, if Giganotosaurus had long neural spines, well, Acrocanthosaurus are even longer. It means that Giganotosaurus spinal column carried quite high mass. Plus, take a look here:
Ignore that skull, it's inaccurate. Look at the torso: it isn't definitely as wide as Tyrannosaurus'. However, its torso is deeper. Plus, given that its neural spines are higher, its torso is taller as well. The body of the other, similar-sized giant carcharodontosaurids (such as C.saharicus) should be assumed to be the same, as they all are very close relatives, as you can see there:
Thus, I'd suggest that assuming that Carcharodontosaurids were pretty bulky isn't so unlikely.