Giganotosaurus and Tyrannosaurus: which is the biggest?

Gigadino

Today, I'll show you what I think about T.rex and Giganotosaurus. I've seen some people claiming that the Carcharodontosaurid is the largest, while some people claimed that T.rex is the largest. Who is right? None fo them, at least according to my opinion. Now I'll explain you my points...

#1. Giganotosaurus' remains are much more uncommon than T.rex's. We've only got 2 specimens (and some teeth, found even before than Giganotosaurus' type specimen). The first one is the type specimen, and it's similar in lenght with "Sue" (12.4 and 12.3 m for Giganotosaurus and Tyrannosaurus respectively; that's a pretty negligible difference). Unlike the common belief, it isn't shorter than "Sue" (heightwise), because "Sue" has only got proportionally longer legs, but both of those animals are equal in height as well, both around to 3.5 meters tall. The second specimen is only a piece of jawbone, and it's estimated to belong to a specimen 6.5 % larger than the type, wich would result in a 13.2 m animal. But we don't really know how much bigger this specimen was. The proportions are always changing. Taking in accounts all tail's lenght variations, individual variability etc the best range for the two Giganotosaurus specimens is 12-13 meters. Longer than "Sue", then, but only slighty. And longer =/= heavier.

#2. The Tyrannosaurus specimen called "Sue" isn't as long as Giganotosaurus' specimens, but it's definitely more cumbersome. Its massive built allow this guy to be very heavy. Most of the modern estimates put the largest specimen at over 8 t, making it heavier than both Giganotosaurus specimens (wich are 6-8 t). So, is T.rex bigger, as bigger = heavier? Not really. "Sue" is the largest specimen, but most of the specimens are equal in size with Giganotosaurus specimens, and someone are even outweighted by Giganotosaurus. By a comparison, if someone ask you "what's the height of a man?" you would likely say 180 cm or so. But...let's meet Robert Wadlow (1918-1940), the tallest man ever:

When he died (he was only 22), he was 272 cm tall. That's pretty impressive. But I'm pretty sure you wouldn't say that a man is 272 cm tall only because Robert Wadlow was 272 cm tall. Bear in mind that Robert Wadlow was ill, so it keept growing in adult-hood because it had a high level of human growth hormone. By a comparison, in the same photo, you can see Robert's father, Harold Franklyn Wadlow. Harold Franklyn Wadlow wasn't short, as he was 1.82 m tall. But he's dwarfed by his son, who is instead an abnormal individual. Giganotosaurus' individuals and T.rex's individuals are pretty similar in size. The fact that a T.rex specimen reigns over Giganotosaurus, won't change the fact that most of the T.rex' specimens are just as big or even smaller.

In conclusion, I would say that both were about the same size, with T.rex with the largest confirmed size. But, if someone ask me "Wich is bigger, T.rex or Giganotosaurus?" I would say "They're around the same size".

Tyrant king

It is wrong to ignore larger the due specimens just because they are not trusted. P.s carnosaur, kom, and giga Go check the largest theropod thread.

Rex Fan 684

Another large T.rex specimen is one nicknamed King Kong. It's an estimated 12 meters in length.

Gigadino

All the 30 specimens are all estimated to be between 10 (B-rex) and 12 (Stan) meters long. Only large specimens exceeded 12 m.

It's the fourth (fifth?) time that you repeat that Scotty is larger; I've understood, but you are giving a slighty edge based on a few specimens, wich are the biggest. Based on know specimens, both the taxa reached a equal size. We can say that T.rex has the largest confirmed size, even by a slighty margin, but only a few specimens reached that size - most of them are actually as big or smaller.

Carnosaur

kom

Gigadino, yes, and how much are estimated to weigh each of these individuals ?

http://carnivoraforum.com/single/?p=8704127&t=9327489

CM9380 is heavier than Giga's holotype.

Note that MUCPv-95 is not listed, presumably because it's a small fragmentary based specimen.

Agreed with the remaining part, that's why I don't say Tyrannosaurus is the biggest, I give it a slight edge given the available data. But several specimens appear heavier than the larger Giga specimen and even more are heaver than Giga's holotype.

Carnosaur

Gigadino

MUPCv-ch1 was likely outsized by MUPCv-95, wich is 7-8 t (as it's 2,2-6,5 % larger), so it ouweighted some T.rex specimens.

kom

No i'm not on carnivora.

Fair enough for your last post Gigadino.

LordGladiator666

I agree with all informations you typed, but did you know that actually sue is slightly taller and bigger than giganotosaurus holotype which is just a little bit longer?

LordGladiator666

I agree with all informations you typed, but did you know that actually sue is slightly taller and bigger than giganotosaurus holotype which is just a little bit longer?

LordGladiator666

I agree with all informations you typed, but did you know that actually sue is larger than giganotosaurus holotype?
In fact sue is taller ( sue is almost 4 meters tall while giganotosaurus is around 3.5-8 meters tall) bigger and heavier as you mentioned.

LordGladiator666

And good post :)