PRONUNCIATION | KAR-no-TAWR-us
SPECIES | Carnotaurus sastrei
NAME | Meat-eating Bull
FAMILY | Abelisauridae
PERIOD | Cretaceous
DIET | Herbivore
SIZE | 25 feet (8m)
YEAR DISCOVERED | 1985
Carnotaurus was the Cretaceous land shark. Fast, agile, ferocious and covered in spikes, this bipedal carnivore gives T-rex a run for title of King of the Cretaceous. Carnotaurus was a unique and dangerous predator with its distinctive blunt-nosed face, formidable brow horns and bristling hide. Discovered fairly recently, the carnotaurus is known from only a limited source of fossils.
Its short muzzle and thin snout with small teeth would allow the carnotaurus to strip meat close to the bone. Thick bull-like horns and spikes might have been used like modern bulls for sparring among rivals.
The horns of the carnotaurus may have been for rutting males or to protect the eyes during attacks.
The thin short muzzle of the carnotaurus would have given it strong binocular vision for hunting prey. Small sharp teeth and an armored hide would have protected it from defensive attacks.
The three-toed foot of the theropod is similar to a modern ostrich, giving predators like carnotaurus speed and agility.