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Name: Carnotaurus
Pronunciation: KAHR-noh-TAH-rus Translation: flesh bull or meat-eating bull Diet: Carnivore Height: 10 - 12 feet Length: 20 - 25 feet Weight: 1 ton Location: Argentina, South America. Time: Cretaceous period, 113 to 91 million years ago |
Only one skeleton of Carnotaurus has ever been found, however, this skeleton was almost entirely complete and thus a lot is known about this dinosaur. The fossil was so well preserved, that imprints of the dinosaur’s skin were recovered, showcasing that Carnotaurus had rough, pebbly skin with rows of bony osteoderms running down its back. While many dinosaurs are being discovered to have possessed feathers, Carnotaurus was not one of them.
The two unique horns above Carnotaurus’ eyes inspired paleontologist Jose Bonaparte to give this bizarre theropod its name. Carnotaurus had a short, rounded snout that was distinctive amongst the Abelisaurids, a group of dinosaurs that included species such as Majungasaurus, Rajasaurus, and of course, Carnotaurus. However, none of the other Abelisaurids possessed the horns that Carnotaurus did, making it stand out in a group of already strange looking dinosaurs. The purpose of the horns is not known, but scientists theorize they were mainly for display, but could have been used to spar with other Carnotaurs.
Despite its rather bulky size, Carnotaurus was thought to be one of the fastest dinosaurs due to an unusual alignment of its vertebrae. Because of this, Carnotaurus was thought to have been an ambush predator, surprising its prey with a sudden burst of speed and bringing it down before the victim had time to get away. Carnotaurus also had binocular vision, meaning both of its eyes could see forward, like humans. This allowed Carnotaurus to have depth perception, which would have helped it more accurately target prey.
The two unique horns above Carnotaurus’ eyes inspired paleontologist Jose Bonaparte to give this bizarre theropod its name. Carnotaurus had a short, rounded snout that was distinctive amongst the Abelisaurids, a group of dinosaurs that included species such as Majungasaurus, Rajasaurus, and of course, Carnotaurus. However, none of the other Abelisaurids possessed the horns that Carnotaurus did, making it stand out in a group of already strange looking dinosaurs. The purpose of the horns is not known, but scientists theorize they were mainly for display, but could have been used to spar with other Carnotaurs.
Despite its rather bulky size, Carnotaurus was thought to be one of the fastest dinosaurs due to an unusual alignment of its vertebrae. Because of this, Carnotaurus was thought to have been an ambush predator, surprising its prey with a sudden burst of speed and bringing it down before the victim had time to get away. Carnotaurus also had binocular vision, meaning both of its eyes could see forward, like humans. This allowed Carnotaurus to have depth perception, which would have helped it more accurately target prey.