The Baryonyx was longer, taller, heavier, and stronger than the Ceratosaurus. Many of the adaptations Cerato would use in a dinosaur fight against the Allosaurus and the T-rex wouldn’t work against the Baryonyx. Because the Baryonyx was about as fast as Cerato and could swim, it would lose most of the time.
Table of Contents
Battle Facts about Baryonyx vs. Ceratosaurus
| Name | Baryonyx (Baryonyx walkeri) | Ceratosaurus (Ceratosaurus nasicornis) |
| Size | 25-33 feet long, 8-10 feet tall | 22-23 feet long, 5.5-6.5 feet tall |
| Speed | 25-30 mph | 20-30 mph |
| Offense | Large snout and lots of sharp teeth | Strong bite |
| Defense | Large claws on each thumb | Thick tail, claws on hind legs, could swim |
| Endurance and Behavior | Could swim, ate fish and small reptiles | Could swim, ate smaller animals |
Baryonyx and Ceratosaurus dinos were carnivorous dinosaurs that lived near water. Ceratosaurus vs. Baryonyx battle never happened in real life since these two dinos lived in different places, but their features can give us clues about who would win the dinosaur fight.
A Baryonyx had the advantage of being bigger, stronger, and a better swimmer.
What were the similarities between the Baryonyx and the Ceratosaurus?
The Baryonyx and the Ceratosaurus were carnivorous dinosaurs that lived millions of years ago. The Baryonyx lived about 130-125 million years ago. The Ceratosaurus lived earlier, about 161-146 million years ago.
Baryonyx and Ceratosaurus dinos were also good swimmers. They were not marine reptiles like a Mosasaurus or a Tylosaurus, but they did eat some fish. When Baryonyx and Ceratosaurus weren’t hunting for fish, they stayed on land, eating herbivores and smaller carnivorous dinos.
Are Baryonyx and Ceratosaurus Related?
Baryonyx and Ceratosaurus were both Theropod dinos, but they were not related. The Baryonyx was a Spinosaurid. The Ceratosaurus was a Ceratosaurid.
The Baryonyx was related to the massive Spinosaurus, Suchomimus, and Irritator. These dinos stayed near water. Most could swim and ate both fish and smaller animals.
The Ceratosaurus was related to a Carnotaurus, Majungasaurus, and Spinostropheus. The Spinosaurus and the Spinostropheus might have the same root name (Spino) but were unrelated.
Where and When Did the Baryonyx Live?
The Baryonyx lived in Europe during the Cretaceous period. Fossils were found in the United Kingdom, France, Portugal, and Spain. It wasn’t discovered until 1983, nearly 100 years after the Ceratosaurus was discovered!
Several amazing dinos lived in the same area of Europe during the Cretaceous period. These include:
- The Eotyrannus
- The Iguanodon
- The Neovenator
- The Pelorosaurus
- The Pyroraptor
- The Therizinosaurus
- The Valdosaurus
When and Where Did the Ceratosaurus Live?
The Ceratosaurus lived in North America and Africa during the Late Jurassic period (161-146 million years ago). The first fossil evidence of the Ceratosaurus was found in the 1880s, during the “Bone War.” The “Bone War” was a period when fossil hunters and scientists were racing to discover as many new dinosaurs as they could.
Many other dinos were found in the same area and period as the Ceratosaurus. These include:
- The Allosaurus
- The Apatosaurus
- The Brachiosaurus
- The Comptosaurus
- The Diplodocus
- The Stegosaurus
A Dilophosaurus was also found in North America in the early Jurassic period. It went extinct around 174 million years ago.
Later, in the Cretaceous period, many other dinos would be discovered in North America and Africa. These Jurassic dinos from the area where the Ceratosaurus once roamed included:
- The Albertosaurus
- The Ankylosaurus
- The Carcharodontosaurus
- The Deinonychus (raptor)
- The Parasaurolophus
- The Styracosaurus
- The Triceratops
- The Tyrannosaurus rex
Who would win in a fight between Baryonyx vs. Ceratosaurus?
The Baryonyx was better equipped for fighting than the Ceratosaurus. With its large mouth, strong jaws, and sharp claw on its thumb, the Baryonyx could instantly grab the Cerato. The Ceratosaurus might be able to use its horn to defend itself, but only if it could injure the Baryonyx.
If the Ceratosaurus could get away, it could run or swim. Unfortunately for the Ceratosaurus, the Baryonyx was just as fast and a good swimmer. Ceratosaurus’s best defense was never to get into a dinosaur fight with the Baryonyx in the first place.
Luckily, Baryonyx was more interested in fish prey than eating a fellow Theropod. Baryonyx’s long crocodile-like jaw worked better for catching and eating fish. But since Baryonyx and Cerato lived in different times and places, the Ceratosaurus was safe from the bigger, stronger Baryonyx.