Carnotaurus and Ceratosaurus were bipedal Theropod dinos with their unique strengths and weaknesses. While the larger, stronger Carnotaurus might seem like the obvious winner, Ceratosaurs had some unique behaviors and adaptations that would help them fight. Like the herbivorous Triceratops could topple the mighty T. rex, Carnotaurus had its work cut out in a battle royale of Carnotaurus vs. Ceratosaurus.
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Battle Facts about Carnotaurus Vs. Ceratosaurus
| Name & Meaning | Carnotaurus, means “Meat eating bull” | Ceratosaurus, means “Horn” |
| Size | 24-26 feet long, 8-10 feet tall | 22-23 feet long, 5.5-6.5 feet tall |
| Speed | 30-35 mph | 20-30 mph |
| Offense | Bite force of 3,400 N | Bite force of 3,000 N |
| Defense | Head butting, faster speed, sharp horns | Swimming, useful forearms |
| Endurance and Behavior | Long-distance hunter, hunted Sauropods | Better swimmer, higher stability |
Carnotaurus and Ceratosaurus were both impressive Theropod dinos.
Since Carnotaurus was from the Cretaceous and Ceratosaurus was from the Jurassic, these two behemoths never met face to face.
But we know enough about their features to figure out who would win in a dinosaur battle of Ceratosaurus vs. Carnotaurus. The winner between these two carnivorous dinosaurs might surprise you!
was the Ceratosaurus Stronger than the Carnotaurus?
The Carnotaurus was much stronger than the Ceratosaurus. Carno has a stronger bite force, while Cerato has a weak bite force like Allosaurus. The Carnotaurus also hunted large Sauropod dinos and was a better hunter. Ceratosaurus is thought to have eaten mammals, smaller herbivorous dinos, some Sauropods, and fish.
The Ceratosaurus did have strong, nimble back legs and a thicker tail than the Carnotaurus. Like modern-day crocodiles, Ceratosaurus’ tail was very strong and could be used to swim quickly.
This means that Ceratosaurus might also be able to use its heavy tail as a defense, swiping it at the Carnotaurus.
What was the Top Speed of the Carnotaurus?
If you were an herbivore dinosaur in the late Cretaceous like the Spinosaurus, Stegosaurus, or Triceratops, you didn’t want to be in the sights of a Carnotaurus. The Carnotaurus’ top speed was around 30 miles per hour, or about as fast as the fastest man alive, Usain Bolt.
But it wasn’t just its fast speed that spelled trouble for slower-moving herbivores and smaller carnivores. Unlike the Ceratosaurus, the frame of the Carnosaurus was surprisingly light and agile. While it was bigger than the Ceratosaurus, it was much lighter on its feet.
Were the Ceratosaurus and Carnotaurus Related?
Ceratosaurus and Carnotaurus were Abelisaurid Theropods that were closely related. Ceratosaurs and Carnotaurus were also related to the Majungasaurus and the Rajasaurus.
Like most Abelisaurids, Ceratosaurus and Carnotaurus had horns, crests, and other ornamentations on their skulls.
Theropods, Ceratosaurus, and Carnotaurus are also somewhat related to Tyrannosaurus rex and Allosaurus.
They had similar build and features, including small arms and thick hind legs. Baryonyx, Raptors, Spinosaurus, Tarbosaurus, and Giganotosaurus were also Theropods.
Could a Ceratosaurus Beat a Carnotaurus?
Based on size, strength, and speed, Carnotaurus was more likely to beat Ceratosaurus in a dinosaur battle.
But Ceratosaurus had a few advantages that can be used to beat Carnotaurus. The biggest advantage was Ceratosaurus’s arms and its wide, strong tail it could use for swimming.
If Ceratosaurus could knock Carnotaurus over, Carno wouldn’t be able to get up. Cerato could attack the vulnerable Carno then, or it could use that time to run away before Carno could get up again.
This was the same tactic Triceratops used against T-rex. Ceratosaurus could also escape by swimming away if water were nearby since Carnotaurus couldn’t swim.
But Carnotaurus had other adaptations that Ceratosaurus couldn’t best. Carno had sharp horns and an incredibly hard head. Carnos fought each other in battle, head-butting each other, then pressing hard and slow with their sharp-horned heads. Once Carno had Cerato pinned, there was no hope for the smaller Ceratosaurus.
Even though Carnotaurus would probably win over Ceratosaurus most of the time, there was no guaranteed winner between Carnotaurus vs. Ceratosaurus. Both dinos had adaptations they could use to fight each other.
The bigger, stronger Carnotaurus had the most advantages and would win most of the time. But with some luck and some skill, Ceratosaurus had a chance to beat Carnotaurus sometimes!