A Carnotaurus was a large Theropod dinosaur like a T-rex and a Ceratosaurus. The Carno was a hunter and a scavenger that could run up to 35 mph! This carnivore was strong and had horns above its eyes to protect and attract female Carnotaurs.
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Some Quick Facts About the Carnotaurus

Name | Carnotaurus sastrei (meaning “meat-eating bull”) |
Type of dinosaur | Abelisauridae dinosauria |
Territory | Swampy, warm, Patagonia Region of South America |
Size | Big dino, 24-26 feet long, 8-10 feet tall |
Color | Reddish brown on top, cream brown on the underside |
Interesting Characteristics | Horns over eyes, super small and useless forelimbs |
Diet | Carnivorous dinosaur, scavenger |
Major Threats | Natural disasters and other large theropod dinosaurs |
The Carnotaurus was a large Theropod dinosaur that lived in the Patagonia region of South America. This vicious hunter was strong and quick but had tiny, useless forelimbs. As the only known Theropod with horns, the Carnotaurus was one of the coolest dinos of the Cretaceous period.
What Did the Dinosaur Carnotaurus Look Like?

The Carnotaurus had one of the most unique looks of the large Theropod dinosaurs. the Carno had brow horns over its eyes, which earned it the name “Meat eating bull.” Skin impressions from the Carno fossil also show the Carnotaurus had scaly skin with small bumps.
The Carnotaurus had countershading on its body to help it ambush prey. Countershading is when the top of an animal is a different color than the underside. This dino was probably a reddish brown on top with a creamy brown underneath.
When and Where Did the Carnotaurus Live?

The Carnotaurus lived in Argentina in the region known as Patagonia. Patagonia is the lower part of South America, where Argentina and Chile are. The only known Carnotaurus fossil was discovered by paleontologist José Bonaparte in 1984.
The Carno lived during the Maastrichtian stage of the Late Cretaceous period. It roamed the Earth about 83-66 million years ago. When the asteroid hit the southern part of North America, Carno and most other dino went extinct.
Was the Carnotaurus Related to the Tyrannosaurus rex?
The Carnotaurus wasn’t closely related to the Tyrannosaurus rex but were both Theropod dinosaurs. Theropods are bipedal carnivorous dinosaurs with long legs and short forelimbs. Theropods are a diverse group of dinos, including the smallest raptors up to the massive Spinosaurus.
The Carno was related to other Abelisauridae, including Majungasaurus and Rajasaurus. The Majungasaurus lived during the Late Cretaceous, too, but on the other continent in what is now Madagascar. The Carno is also a distant relative of a similar dino called the Ceratosaurus.
What Dinos Lived with the Carnotaurus?
When the Carnotaurus first appeared about 83 million years ago, Theropod dinosaurs in Patagonia were evolving to be much smaller than earlier titans like Giganotosaurus and Amargasaurus. The Carnotaurus lived with many small carnivores, large Sauropods, turtles, crocodilians, and amphibians.
Even though it was one of the biggest remaining carnivorous dinosaurs, the Carnotaurus still had a lot of competition for food. The large Sauropods weren’t easy to take down, and tons of little carnivores were waiting to scavenge the Carno’s meal. The Carno lived with carnivores, including:
- Abelisaurus
- Aucasaurus
- Gasparinisaura
- Noasaurus
Patagonia also had several large Sauropods and other herbivores during the Late Cretaceous period. These dinos included species like:
- Argentinosaurus
- Dreadnoughtus
- Kritosaurus
- Neuquensaurus
- Puertasaurus
How Strong Was the Carnotaurus?
The Carnotaurus had very strong legs and sharp teeth. Its bite force was around 4500 pounds of pressure. That’s over two times as strong as an American alligator!
But the Carnotaurus’ bite force wasn’t nearly as strong as the T-rex. The T-rex had a bite force of over 12,000 pounds. Paleontologists think the Carnotaurus swallowed most of its food whole instead of chewing it.
Was the Carnotaurus present in Jurassic Park movies?
The Carnotaurus has appeared in the Jurassic Park franchise, including Jurassic World: Dominion and Fallen Kingdom. It even has a character named Toro in the animated Jurassic World: Camp Cretaceous. With its fierce horns and sharp teeth, the Carnotaurus was one of the most interesting and dangerous dinos of its time!