A Ceratosaurus was longer and slightly taller than an Utahraptor, but that wasn’t enough to help Cerato in this dino battle. Like cats, the Utahraptor has amazing creature features, including a retractable claw! The Utahraptor was also a champion jumper and could jump up to 15 feet!
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Battle Facts about Ceratosaurus vs. Utahraptor
| Name | Ceratosaurus (Ceratosaurus nasicornis) | Utahraptor (Utahraptor ostrommaysorum(ostrommaysi)) |
| Size | 22-23 feet long, 5.5-6.5 feet tall | 16-18 feet long, 3-5.5 feet tall |
| Speed | 20-30 mph | 25-30 mph |
| Offense | Useful forearms, great swimmer | Hunted in packs, very intelligent |
| Defense | Good swimmer, stable on back legs | Could jump 15 feet, could use claws to climb. |
| Endurance and Behavior | Aggressive and quick, able to run for long distances | Ambush predator used claws to slash |
The Ceratosaurus was a bit bigger and heavier than the Utahraptor, but Cerato was no match for the cunning raptor. The Utahraptor was quite the hunter, with a jumping height of 15 feet and a retractable sickle claw. Since Utah hunted in packs and ambushed their prey, the Ceratosaurus would lose most dino battles.
Ceratosaurus vs. Utahraptor: Brief Comparison
Ceratosaurus and Utahraptor had a lot of differences, even though they were both carnivores. Cerato preferred being in and near water, hunting fish, and feasting on sauropods that were already dead. The Utahraptor was a smart hunter that moved in packs and ambushed their prey!
Cerato and Utah were Theropod dinosaurs but weren’t closely related. The Ceratosaurus was related to Allosaurus and Carnotaurus. The Utahraptor is related to other Dromaeosaurs like Velociraptor and Deinonychus.
What Was Special about the Utahraptor?
The Utahraptor was one of the oldest and largest raptors. This dino was dangerous and had a 9.5-inch claw it used to tear up prey! It also had sharp teeth and could jump three times its height!
This huge Dromaeosaurid dino lived in what is now Utah during the Early Cretaceous period. The Utahraptor roamed North America about 131-122 million years ago.
When and Where Did the Ceratosaurus Live?
The Ceratosaurus lived about 161-146 million years ago during the Late Jurassic period. The first Cerato fossils came up in Colorado’s Morrison Formation. This dino was also found in Africa and other states in North America, including Utah, just like the Utahraptor.
Utahraptor and Cerato didn’t live together, but the Ceratosaurus lived with many other famous dinos. Those dinos included:
- Allosaurus
- Dilophosaurus
- Stegosaurus
- Torvosaurus
Did the Utahraptor Live with the Ceratosaurus?
Utahraptor and Ceratosaurus lived in the same place but in completely different periods. The Utahraptor was from the Early Cretaceous period, and the Ceratosaurus was from the Late Jurassic period. Both dinos resurfaced in the fossil-rich western part of North America.
Paleontologists have found many dinos in the same area as Utahraptor and Ceratosaurus. These dinos include quite a few of our favorites:
- Acrocanthosaurus
- Albertosaurus
- Ankylosaurus
- Triceratops
- Tyrannosaurus rex
The Ceratosaurus also lived in part of Africa, where other famous dinos were found. These dinos include:
- Carcharodontosaurus
- Majungasaurus
- Spinosaurus
Who would win the Ceratosaurus vs. Utahraptor battle?
The Utahraptor would win battles against the Ceratosaurus. Cerato’s only advantage against the Utahraptor was the ability to swim. But Cerato would have to escape first.
Since the Utahraptor was also very fast and an excellent jumper, the Ceratosaurus would have a very hard time escaping. That’s if Cerato saw the attack coming at all. The intelligent Utahraptor stalked its prey and stayed hidden. When the prey was close enough, the Utahraptor would pounce!
The Ceratosaurus was also known to stay out of the way of other carnivores that it lived with. Cerato evolved to eat fish and other water animals, avoiding the vicious Allosaurus. Since Cerato wasn’t a very bold hunter and preferred to scavenge larger meals, we had to give the win to the Utahraptor.