Carnivores Metriacanthosaurus and Ceratosaurus looked similar but had completely different hunting styles. The Ceratosaurus preferred ambushing prey at the water’s edge. The Metriacanthosaurus hunted like the Allosaurus, working with other Metria’s to ambush herbivores. The Metriacanthosaurus was stronger and would usually win, but the Ceratosaurus could use its speed and swimming ability to get away!
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Battle Facts about Metriacanthosaurus vs. Ceratosaurus
| Name | Metriacanthosaurus (Metriacanthosaurus parkeri) | Ceratosaurus (Ceratosaurus nasicornis) |
| Size | 23-26 feet long, 6 feet tall | 22-23 feet long, 5.5-6.5 feet tall |
| Speed | 15-20 mph | 20-30 mph |
| Offense | Strong bite force of around 6,700 pounds | Swimming, useful forearms |
| Defense | Thick tail they swung as a weapon | Good swimmer, stable on back legs |
| Endurance and Behavior | Strong and fierce like relative Allosaurus | Bursts of speed up to 30mph, aggressive |
Metriacanthosaurus and Ceratosaurus were medium-sized Theropod dinosaurs with similar creature features. The Metriacanthosaurus was slightly longer but had a much stronger bite.
Based on bite force and strength, the Metriacanthosaurus would probably win most battles, but don’t count out the Ceratosaurus yet!
Were Ceratosaurus and Metriacanthosaurus Related?
No, the Ceratosaurus was not related to the Metriacanthosaurus. The Ceratosaurus was an Abelsaurid. The Metriacanthosaurus was an Allosaurid.
The Ceratosaurus was a Theropod dinosaur like the Metriacanthosaurus, but the two weren’t closely related. The Ceratosaurus was related to a Majungasaurus and a Carnotaurus. Ceratosaurus’s closest relative was a Genyodectus.
The Metriacanthosaurus was closely related to a Sinraptor. Despite the name, the Sinraptor was not a raptor. The Metriacanthosaurus was also related to the Allosaurus, Megalosaurus, Carcharodontosaurus, and Giganotosaurus.
Did Ceratosaurus Live with Metriacanthosaurus?
Ceratosaurus and Metriacanthosaurus dinos didn’t live together as far as we know. Ceratosaurus and Metriacanthosaurus lived in different places in the late Jurassic, around 160-150 million years ago.
The Ceratosaurus lived in North America and Tanzania in Africa. The Metriacanthosaurus lived in England. Of course, we don’t have much fossil evidence for the Metriacanthosaurus, so future discoveries await this mysterious dino!
What Dinos Did the Metriacanthosaurus Live with?
The Metriacanthosaurus lived in England’s late Jurassic period with dinos like Camptosaurus and Dacentrurus. Other dinos were from this area of England but lived during different periods are:
- The Baryonyx
- The Megalosaurus
- The Iguanodon
Metriacanthosaurus fed on herbivores Camptosaurus and Dacentrurus. Dacentrurus was a Stegosaurus-like dino distantly related to the Ankylosaurus. Like many carnivores, the Metriacanthosaurus also scavenged on dead dinos of all types.
What Dinos did the Ceratosaurus Live with?
The Ceratosaurus lived in an area of North America full of dinos! These include:
- The Allosaurus
- The Apatosaurus
- The Brachiosaurus
- The Comptosaurus
- The Deinonychus
- The Diplodocus
- The Stegosaurus
- The Torvosaurus
The Ceratosaurus was one of the few carnivores that could be found swimming in the waterways of North America. Its thick tail was similar to a crocodile or alligator tail. This helped the Ceratosaurus swim and hunt.
Which was stronger, the Metriacanthosaurus or the Ceratosaurus?
The Metriacanthosaurus had a stronger bite force than the Ceratosaurus. The Ceratosaurus also evolved to hunt water-bound animals like fish, turtles, and crocodiles. Paleontologists believe the Ceratosaurus chose its waterway prey to avoid competition with the Allosaurus.
A lot of Ceratosaurus’s adaptations were for swimming and running away. Considering that the Ceratosaurus lived with much larger carnivores, staying out of their way was a smart choice. The only recorded bite marks of the Ceratosaurus on the larger Allosaurus are thought to be after the Allosaurus was already dead, and the Cerato was one of many scavengers!
Which was heavier, the Metriacanthosaurus or the Ceratosaurus?
Metriacanthosaurus and Ceratosaurus were both around 2,200 pounds. Since the Metriacanthosaurus was a few feet longer, the Ceratosaurus appeared thicker. Like a T-rex, these Theropod dinosaurs had hollow bones, so they were much lighter than they looked!
Who was faster?
Even though the Metriacanthosaurus was a bit lighter, the Ceratosaurus was probably faster. The Metriacanthosaurus could run about 20mph, and the Ceratosaurus could hit about 30mph! This would give the Ceratosaurus an advantage when running away from larger dinos.
Ceratosaurus vs. Metriacanthosaurus: Who Wins this Battle?
The Metriacanthosaurus would probably win against Ceratosaurus. It was bigger and had a stronger bite force. The Metriacanthosaurus also preyed on large herbivores and was a bold hunter.
The Ceratosaurus evolved to stay out of the way of other carnivores. It preferred hunting for fish and water animals, which posed no threat to the other carnivores.
Because of this, the Ceratosaurus would be much more likely to run away than fight the Metriacanthosaurus. If the Ceratosaurus could escape the mighty Metriacanthosaurus, it could live to fish another day!