A Sarcosuchus was a Supercroc that hunted dinos. Hidden behind the tall vegetation along the water’s edge, Sarco could snatch a meal in a flash! A Carcharodontosaurus was strong, but the Supercroc Sarco would easily win most dinosaur battles.
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Battle Facts about Sarcosuchus vs. Carcharodontosaurus
| Name | Sarcosuchus (Sarcosuchus imperator) | Carcharodontosaurus (Carcharodontosaurus saharicus) |
| Size | 29-31 feet long, about 5 feet tall | 39-41 feet long, 14 feet tall |
| Speed | 20 mph | 20 mph |
| Offense | Bite force of 18,000 pounds | Bite force of 5,300 pounds |
| Defense | Osteoderms on top of thick skin | Sharp claws on its forelimbs, swinging heavy tail, teeth that could slice through flesh |
| Endurance and Behavior | Ambush predator that could move on land or swim like modern crocodilians | Had great eyesight |
The Sarcosuchus is known as the Supercroc. These massive predators were even bigger than saltwater crocodiles. The Carcharodontosaurus was bigger but was no match for the Supercroc, which hunted dinos!
Was the Carcharodontosaurus bigger than the Sarcosuchus?
The Carcharodontosaurus was bigger than the Sarcosuchus. The Carcharodontosaurus was about 10 feet long and almost 3 times as tall as Sarco. Still, bigger isn’t always better, and the Sarco was a great example.
The Sarco was shorter than most dinos. Even the medium dinos were usually about 6-8 feet tall. However, it had stealth, a strong bite force, and the ability to move fast on land or in water.
Was the Sarcosuchus stronger than the Carcharodontosaurus?
The Sarcosuchus was a lot stronger than the Carcharodontosaurus. It would be impossible to tell by looking at them, but the Carcharodontosaurus’ teeth were useless against the Sarco. The Sarco’s tough skin and extra osteoderms offered protection from slashing teeth.
The Sarco had a bite force of around 18,000 pounds. That’s more than the bone-crushing bite force of the T-rex! Once the jaws snapped shut, even the biggest dino didn’t have a hope of escaping.
The Carcharodontosaurus only had a bite force of 5,300 pounds. That’s enough for the Carcharodontosaurus’ normal prey of Sauropods or even smaller Theropods. Biting into the Sarco’s incredibly hard skin would probably break the Carcharodontosaurus’ teeth and make the Sarco mad!
What was the difference between the Carcharodontosaurus and the Sarcosuchus?
| Carcharodontosaurus | Theropod dino, walked on two legs, a hunter and a scavenger |
| Sarcosuchus | Crocodylomorph, similar to alligators and crocodilians, ambush predators |
The Carcharodontosaurus was a Theropod dino. The Sarcosuchus was a Crocodylomorph. Crocodylomorphs were dino-era animals similar to alligators and crocodilians.
The Carcharodontosaurus walked on two legs like a Tarbosaurus and other Theropods. It was both a hunter and a scavenger. Like a Velociraptor, the Carcharodontosaurus sometimes hunted with other Carcharodontosauruses.
The Sarco were ambush predators, lurking in or near water and snapping up their prey with lightning speed. Unlike modern crocodilians, paleontologists don’t believe the Sarco could perform a death roll. However, with their bone-crushing bite force, the Sarco could easily snap the bones of an unsuspecting dino.
Did the Carcharodontosaurus live with the Sarcosuchus?
Carcharodontosaurus and Sarcosuchus missed living together by a few million years. Both carnivores lived in North Africa during the Cretaceous period. The Carcharodontosaurus lived from 99-65 mya (million years ago), and the Sarcosuchus lived from 130-112 mya.
When the Carcharodontosaurus was alive, Spinosaurus and other Spinosaurs roamed North Africa. During the Sarcosuchus’ time, Ouranosaurus and Suchomimus were around. The Sarcosuchus was also found in South America, where a Giganotosaurus lived.
What Dinos Was the Carcharodontosaurus Related to?
Even though the Carcharodontosaurus looked much like the Tyrannosaurus rex, it wasn’t related to the T-rex. The Carcharodontosaurus was a descendant of an Allosaurus. They were related to lots of fierce carnivores like:
- Acrocanthosaurus
- Concavenator
- Giganotosaurus
- Mapusaurus
- Tyrannotitan
The Giga was one of the Carcharodontosaurus’ closest relatives. Mapusaurus and Tyrannotitan were also close relatives.
Was the Sarcosuchus the Only Prehistoric Crocodilian?
Paleontologists have found quite a few species of prehistoric animals that were a lot like crocodiles. The Sarco wasn’t even the biggest one! An ancient crocodilian called Deinosuchus could get up to 36 feet long!
Another crocodilian named Purussaurus was also bigger than the Sarco. This massive carnivore was almost as big as a Deinosuchus. The Deinosuchus lived in the Late Cretaceous period, but the Purussaurus lived only 8 million years ago!
Carcharodontosaurus vs. Sarcosuchus: Who Would Win the Battle of the Beasts?
The Sarcosuchus could easily beat the Carcharodontosaurus. The Sarco’s bite force was over 3 times stronger. Like modern crocodiles and alligators, the Sarco quickly bit its prey.
The Carcharodontosaurus’ only shot at escaping was to stay as far away from the waterways where the Sarco and other similar species lived. Like alligators and crocodilians, the Sarco didn’t wander far from the water. Unfortunately, dinos needed to drink, and the Sarcosuchus was always ready for its next meal.
Luckily the Carcharodontosaurus didn’t live during the Sarcosuchus’ lifetime. The Carcharodontosaurus had other carnivores to worry about, but not the Sarco. If Carcharodontosaurus and Sarcosuchus had lived together, the Sarco would’ve eaten the Carcharodontosaurus just like it ate other dinos!