Tyrannotitan and Carcharodontosaurus were very closely related and had a lot in common. Their size estimate puts both dinos at almost 45 feet long and about 14 feet tall! This battle between Cretaceous carnivores comes down to Tyrannotitan’s superior jaws!
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Battle Facts about Tyrannotitan vs. Carcharodontosaurus
| Name | Tyrannotitan (Tyrannotitan chubutensis) | Carcharodontosaurus (Carcharodontosaurus saharicus) |
| Size | 40-43 feet long, 12-14 feet tall | 39-41 feet long, 14 feet tall |
| Speed | 20 mph | 20 mph |
| Offense | Bite force of around 7,800 pounds | Teeth made for slicing flesh |
| Defense | Sharp teeth, massive size | Sharp claws on its forelimbs, swinging heavy tail |
| Endurance and Behavior | Was thought to be a good swimmer | Had an excellent vision |
Tyrannotitan and Carcharodontosaurus were closely related carnivorous dinosaurs almost the same size. These too very similar dinos are as close to equally matched as a dino battle can be. This battle comes down to bite force and teeth, which means the Tyrannotitan takes first place! But the Carcharodontosaurus won’t make it easy.
Was the Carcharodontosaurus Bigger than the Tyrannotitan?
Paleontologists don’t agree on the exact size of either dino, so both were likely the same size or very close. Experts use estimates based on known fossil remains. Since the Tyrannotitan is a newer discovery (2005), we still don’t know much about Titan.
When paleontologists only have some fossils, they use certain parts to estimate the size. For height, the leg bone called the femur is measured. For length, vertebrae from the spine are used.
Based on the partial remains of Tyrannotitan and Carcharodontosaurs, these huge Theropod dinosaurs were probably the same size. Some estimates have the Tyrannotitan being slightly longer than the Carcharodontosaurus. Others place Titan on the smaller side.
Was Tyrannotitan Related to Tyrannosaurus Rex?
Despite the name, the Tyrannotitan was unrelated to a Tyrannosaurus rex. The Tyrannotitan isn’t even a Tyrannosaur. When the Tyrannotitan was first discovered, the shoulder joint was very Tyrannosaurid-like.
After more study, paleontologists realized that the Tyrannotitan was most closely related to Giganotosaurus Carolina. Giga and Titan are related to members of the Carcharodontosauridae family, which evolved from the Allosaurus of North America. These dinos include:
- The Acrocanthosaurus
- The Carcharodontosaurus
- The Mapusaurus
Did Tyrannotitan and Carcharodontosaurus Live Together?
Tyrannotitan and Carcharodontosaurus did not live together. The Carcharodontosaurus lived in the Late Cretaceous period in North Africa. The Tyrannotitan lived in the Early Cretaceous period in Patagonia and Argentina.
The Carcha lived in the area that is now Morocco with a Spinosaurus. Some fossil evidence suggests that battles with Spinosaurus vs. Carcharodontosaurus happened at least once. Paleontologists don’t know if Spino died from its injuries or another cause.
Tyrannotitan and Giga shared Argentina and Patagonia during Giga’s lifetime 99-95 million years ago. Tyrannotitan lived from 120-90 million years, outlasting the Giganotosaurus by millions of years. There’s no fossil evidence that fights with Tyrannotitan vs. Giganotosaurus happened in real life, but discoveries are being made daily!
Who had a stronger bite?
Tyrannotitans’ bite force was 7,800 pounds. That’s more than two times as strong as Carcharodontosaurus! Carcharodontosaurus’s bite force was closer to 3,000 pounds.
These two dinos also had unique-shaped teeth. Titan’s teeth had two points, giving it more cutting surface. The Carcharodontosaurus had jagged, shark-like teeth that it used to slice into Sauropods and other prey!
What did Tyrannotitan and Carcharodontosaurus Eat?
Tyrannotitan and Carcharodontosaurus were both carnivorous dinosaurs. That means they ate smaller dinosaurs, reptiles, and even prehistoric mammals. Herbivores like Stegosaurus, Triceratops, and Ankylosaurus had armored bodies to protect them from large carnivores.
Both Tyrannotitan and Carcharodontosaurus were hunters and scavengers. (Scavengers eat from animals that are already dead. Scavengers are nature’s cleanup crew, like the vultures of today).
Paleontologists have found teeth marks fossils from some of the biggest carnivores proving that the dino dinner was already dead. Some of the huge dinos we think of as vicious hunters were also helping clean up carcasses, just like vultures! Some of the dinos that hunted and scavenged might surprise you:
- The Allosaurus
- The Carnotaurus
- The Ceratosaurus
- The Saurophaganax
- The Tarbosaurus
- The Torvosaurus
Even the mighty Tyrannosaurus Rex was sometimes a scavenger!
Who Would Win the Battle: Tyrannotitan vs. Carcharodontosaurus?
Since Tyrannotitan and Carcharodontosaurus were so evenly matched in size, weight, and speed, Tyrannotitan would win because of stronger teeth and bite force. Tyrannotitan’s stronger bite force would cause more damage, crushing Carcharodontosaurus’s throat. The double-pointed teeth on the Titan would easily slash through Carcharodontosaurus’s tough skin.
The Carcharodontosaurus could win a few battles if it could bite the Tyrannotitan first, but that was not very likely. And since both dinos had heavy tails, they could swing at each other; that was another defense the Carcharodontosaurus couldn’t easily win with. In fact, the Tyrannotitan was also a better swimmer than the Carcharodontosaurus, giving Titan another huge advantage!
The Carcharodontosaurus would put up a huge fight, but we must name the Tyrannotitan the clear winner. With its strong jaw and unique teeth, Titan was better adapted for fighting than the Carcharodontosaurus. But the Carcharodontosaurus wouldn’t go down without a strong battle, and the Tyrannotitan might decide that helpless herbivores would be easier prey!