Carcharodontosaurus
Order: Saurischia · Suborder: Theropoda · Infraorder: Tetanurae
A 5 foot-4 inch skull of Carcharodontosaurus was recently discovered in North Africa. Based on this find, Carcharodontosaurus is clearly a worthy rival in size to thefearsome Tyrannosaurs rex. It had elongated spines on its neck vertebrae to accommodate the strong muscles that held up an enormous head with shark-like fangs. Named forCarcharodon, the great white shark, fragmentary remains were first discovered in the early 1900's in Morocco.
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Reference background: Natural History Museum, London — Dinosaurs; Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History — Dinosaurs; American Museum of Natural History — Dinosaurs & Fossils. Figures are typical published ranges; taxonomy follows the source era and modern consensus is noted where it differs. See our sources & fact-check policy.
Frequently asked questions
What does Carcharodontosaurus mean?
The name Carcharodontosaurus means “Carcharodon Lizard”. It is pronounced kar-kar-o-DON-tuh-SAWR-us.
When did Carcharodontosaurus live?
Carcharodontosaurus lived during the Cretaceous.
Was Carcharodontosaurus a carnivore or a herbivore?
Carcharodontosaurus was a carnivore.
How big was Carcharodontosaurus?
Carcharodontosaurus was about 45 feet (13.7 meters) long, around 23 feet (7.0 meters) tall, weighing up to 16,000 pounds (7,258 kg).
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