Carnotaurus
PALAEONTOLOGICAL RECORD
Carnotaurus is a genus of theropod dinosaur that lived in South America during the Late Cretaceous period, between 69 and 66 million years ago. The only species is Carnotaurus sastrei. Known from a single well-preserved skeleton, it is one of the best-understood theropods from the Southern Hemisphere. The skeleton, found in 1984, was uncovered in the Chubut Province of Argentina from rocks of the La Colonia Formation. Carnotaurus is a derived member of the Abelisauridae, a group of large theropods that occupied the large predatorial niche in the southern landmasses of Gondwana during the late Cretaceous. Within the Abelisauridae, the genus is often considered a member of the Brachyrostra, a clade of short-snouted forms restricted to South America.
DISCOVERY
Discovered in 1984 by José Bonaparte in Argentina.
DIETARY PROFILE
Fast runner targeting small, swift prey.
NOTABLE PALAEONTOLOGY FACTS
- Its name means 'meat-eating bull' referring to its unique demonic horns.
- It has the shortest, most reduced forelimbs of any large theropod, smaller even than T. rex's.
HOLLYWOOD INACCURACIES
- Significantly oversized in the films.
- Did not have the thick armor plating shown on its back.
