Carnotaurus
A horned, lightly built predator from Late Cretaceous South America.
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. 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.
- lived
- Late Cretaceous, 69–66 million years ago
- length
- 7.5–8 m (24.6–26.2 ft)
- mass
- 1.3–2.1 metric tons (1.4–2.3 short tons)
- field
- Paleontology
- known_for
- Two thick horns above the eyes, extensive skin impressions, and being one of the best-understood theropods from the Southern Hemisphere
Lore & Background
This expedition also recovered the peculiar spiny sauropod Amargasaurus. The skeleton is well-preserved and articulated, with only the posterior two thirds of the tail, much of the lower leg, and the hind feet being destroyed by weathering. It was found lying on its right side, showing a typical death pose with the neck bent back over the torso. Unusually, it is preserved with extensive skin impressions. The skull was deformed during fossilization, with the snout bones of the left side displaced forwards relative to the right side, the nasal bones pushed upwards, and the premaxillae pushed backwards onto the nasal bones.
Reader's Guide
Carnotaurus is significant as one of the best-understood theropods from the Southern Hemisphere, providing crucial insights into abelisaurid anatomy and evolution. This makes it a key specimen for understanding theropod integument. The distinctive horns and muscular neck may have been used in fighting others of its species, though the feeding habits remain unclear—some studies suggested it hunted very large prey such as sauropods, while others found it preyed mainly on relatively small animals. For years, Carnotaurus was the best-understood member of its family, until similar well-preserved abelisaurids were described in the 21st century.
Did You Know?
- The generic name Carnotaurus is derived from Latin carno (flesh) and taurus (bull), meaning 'meat-eating bull,' alluding to its bull-like horns.
- The skeleton was embedded in a large hematite concretion, making preparation complicated and slow.
- The skull was deformed during fossilization, exaggerating the upward curvature of the upper jaw.
- A life-sized sculpture of Carnotaurus, probably the first life restoration of a theropod showing accurate skin, was displayed at the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County.
Common Misconceptions (Editorial)
Some believe Carnotaurus was a horned dinosaur like a triceratops, but its two thick horns were above the eyes, not on the nose or brow ridge in the same manner. Another misconception is that its skull shape in reconstructions is fully accurate; in reality, the skull was deformed during fossilization, exaggerating the upward curvature of the upper jaw. It is also sometimes thought to be poorly known, but Carnotaurus is actually one of the best-understood theropods from the Southern Hemisphere, known from a single well-preserved skeleton with extensive skin impressions.
Why It Matters (Editorial)
Carnotaurus endures in the public imagination because it looks like no other dinosaur — a theropod with bull-like horns that still feels alien and predatory. Its exceptional preservation, including skin impressions that have guided accurate life restorations, makes it a vital window into the appearance and biology of abelisaurids, the top predators of ancient South America.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Carnotaurus?
Carnotaurus sastrei is a single-species theropod from the Late Cretaceous of South America, known from one remarkably complete skeleton. It belongs to the abelisaurid family and occupied the top-predator niche across the southern landmasses of Gondwana.
What makes Carnotaurus look different from other theropods?
Its most eye-catching trait is the pair of thick, bony horns perched above each eye, giving the skull a bull-like appearance. It also had very short, stubby forelimbs and a comparatively light body frame for a theropod of its overall length.
How big was Carnotaurus?
It measured about 7.5 to 8 metres (roughly 25 feet) from snout to tail and weighed in the range of 1.3 to 2.1 metric tonnes. Despite that length, its build was notably light and gracile compared to other large theropods of the era.
Why is Carnotaurus significant to dinosaur research?
Because it is represented by a single, exceptionally well-preserved skeleton, it stands as one of the best-understood large theropods from the Southern Hemisphere. It also retains rare skin impressions, offering direct evidence of surface texture that few other dinosaurs can match.
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