CretaceousCarnivoreLarge

Carnotaurus

KAR-no-TORE-us

"Meat-eating bull"

Overview

Carnotaurus was a distinctive abelisaurid theropod with two bull-like horns above its eyes and extremely reduced forelimbs. Known from an exceptionally complete skeleton, it was a fast, agile predator of Late Cretaceous South America.

Vital Statistics

Length

8 m

Height

3 m

Weight

1.5 t

Est. Speed

35 km/h

Discovered

1985

Named by

José Bonaparte

Countries Discovered

Argentina

Fossil Locations

🦴

📍 Chubut Province, Argentina

Interesting Facts

Its arms were even shorter and weaker than those of T. rex, with no functional lower arm bones.

Carnotaurus had two prominent horns above its eyes, likely used for display and combat.

Skin impressions show it was covered in rows of small, bumpy scales.

It was likely one of the fastest large theropods, built for sprinting.

Closest Relatives

MajungasaurusAbelisaurusAucasaurusRajasaurus