Carnotaurus (pronounced "KAR-nuh-TORE-us", meaning "meat-eating bull") is a genus of large theropod dinosaur that lived in South America during the Late Cretaceous period, about 68 to 66 million years ago. It could grow about 9 feet (2.7 metres) tall and 29 feet (8.8 metres) long.
The only known species to date is C. sastrei , which is known from a single, well-preserved set of remains, it is one of the best-understood theropods from the Southern Hemisphere. During its time, Carnotaurus was apart of the large predatorial niche in the southern regions of Gondwana.
Palaeontologists are uncertain to the phylogenetic relationship of Carnotaurus; it is believed to be close to either Majungasaurus or Aucasaurus .
Carnotaurus was a lightly built, bipedal predator, measuring 8 to 9 m (26 to 30 ft) in length and weighing at least 1 metric ton (0.98 long ton; 1.1 short tons). As a theropod, Carnotaurus was highly specialized and distinctive. It had thick horns above the eyes, a feature unseen in all other carnivorous dinosaurs, and a very deep skull sitting on a muscular neck. Carnotaurus was further characterized by small, vestigial forelimbs and long and slender hindlimbs. The skeleton is preserved with extensive skin impressions, showing a mosaic of small, non-overlapping scales measuring approximately 5 mm in diameter. The mosaic was interrupted by large bumps that lined the sides of the animal, and there are no hints of feathers.
The distinctive horns and the muscular neck may have been used in fighting conspecifics. According to separate studies, rivaling individuals may have combated each other with quick head blows, by slow pushes with the upper sides of their skulls, or by ramming each other head-on, using their horns as shock absorbers. The feeding habits of Carnotaurus remain unclear: some studies suggest the animal was able to hunt down very large prey such as sauropods, while other studies find it preyed mainly on relatively small animals. Carnotaurus was well adapted for running and was possibly one of the fastest large theropods.
Description[]
Scale diagram comparing Carnotaurus to a human
Carnotaurus was a large but lightly built predator. The only known individual was about 8 to 9 metres (26 to 30 ft) in length, making Carnotaurus one of the largest abelisaurids. Only Ekrixinatosaurus and possibly Abelisaurus may have been similar or larger in size, though the incomplete remains of these genera make size estimations imprecise. Its mass is estimated to have been 1,350 kg (1.33 long tons; 1.49 short tons) 1,500 kg (1.5 long tons; 1.7 short tons) and 2,102 kg (2.069 long tons; 2.317 short tons) in separate studies that used different estimation methods. Carnotaurus was a highly specialized theropod, as seen especially in characteristics of the skull, the vertebrae and the forelimbs. The pelvis and hindlimbs, on the other hand, remained relatively conservative, resembling those of the more basal Ceratosaurus. Both the pelvis and hindlimb bones were long and slender. The left thigh bone of the individual measures 103 cm in length, but shows an average diameter of only 11 cm.
Skull[]
Skull in multiple views, with details of the skin structures inferred, and the right frontal horn
The only known skull measures 59.6 cm (23.5 in) in length, and was proportionally shorter and deeper than what's seen in any other carnivorous dinosaur. The snout was somewhat broad, and not as tapering as seen in more basal theropods like Ceratosaurus, and the jaws were curved upwards. A prominent pair of horns formed by the frontal bones, protruded obliquely above the eyes. These horns were thick and cone-shaped, internally solid, somewhat vertically flattened in cross-section, and measured 15 cm (5.9 in) in length. Bonaparte, in 1990, suggested that these horns would probably have formed the bony cores of much longer keratinous sheaths. Mauricio Cerroni and colleagues, in 2020, agreed that the horns supported keratinous sheaths, but argued that these sheaths would not have been greatly longer than the bony cores.
Like other dinosaurs, there were six major fenestrae on each side. The external naris in Carnotaurus is higher than long, which differs from related taxa. The antorbital fenestra is bounded by the antorbital fossa, which was small in Carnotaurus, as in all abelisaurids. The orbits, slightly rotated forward, suggest a degree of binocular vision The frontal is excluded from the orbit, as in all abelisaurids. The mandibular fenestra in Carnotaurus was large, comparatively. 4 premaxillary and 12 maxillary teeth lined each eachside of the upper jaws, with the lower having 15 dentary teeth on each side. They are long and slender, which differs from the shorter teeth in other Abelisauridae. However, Cerroni et al. (2020) stated all erupted teeth were severely damaged during recovery, later reconstructed with plater. Bonaparte (1990) notes the lower teeth were fragmentary. Therefore, reliable data concerning the teeth of C. sastrei is limited to replacement teeth and tooth roots still in the jaw, studied with CT scanning. The replacement teeth had low, flattened crowns, were spaced closely and inclined forwards ~45°. Bonaparte (1990) noted the lower jaw is shallow and weakly-constructed, with the dentary connected to the posterior mandibular bones by 2 points, which contrasts the robust skull. Cerroni et al. (2020) found multiple, loose, connections between the dentary and posterior jaw bones. This articulation was very flexible, but not as weak as thought. The bottom margin in the dentary is convex; it was straight in Majungasaurus.
With the mandible are ossified articulate hyoids. These preserved two curved, rod-like ceratobranchials that articulate with one basihyal. The latter is the only (non-avain) theropod known with this preserved. The posterior of the skull has well-developed and air-filled chambers, who surround the braincase, seen in other abelisaurids. Two chamber systems are present; the paratympanic and outgrowth chambers of the neck air sacs. Several autapomorphies are known from the skull; two horns and a very short, deep skull. The maxilla has excavations above the promaxillary fenestrae, which were excavated by the antorbital air sinus. The nasolacrimal duct exits the medial surface of the lacrimal through a canal, which has an uncertain function. Other proposed autapomorphies include a deep, long, air-fiilled excavation in the quadrate and an elongate depression on the palate's pterygoid.
Vertebrae[]
The 6th caudal of the holotype.
The vertebral column consisted of 10 cervical (neck), 12 dorsal, 6 fused sacral and an unknown number of caudal (tail) vertebrae. The neck was nearly straight, rather than having the S-curve seen in other theropods, and also unusually wide, especially towards its base. The top of the neck's spinal column featured a double row of enlarged, upwardly directed bony processes called epipophyses, making the neck flat on top. These processes were the highest points of the spine, towering above the unusually low spinous processes. The epipophyses probably provided attachment areas for a markedly strong neck musculature. A similar double row was also present in the tail, formed there by highly modified caudal ribs protruding in a V-shape, resulting in a flattened top of the tail. The end of each caudal rib was furnished with a forward projecting expansion that connected to the caudal rib of the preceding vertebra.
Forelimbs[]
Shoulder region and arms; hands shown flexed beyond their ability to move in life
Bones of the hand, as interpreted by Ruiz and colleagues (2011)
The forelimbs were proportionally shorter than in any other large carnivorous dinosaurs, including Tyrannosaurus. The forearm was only a quarter the size of the upper arm. There were no carpalia in the hand, so that the metacarpals articulated directly with the forearm. The hand showed four basic digits, though apparently only the middle two of these ended in finger bones, while the fourth consisted of a single splint-like metacarpal that may have represented an external 'spur'. The fingers themselves were fused and immobile, and may have lacked claws. Carnotaurus differed from all other abelisaurids in having proportionally shorter and more robust forelimbs, and in having the fourth, splint-like metacarpal as the longest bone in the hand. A 2009 study suggests that the arms were vestigial in abelisaurids, because nerve fibers responsible for stimulus transmission were reduced to an extent seen in today's emus and kiwis, which also have vestigial forelimbs.
The arms of Carnotaurus are not known to have had any function. However, several theories exist as to why the animal had such tiny, borderline useless, arms. The first theory states that the arms would have been used in mating by locked into the animals partner. The second hypothesis, created by John Conway and Darren Naish, is based almost 100% on speculation, named the "arm-waggling" theory. They state the arms were attached to the shoulder by a ball joint, making them extremely flexible. Perhaps, Carnotaurus has brightly ornamented arms that would have aided in getting a mate or by scaring off attackers. They state that in the forward view, both the horns and arms of Carnotaurus could have been seen. Since they would have assumed a default position hugging the body, the body mass would have obscured the arms until swung outward. This, in the case of a mate, would have possibly functioned like a flash display, characteristic of most birds. In the case of an attacker, the body mass would have hidden the arms until moving out, which could have confused the other animal and scared it away. Another theory, states the arms were used like an ostriches wings, a tool to help balance and steer in fast motion [1][2].
Skin[]
Skin impressions from the tail
Carnotaurus was the first theropod dinosaur discovered with comprehensive fossil skin impressions. These impressions, found beneath the skeleton's right side, come from different body parts, including the lower jaw, the front of the neck, the shoulder girdle, and the rib cage. The largest patch of skin corresponds to the anterior part of the tail. Originally, the right side of the skull also was covered with large patches of skin—this was not recognized when the skull was prepared, and these patches were accidentally destroyed. Still, the surface texture of much of the right side of the skull is very different from that of the left side, and probably shows some features of the scalation pattern of the head.
The skin was built up of a mosaic of polygonal, non-overlapping scales measuring approximately 5 mm (0.20 in) in diameter. This mosaic was divided by thin, parallel grooves. Scalation was similar across different body parts with the exception of the head, which apparently showed a different, irregular pattern of scales. There is no evidence of feathers. Uniquely for theropods, there were large knob-like bumps running along the sides of the neck, back and tail in irregular rows. Each bump showed a low ridge and measured 4 to 5 cm (1.6 to 2.0 in) in diameter. They were set 8 to 10 cm (3.1 to 3.9 in) apart from each other and became larger towards the animal's top. The bumps probably represent clusters of condensed scutes, similar to those seen on the soft frill running along the body midline in hadrosaurid ("duck-billed") dinosaurs. Stephen Czerkas (1997) suggested that these structures may have protected the animal's sides while fighting members of the same species (conspecifics) and other theropods, arguing that similar structures can be found on the neck of the modern iguana where they provide limited protection in combat.
Discovery[]
Mount of Carnotaurus at Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County
MACN-CH 894, an exceptionally preserved skeleton, is the only and holotype specimen of C. sastrei, found by José Bonaparte in 1984 on the Jurassic and Cretaceous Terrestrial Vertebrates of South America expedition. This expedition, the 8th in a series starting in 1976, also wielded Amargasaurus. It was sponsored by the National Geographic Society. Most of the front of the animal was preserved and articulate, including the posterior 2/3 of the tail, most of the lower leg and hindfeet, which were destroyed by weathering. It was an adult individual, as showed by fused sutures in the braincase. Lying on its right in the death pose, the specimen also exhibited skin impressions across most of the exposed body. A second expedition was later carried out to reinvestigate the locality, recovering more skin patches. The skull was deformed due to the fossilization process, with the rostrum displaced leftwards, the nasals pushed upwards and the premaxillae scrunched back into the nasals. The upper jaw exhibited major curvature, more in life, due to this deformation. The rostrum was most affected rather than the posterior of the skull, likely due to a stronger rigidity. In the top and bottom views, the upper jaws were shaped less like a U than the mandible, which results in a mismatch. This was caused by the deformation acting from the sides, which affects the upper, but not lower, jaws; likely due to a greater flexibility of the join flexibility in the mandible.
Illustration of the known material of Carnotaurus
It was collected from the Pocho Sastre farm near Bajada Moreno, Telssen Department, Chubut Province, Argentina. Preparation progressed very slowly, since it was embedded in a hematite concretion. Bonaparte (1985) published a note presenting C. sastrei, briefly describing the skull and mandible. It was named from the Latin carno [carnis], meaning "flesh" and tauru, meaning "bull". In allusion to it's bull-like horns, it means "meat-eating bull", with specific epithet referencing Angel Sastre, who owned the ranch the holotype was found in. In 1990, a comprehensive description detailing the entire skeleton was publihed. It was, after Abelisaurus, the second abelisaurid, and by far the best understood abelisaur and Southern Hemisphere theropod for many years. In the 21st century, Aucasaurus, Majungasaurus and Skorpiovenator, all well-preserved abelisaurs, were named, which allowed scientists to reevaluate anatomy of Carnotaurus. Thee holotype skeleton is now on display at the Argentine Museum of Natural Sciences in Bernardino Rivadavia, and replicas are seen worldwide. Stephen and Sylvia Czerkas sculpted a life-sized Carnotaurus statue that was previously on display at the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County. Ordered during the mis-1980s, it is likely the first paleoart to show accurate theropod skin.
Classification[]
Restored cast of the holotype, Museu de Ciências Naturais da PUC Minas
Forelimb bones
Carnotaurus is one of the best-understood genera of the Abelisauridae, a family of large theropods restricted to the ancient southern supercontinent Gondwana. Abelisaurids were the dominant predators in the Late Cretaceous of Gondwana, replacing the carcharodontosaurids and occupying the ecological niche filled by the tyrannosaurids in the northern continents. Several notable traits that evolved within this family, including shortening of the skull and arms as well as peculiarities in the cervical and caudal vertebrae, were more pronounced in Carnotaurus than in any other abelisaurid.
Though relationships within the Abelisauridae are debated, Carnotaurus is consistently shown to be one of the most derived members of the family by cladistical analyses. Its nearest relative may have been either Aucasaurus or Majungasaurus; this ambiguity is largely due to the incompleteness of the Aucasaurus skull material. A recent review suggests that Carnotaurus was not closely related with either Aucasaurus or Majungasaurus, and instead proposed Ilokelesia as its sister taxon.
Carnotaurus is eponymous for two subgroups of the Abelisauridae: the Carnotaurinae and the Carnotaurini. Paleontologists do not universally accept these groups. The Carnotaurinae was defined to include all derived abelisaurids with the exclusion of Abelisaurus, which is considered a basal member in most studies. However, a 2008 review suggested that Abelisaurus was a derived abelisaurid instead. Carnotaurini was proposed to name the clade formed by Carnotaurus and Aucasaurus; only those paleontologists who consider Aucasaurus as the nearest relative of Carnotaurus use this group.
Canale et al. (2009) concludes,
| Carnotaurinae |
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Paleobiology[]
Integument[]
In 2019, a picture surfaced online of the Carnotaurus holotype skull being prepared in the field. The picture aimlessly floated through platforms such as Twitter, with almost no backstory present. With the help of many sources, users were able to piece together a story behind the strange photo. The photo was taken in Argentina, with a paleontologist posing over the disarticulated 3D skull of the Carnotaurus holotype, with him placing his hat over the dinosaurs head and a visible rocky background. The story behind the image goes as follows:
The original Carnotaurus sastrei specimen was unearthed as part of an expedition by the name of "Jurassic and Cretaceous Terrestrial Vertebrates of South America", which was meant to discover new taxa in South America, as little was known about both the Jurassic and Cretaceous periods. The skeleton presumably had patches of skin impressions, which are said to have covered the skull, and may have even been found on the animals chest and tail. The photo was taken in 1984. The skeleton was layered in thick Hematite concretions.
In this case, C. sastrei's decayed corpse forms a nucleus. This unique combination of rock and fossil makes preparation more difficult than normal preparation. The image appears to feature Orlando Gutierrez, field assistant of José Bonaparte and technician and the head of Carnotaurus. The skull is covered by a hard substance of two possibilities: either the Hematite concretions, or skin impressions. Accounts from different sources claim different stories for the proposed skin impression. Dr. Mark Witton claims in an article that the 'skin' was prepared away. Some hear that the skin was discarded in the field, and others say it was discarded in the preparation lab. Dr. Darren Naish points out that the head had been separated from its body in the field which "tells us something interesting". The book "Hunting Dinosaurs", written by Louie Psihoyos states that Bonaparte had little regard for fossil material other than the skeleton itself, even sawing into fossils just to reach the skeletal elements. His statement is further solidified by him recounting Bonaparte chiseling away fossil eggshells, just to see if there was an embryo inside the egg. Some believe, however, that Louie's views of Dr. Bonaparte lacked justification; unwarranted.
Furthermore, the point that they had recognized the matrix as skin later confuses this situation a lot more. It has been brought up that the skin impressions could appear like the concretions engulfing the rest of the body. This would make it nearly impossible to recover discarded skin impressions at the dig site today. If the rock in the photo were truly skin, the face would have been covered in thick lips, with broad, blunt upturned horns and large scales would line the predators snout. Hendrickx and Bell (2021), however, mention this, but state it was prepared away in the field and likely not skin impressions. They also unearth an unseen photograph of the specimen.
In 2021, Christophe Hendrickx and Phil R. Bell described the scaly skin impressions of Carnotaurus. These impressions are the most complete of any theropod. Skin impressions from the shoulder, lower jaw, ribcage, thoracic, tail and possibly neck regions on the right side of the body preserves medium-large (20-65 millimeters in diameter) conical feature scales surrounded by many >14 millimeter basement scales, who are separated by interstitial tissues. The feature scales, not osteoderms, contrary to popular belief, are distributed randomly with no observable patterns, and vary along the body. Their apices are positioned differently on different areas. However, the basement scales vary; from small and elongate to large and polygonal, and circular to lenticular in the thoracic, scapular, and tail regions (respectively). Since presumed skin impressions on the face were destroyed, it is said the face was covered in scales, with possible flat scales similar to crocodilians based on the hummocky bone texture. The top of the snout had many small holes and spikes, which was a likely cornified pad. Scales probably surrounded the eyes, since the hummocky texture and longitudinal grooves on the lacrimal and postorbital are present.
The skin was made by a mosaic of polygonal non-overlapping scales dived by thin, parallel grooves. This was all around the body, minus the head. Larger bumpy structures distributed the sides of the neck, back and tail in irregular patterns. They are 5 centimeters (2 inches) tall, often have a midline ridge, become larger nearer to the top and are 8-10 centimeters (3.1-3.9 inches) apart. They are feature scales, and did not contain bone. Due to the size and active lifestyle of Carnotaurus, it is speculated this integument played a thermoregulatory role, which is seen in mammals and reptiles. They also suggested the skin may have protected from bites, which they ruled out due to unlikelyhood, and that it may have functioned for display, but was also ruled out since scale types are not necessarily indicative of colouration. It may have also acted as "mite pockets", which divert mites from other orifices, such as the eyes and eyes. The 2021 paper also confirmed any non-bone material on the cranium was prepared away, so it is unknown if the "soft tissue" present in popular images in circulation were soft tissue or something else entirely.
Horns[]
Restoration of the head showing the soft tissues inferred from osteological morphology of the skull
Carnotaurus is the only biped animal known with a pair of horns on its frontal. However, the use of these is not known. Several have tried to interpret them as used in fighting, killing prey, same-species recognition or courtship display. Gregory S. Paul (1988) thought they were used as butting weapons, with the small orbita to minimize hurting the eyes during fighting. Gerardo Mazzetta et al. (1998) suggested it was used like rams do, having two individuals colliding head-on. Fernando Novas (2009) interpreted adaptations for delivering blows in the head, suggesting the skull may have made skull movements quicker by reducing inertia, with the muscular neck supporting strong blows. He also notes enhanced rigidity and strength in the spinal column, which may have evolved to withstand shocks brought on by the head and neck. Other studies show it did not deliver rapid head blows, rather slowly pushing with their horns. Mazzetta et al. (2009) argued these horns may have distributed force rather than sustaining blows, since they are mostly flat and strongly-built. Rafael Delcourt (2018) suggests slow headbutting or shoving, or blows to the opponent's neck and flank, as both are seen in extant animals. The latter is suggested for Majungasaurus in a 2011 conference paper. Gerardo Mazzetta et al. (1998) propose the horns were used to injurt/kill small prey, since they may have looked like bovid horns although the cores are blunt. However, this would then be the only example of horns used as weapons. They could have been sheathed in large colourful keratin in life. Some think such ornamentation could have been used in display, with the head angled down (horns in view) and the arms "waggling" (see here).
Diet[]
Skull cast, Dinosaur Discovery Museum, Kenosha, Wisconsin
Analyses of Carnotaurus jaws by Mazzetta et al. (1998, 2004 and 2009) suggest it was capable of quick, but not strong, bites; since quick bites are more important than strong bites when capturing prey. They also note a high degree of kinesis within the cranium and especially the mandible, similar to modern snakes. The jaw's elasticity would have allowed it to swallow prey whole, with the anterior of the mandible being hinged, being able to move up and down. When the teeth pressed down, they would have projected forwards, allowing it to impale small prey; on the contrary, when they curved up, the backwards-projecting teeth would have ensnared prey, making escape impossible. They also found the skull could withstand forces while tugging. Thus, it probably fed on small prey with the ability to hunt larger prey, in addition. In 2009, they estimated a bite force of 3341 newtons.
However, François Therrien et al. (2006) questioned this, finding a bite force double to American alligator, the strongest bite of any living tetrapod. They also noted analogies with Komodo dragons in the flexural strength in the mandible linearly decreases nearer to the tip; the jaws were not adapted to precision capturing of small prey but rather slashing wounds towards larger prey. Consequently, this study states Carnotaurus must have fed upon larger animals as a possible ambush predator. Cerroni et al. (2020) argued flexibility was restricted in the mandible with the thickened skull roof and cranial joint ossification suggesting the cranium bore little or no kinesis.
Robert Bakker (1998) found it fed upon large prey, especially sauropods, since the short snout, relatively small teeth and strong occiput is similar to Allosaurus, who hunts sauropods. Bakker noted the upper jaw could have been used like an axe, weakening sauropods by repetitively injuring them.
Locomotion[]
Mazzetta et al. (1998 and '99) presume Carnotaurus was a swift runner, arguing the thigh bone has a morphology that can withstand high bending moments during running, since an animal's ability to withstand these forces limits its capabilities. It would have been better than a human but not as good as an ostrich, finding a top speed of 48-56 kilometers (30-35 miles)/hour. The most important locomotor muscle in dinosaurs is the caudofemoralis, which attached to the fourth trochanter and pulls the which back when contracted. Scott Persons and Phil Currie (2011) note the caudal ribs in Carnotaurus do not protrude horizontally, rather angled against the vertical axis of the vertebrae, which forms a V rather than a T. This provided space for a much larger caudofemoralis, with a mass calculated at 111-137 kilograms (245-302 pounds) per leg; therefore, Carnotaurus may have been the fastest theropod. While the caudofemoralis was enlarged, the epaxial muscles above the caudal ribs would have been proportionally smaller, The longissimus and spinalis, responsible for tail movement and stability, are much smaller. Despite this, the caudal ribs have forward-projecting processes that interlock the vertebrae and pelvis, stiffening the tail but also diminishing the ability to make tight turns, since the hip and tail had to have simultaneously oriented - unlike other theropods.
Senses[]
Cerroni and Pualina-Carabajal (2019) Ct scanned the endocranial cavity of Carnotaurus, finding a brain volume of 168.8 centimeters³ (though the brain filled a fraction of this measurement). They used two brain size estimates, assuming a brain 50% and 37% of the cavity. The encephalization quotient received is larger than Majungasaurus but lesser than tyrannosaurids. The pineal gland might have been smaller than other abelisaurids, indicated by a low dural expansion.
The olfactory bulbs were large, with the optic lobes being small. This indicates a better developed sense of smell and a poorer sense of sight (which is seen as the opposite in birds). The anterior of the olfactory tracts and bulbs curves downwards, which is only shared with Indosaurus. Cerroni and Paulina-Carabajal hypothesize it may have relied more on smell than other abelisaurids based on the curvature and large bulbs. The flocculus was large, indicating that it and other South American forms frequently used quick movements. In Carnotaurus and other belisaurids, hearing may have been poorly-developed as suggested by the short lagena. It is thought to have had a hearing range below 3 kHz.
Paleoecology[]
Carnotaurus in environment
Originally, the rocks where Carnotaurus were found were identified as the Upper Gorro Frigio Formation, ~100 million years old (Albian/Cenomanian-aged). Later, however, they were reassigned to the younger La Coloni Formation 83.6-66 million years ago (Campanian and Maastrichtian-aged) Novas (2009) in a book gave the narrower timespan of 72-69.9 million years ago (Lower Maastrichtian-aged). Therefore, C. sastrei was the latest South American abelisaurid. By the Late Cretaceous, South America was isolated from Africa and North America. The La Colonia Formation exposes over the south slope of the North Patagonian Massif. Most vertebrates, including C. sastrei, come from the middle of the middle facies association, likely representing estuaries, tidal flats or coastal plain. Seasonal climate existed with dry and humid seasons. Lungfish, turtles, crocodiles, plesiosaurs, dinosaurs, lizards, snakes and mammals are the most common vertebrates. Turtles are known from ~5 genera. Sulcusuchus, a polycotylid, is known from this formation. Reigitherium, Argentodites and possibly a multituberculate are known mammals. One enantiornithe is known.
JPInstitute.com Description[]
Carnotaurus was a South American, meat-eating dinosaur that had two short horns above its eyes. The horns were probably used more to impress females than for fighting. Another unusual feature was that it had very probably the tiniest arms of any of the larger meat-eaters.
Discovered fairly recently (1985), this fossil was very complete and included the best theropod skin impressions ever found. The skin showed many small cone-shaped nodules, each about two inches (5 cm) across, regularly spaced over its body. Carnotaurus had a short snout for a larger theropod. Its skull measured only 22 inches. Its arms were so small that it almost appears that the hands sprouted right from its body.
Dinosaur Field Guide Description[]
Camotaurus ("meat-eating] bull") was one of the most bizarre meat-eating dinosaurs ever found. Its skull was short. with armor on the top and a pair of knobby horns over its eyes. The neck and shoulder blades were well developed, but the arms were incredibly short, with forearms so shrunken they were practically just wrists! Not even Tyrannosaurus rex had such small arms. With its small skull, Carnotaurus might not have been able to attack big plant-eaters, but it was probably fast and could have easily chased down smaller, more agile prey. The horns of Carnotaurus look something like those of a bull--and like a bull, it may have used them in contests with others of its own species. In this way, two Carnotaurus could test each other's strength without either of them seriously injuring the other.
Fun Facts[]
The first, and so far only, discovered specimen of Carnotaurus was found with impressions of skin from all over the body.
Trivia[]
In Michael Crichton's novel The Lost World: Jurassic Park 11, the genetically recreated Carnotaurus had the power of chameleon-like camouflage However, it is extremely unlikely that any dinosaur really had this ability.
Gallery[]
Appearance in other media[]
Jurassic Park[]
- Carnotaurus appeared in the novel The Lost World by Michael Crichton (1995) as it is somewhat of a color-changing, chameleon-like dinosaur, but this ability is purely speculative. It also appeared in a level of the video game adaptation of the film counterpart.
- Carnotaurus was set to make an appearance in the movie Jurassic Park III as the dinosaur approaching the characters as they search for a cellular phone within giant heaps of Spinosaurus dung. However this was changed to a Ceratosaurus.
- A Carnotaurus appears in the Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom official trailer, before appearing in the film itself. These clones looked a bit different from their real-life counterparts. They were slightly oversized, had a broader snout, had pronated wrists like all of InGen’s cloned theropods, claws on all four fingers rather than just three of the four of the originals, and the speed was reduced.
- Carnotaurus appears in a free Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom Update for Jurassic World: Evolution, based on the Fallen Kingdom dinosaur.
- Genetic material of Carnotaurus was in InGen's possession by 2014 and was used in the creation of the genetic hybrid, Slash the Indominus rex in the film, Jurassic World.
- Carnotaurus appears in Jurassic World: Alive, based on the Fallen Kingdom dinosaur.
- It can be created from DNA in Jurassic Park III: Park Builder.
- Carnotaurus can be created in Jurassic Park: Builder. It is a limited edition dinosaur. It shares the Spinosaurus, Suchomimus, Yutyrannus, and Baryonyx animation. But it has large 3 fingered arms, but in reality, it had tiny 4 fingered arms.
- It can be created from DNA in Jurassic World: The Game as a rare dinosaur. It uses the same animations and sound effects of the Tyrannosaurus, Majungasaurus, Allosaurus, Megalosaurus, Metriacanthosaurus, Rajasaurus, Giganotosaurus, Yutyrannus, Gorgosaurus, and Tyrannotitan, but unlike most, it has an accurate number of fingers: 4.
- A Carnotaurus named Toro appears in seasons 1 and 5 of Jurassic World: Camp Cretaceous.
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Read more Carnotaurus on Jurassic Park Wiki |
The Land Before Time[]
- Carnotaurus appears in The Land Before Time XIV: Journey of the Brave, where one is seen chasing the characters into a cave before they escape. It is seen again later in the film when the rescue party hide from it.
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Read more Carnotaurus on Land Before Time Wiki |
Links[]
References[]
- ↑ Paleo Profile - Carnotaurus
- ↑ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carnotaurus