Horns above the eyes
Two prominent bony horns project from the skull, inspiring the bull reference in its name.
A REAL DINOSAUR. A SUSPICIOUSLY FAMILIAR PERSONALITY.
CARNOTAURUS.
Arrives with an attitude.
You make an impression before you say anything. Efficient, direct, and slightly allergic to unnecessary explanation. People call it intensity. You call it being on time.
SIGNATURE MOVEMaking a very short email feel very definitive.
SPECIMEN 13 / LATE CRETACEOUS
CARNOTAURUS SASTREI · CARNIVORE
CARNOTAURUS SASTREI · CARNIVOREFred Wierum · CC BY-SA 4.0 · via Wikimedia Commons
Meet the actual dinosaur THE ACTUAL SCIENCE STARTS HERE
Meet the real Carnotaurus.
The jokes are ours.
The animal was very real.
- WHEN
- About 71–69 million years ago
- ON THE MENU
- Carnivore
- LENGTH
- About 7.5–8 m
- BODY MASS
- About 1.3–2 tonnes
Exceptionally small arms
Its forelimbs were even more reduced than those of Tyrannosaurus, with unusual, tiny hands.
Skin impressions
The type specimen preserves extensive skin impressions, showing scales and larger conical feature scales.
A deep, short skull
The skull was relatively short and tall compared with many other large theropods.
An abelisaurid
Carnotaurus belonged to a group of predators especially well represented in southern continents.
One remarkable skeleton
Much of what is known comes from a single unusually complete skeleton discovered in Patagonia in 1984.
A little room for discovery.
The horns' function and exact running performance are uncertain; biomechanical models do not directly measure a living animal's speed.
Read more: Carnotaurus on Wikipedia · Research and references. Facts are summarized in our own words. Size and date ranges are approximate; estimates vary by specimen and study. Gallery images may include other species within the genus.
A closer look.
Fossils, museum displays, and published reconstructions. Artwork shows an interpretation; it is not a photograph of a living dinosaur.
Is this your prehistoric alter ego?
Eight questions and an optional face scan will settle this. Very unofficially.