| Diet | Carnivore |
| Height | 4m |
| Length | 13m |
| Weight | 7 tonnes |
| Speed | 25 km/h |
| Environment | Land |
| Era | Cretaceous |
| Period | Early Cretaceous |
| Type | Theropod |
| Location | Northwest Africa |
Carcharodontosaurus was one of the largest theropod dinosaurs ever discovered, rivalling even Tyrannosaurus rex in size. This massive predator stalked the river systems and floodplains of Northwest Africa between 100 and 94 million years ago during the Cenomanian age of the Early Cretaceous period. Its name, meaning 'shark-toothed lizard', perfectly describes its most fearsome feature: rows of razor-sharp, serrated teeth that resembled those of a great white shark.
Standing about 4 metres tall at the hip and measuring up to 13 metres in length, Carcharodontosaurus weighed approximately 7 tonnes. Its skull alone was enormous, measuring around 1.6 metres long and packed with powerful jaw muscles. Unlike the bone-crushing teeth of tyrannosaurs, Carcharodontosaurus had blade-like teeth designed for slicing through flesh, making it perfectly adapted for hunting large prey including fish, other dinosaurs, and possibly even young sauropods.
The discovery history of Carcharodontosaurus is both fascinating and tragic. First described from teeth found in Algeria in 1925, a more complete skeleton discovered in Egypt was unfortunately destroyed during World War II bombing raids. Fortunately, a magnificent skull discovered in Morocco's Kem Kem Beds in 1995 has allowed scientists to better understand this apex predator. This theropod shared its habitat with other giants like Spinosaurus, creating one of the most dangerous prehistoric ecosystems ever known.
Carcharodontosaurus had an exceptionally large skull measuring 1.6 metres long, filled with curved, serrated teeth resembling shark teeth. Its massive size, powerful build, and relatively long arms with large claws made it one of the most formidable predators of its time.
Carcharodontosaurus was likely an active pursuit predator that hunted large prey across the river systems of Cretaceous Africa. Evidence suggests it may have been territorial and possibly competed with Spinosaurus for resources, leading to occasional confrontations between these giant predators.
Carcharodontosaurus has appeared in several dinosaur documentaries and video games, often portrayed as a rival to Spinosaurus in prehistoric Africa.
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Saurischia |
| Order | Avetheropoda |
| Family | Carcharodontosauridae |
| Genus | Carcharodontosaurus |
Carcharodontosaurus was first described by Charles Depéret and Justin Savornin in 1925. The original fossils were discovered at Algeria.
