Majungatholus Facts
| Diet | Carnivore |
| Height | 2.1m |
| Length | 7m |
| Weight | 1.1 tonnes |
| Speed | 25 km/h |
| Environment | Land |
| Era | Cretaceous |
| Period | Late Cretaceous |
| Type | Theropod |
| Location | Madagascar |

| Diet | Carnivore |
| Height | 2.1m |
| Length | 7m |
| Weight | 1.1 tonnes |
| Speed | 25 km/h |
| Environment | Land |
| Era | Cretaceous |
| Period | Late Cretaceous |
| Type | Theropod |
| Location | Madagascar |
Majungatholus was a fearsome theropod dinosaur that prowled the island of Madagascar during the Late Cretaceous Period, from approximately 72 to 66 million years ago. This powerful predator was one of the dominant carnivores on the isolated landmass, ruling its ecosystem until the mass extinction that ended the age of dinosaurs.
Standing about 2.1 metres tall at the hip and measuring 7 metres in length, Majungatholus was a robust, muscular theropod built for power rather than speed. Its most distinctive feature was a prominent dome-like horn projecting from the top of its skull, which gave the dinosaur its name meaning 'Majunga dome'. The creature had a relatively short, deep skull filled with sharp, serrated teeth perfect for slicing through flesh and bone.
As a carnivore, Majungatholus hunted the diverse array of dinosaurs that shared its Madagascar home, including sauropods, ornithopods, and other theropods. Evidence suggests this predator was not above scavenging, and remarkably, bite marks on Majungatholus bones indicate it may have engaged in cannibalism—eating members of its own species.
Like other theropods, Majungatholus walked on two powerful hind legs and had relatively small arms with clawed hands. Its strong jaws and muscular build made it perfectly adapted for tackling large prey in the unique ecosystem of Late Cretaceous Madagascar, where it reigned as one of the apex predators until the end of the dinosaur era.
Majungatholus is instantly recognisable by the prominent bony dome or horn that projected from the top of its skull, giving it a distinctive silhouette. It had a relatively short but deep skull compared to other large theropods, with powerful jaws packed with sharp, curved teeth designed for slicing meat.
Evidence from bite marks on Majungatholus bones suggests this theropod engaged in cannibalistic behaviour, feeding on members of its own species whether through active hunting or scavenging. It was likely both an active predator and an opportunistic scavenger, using its powerful build to dominate Madagascar's Late Cretaceous ecosystems.
Majungatholus has appeared in several documentaries about prehistoric Madagascar and occasionally features in dinosaur video games, though it is less well-known than other large theropods like T. rex.
Majungatholus was first described by David Krause in 1996. The original fossils were discovered at Maevarano Formation, Madagascar.