Carcharodontosaurus facts for kids
Quick facts for kids CarcharodontosaurusTemporal range: Early-Late Cretaceous
112–93 mya |
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Carcharodontosaurus
Stromer, 1921
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Carcharodontosaurus was a huge meat-eating dinosaur. It lived during the Cretaceous period, about 100 to 93 million years ago. This giant reptile was found in Africa. It could grow up to 13 meters (about 43 feet) long. Imagine a dinosaur as long as a school bus! It weighed around six tons, which is like two large cars.
Carcharodontosaurus was a close relative of Giganotosaurus. Giganotosaurus was its slightly bigger cousin from Argentina. Both were part of a group called carcharodontosaurid carnosaurs. New discoveries suggest Carcharodontosaurus was one of the largest meat-eating dinosaurs in Africa. Only Spinosaurus might have been bigger.
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Discovering Carcharodontosaurus Fossils
Scientists have found only two main Carcharodontosaurus fossils. The first discovery happened in the 1920s. Two teeth were found at that time. Later, in the 1930s, more parts were found in Egypt. Sadly, these fossils were lost during World War II. They were destroyed in bombing raids on Munich while on display.
A New Skull Discovery
A new skull was found in 1996. This discovery helped scientists learn more about Carcharodontosaurus. The new skull was very large, measuring 1.6 meters (about 5.2 feet) long. This made scientists realize the dinosaur was even bigger than they first thought.
What Its Jaws and Teeth Were Like
The jaws of Carcharodontosaurus were narrow. They were similar to those of its cousin, Giganotosaurus. Its teeth were very impressive. They could be up to 7 inches long! These long, sharp teeth were perfect for hunting and eating other dinosaurs.
Images for kids
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Life restoration of C. saharicus
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Restored skull of SGM-DIN 1, the neotype of C. saharicus
See also
In Spanish: Carcharodontosaurus para niños
