Carnosaur facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Carnosaurs Temporal range: Jurassic – Cretaceous
Allosaurus: notice the arms, and the skull bones
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Clade:	Dinosauria
Clade:	Saurischia
Clade:	Theropoda
Clade:	Avetheropoda
Infraorder:	†Carnosauria

Carnosaurs are a group of large, meat-eating dinosaurs. They belong to a bigger group called theropods, which includes all two-legged, meat-eating dinosaurs. The name Carnosauria (or Allosauroidea) is used for these specific dinosaurs.

This group includes some of the biggest predators from the Jurassic and Cretaceous periods. Famous examples are Allosaurus, Carcharodontosaurus, and Neovenator. Scientists use a method called cladistics to group animals. This means Carnosaurs are dinosaurs that are more closely related to Allosaurus than to modern birds.

What Made Carnosaurs Special?

Carnosaurs had several unique features. Many of these features helped them hunt and survive as large predators.

Their Skull and Senses

They had a large, long, and narrow skull. Their skulls were not solid bone but had open spaces, like a strong frame. This design helped make their heads lighter. Carnosaurs also had big eyes, which suggests they relied a lot on their sight to find and catch prey.

Legs and Movement

Their thigh bone (called the femur) was usually longer than their shin bone (the tibia). This suggests they were good at running, but not super-fast sprinters. They were built for powerful movements rather than extreme speed.

Strong Arms for Hunting

Carnosaurs had strong arms. These arms probably helped them wrestle and hold onto their prey. This allowed their powerful jaws and teeth to do the main work of biting. For example, Allosaurus was a strong, all-around hunter.

Carnosaurs vs. Tyrannosaurs

Carnosaurs were different from tyrannosaurids like Albertosaurus. Tyrannosaurs had smaller, two-fingered hands. They mostly used their heads for killing prey and for fighting rivals. Tyrannosaurs were also better adapted for running in open areas. Carnosaurs, with their strong arms, had a different hunting style.

When Did Carnosaurs Live?

For a long time, people thought Carnosaurs died out at the end of the Jurassic period. But scientists now know that some Carnosaurs, like the Neovenatorid group, survived much longer. They lived until the very end of the Mesozoic Era, which includes the Cretaceous period. This group included dinosaurs like Aerosteon, Australovenator, Fukuiraptor, and Neovenator.

Types of Carnosaurs

Here are some of the main groups and famous dinosaurs within the Carnosaur family:

• Infraorder Carnosauria
  • Erectopus
  • Fukuiraptor
  • Gasosaurus?
  • Monolophosaurus
  • Siamotyrannus
  • Superfamily Allosauroidea
    • Becklespinax?
    • Megaraptor?
    • Family Allosauridae
      • Allosaurus
      • Antrodemus
      • Epanterias
      • Saurophaganax
    • Family Carcharodontosauridae
      • Acrocanthosaurus?
      • Carcharodontosaurus
      • Neovenator
      • Subfamily Giganotosaurinae

*Giganotosaurus *Mapusaurus *Tyrannotitan

• • • Family Sinraptoridae
      • Metriacanthosaurus
      • Sinraptor
      • Yangchuanosaurus

How Scientists Group Carnosaurs

Scientists use a special diagram called a cladogram to show how different animals are related. The cladogram below shows the relationships within the Allosauroidea group, based on a study from 2010.

See also

A friendly robot

In Spanish: Carnosauria para niños