Carnotaurinae

† Carnotaurinae was a subfamily of ceratosaurian theropod dinosaurs within Abelisauridae, defined by features shared by Carnotaurus and its closest abelisaurid relatives from South America. These Late Cretaceous carnivores were characterized by highly reduced forelimbs, deep skulls, and in some cases prominent cranial ornamentation such as horns or crests. They were the dominant large predators in Gondwanan ecosystems of the Late Cretaceous, filling ecological niches occupied by tyrannosaurids in Laurasia.

Diet & Feeding

Carnivore

Carnotaurinae was a meat-eating predator. Carnivorous dinosaurs were active hunters or scavengers, equipped with sharp teeth and claws for catching and consuming prey. They occupied the top of the food chain in their ecosystems.

Time Period

Cretaceous Late Mesozoic Era

Carnotaurinae lived during the Cretaceous Late period of the Mesozoic Era, approximately 100.5 to 66.0 million years ago.

The final age of dinosaurs, featuring iconic species like Tyrannosaurus rex, Triceratops, and Velociraptor. Dinosaurs reached their peak diversity before the catastrophic asteroid impact at the Chicxulub crater ended the Mesozoic Era.