Carnotaurus sastrei

† Carnotaurus sastrei ('meat-eating bull') was a distinctive abelisaurid theropod from the Late Cretaceous La Colonia Formation of Patagonia, Argentina. Approximately 8–9 m long, it was characterized by two prominent brow horns above the eyes — unique among theropods — extremely reduced forelimbs, and a deep skull adapted for a high-speed, ramming-style bite. Known from a near-complete skeleton with skin impressions showing a pebbly, non-scaly exterior, it remains one of the best-known Gondwanan carnivorous dinosaurs.

Diet & Feeding

Carnivore

Carnotaurus sastrei 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

Carnotaurus sastrei 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.