Carcharodontosaurus

## *Carcharodontosaurus saharicus*

> *If you thought the great white shark was terrifying, try imagining a predatory dinosaur that had its teeth.*
>
> Narrator, about *Carcharodontosaurus*, Battle of the Alphas

***Carcharodontosaurus*** (meaning "*Jagged-Toothed Lizard*") is a genus of carcharodontosaurid dinosaur that originated during the Middle Cretaceous period in what is now Africa. A close relative of the South American predatory dinosaur *Giganotosaurus* that measured 13 meters in length and weighed over 6 tons, *Carcharodontosaurus* was one of the largest theropod dinosaurs ever discovered. It is famous for its teeth, which strongly resemble the teeth of a great white shark, hence its name.

In the Series 3 episode "*Mystery of the Sail-Back Giant,*" a pair of *Carcharodontosaurus* was hunting from Middle Cretaceous Kem Kem Group, 97 million years ago.

## Facts

### Era & Discovery

*Carcharodontosaurus* lived in Africa during the Middle Cretaceous period, around 113 – 90 million years ago. One of the top predators of its time and region, *Carcharodontosaurus* was the natural rival of *Spinosaurus*. They were first discovered in 1924 and were given their name due to their teeth bearing strong resemblance to a great white shark.

### Physical Attributes

*Carcharodontosaurus* was one of the largest predatory dinosaurs that ever walked the Earth. Standing 15.5 feet (4.72 m) tall, measuring 39 – 44 feet (12 – 13.5 m) long, and weighing up to 6 tons (13,000 lb), *Carcharodontosaurus* was the fourth largest carnivorous dinosaur of all time. The only ones as large as or larger than them are *Spinosaurus*, *Giganotosaurus*, and *Tyrannosaurus rex*. It was a carnosaur, related to *Allosaurus*, *Australovenator*, and *Giganotosaurus*. It had somewhat short arms with 3 sharp talons on each hand. It had long, powerful legs, suggesting speed for such a big animal. The shark-toothed lizard also had a long tail designed for balance while moving, and to help even out the weight in its huge head.

*Carcharodontosaurus* had a long, thin skull that measured 5 feet (1.8 m) long, currently making it the theropod with the second-largest skull, right after its close cousin, *Giganotosaurus*, and was armed with over 50 blade-like teeth in its powerful jaws that measured 20 cm. Hence their name, when they were discovered, the sharp, serrated teeth of these meat-eating dinosaurs possessed matching characteristics, in fact, strong resemblances to the teeth of a great white shark (or known by its scientific named *Carcharodon carcharias*). Ergo, paleontologists named the dinosaur *Carcharodontosaurus*.

### Behavior & Traits

Like some theropod dinosaurs, *Carcharodontosaurus* hunted in pairs as opposed to packs but was a solitary hunter as well. They often competed for food against their natural adversary, *Spinosaurus*. When hunting in pairs, these predators could not only bring down the sauropod dinosaurs of their environment but also fight off a single *Spinosaurus*. Like other theropods, *Carcharodontosaurus* generally attacked the sick, weak, old, and slowest members of a herd of herbivorous dinosaurs. Armed with cunning and serrated, jagged teeth as large as knife blades, they struck at their own will with incredible force.

## Trivia

* *Carcharodontosaurus* is the fourth largest predatory dinosaur ever been, as well as the second member of the Carcharodontosaurids family.
* The sound effects of *Carcharodontosaurus* are that of grizzly bear, leopard, tiger, lion and Jaguar.