| Carnotaurus(“Meat-eating Bull”) | T-Rex (“Tyrant Lizard”) | |
| Scientific classification | Domain: Eukaryota Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Clade: Dinosauria Clade: Saurischia Clade: Theropoda Family: Allosauridae Subfamily: Allosaurinae Genus: Allosaurus Species: Allosaurus fragilis | Domain: Eukaryota Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Clade: Dinosauria Clade: Saurischia Family: Tyrannosauridae Subfamily: Tyrannosaurinae Genus: Tyrannosaurus Species: Tyrannosaurus rex |
| Size | Height: 3-3.6 meters (10-12 feet) Length: 5.8-9 meters (19.2-30 feet) Weight: One metric ton (2,000 lbs) | Height: 3 to 4 meters (12 – 13 feet) Length: 12 to 15 meters (40 – 50 feet) Weight: 5 to 8 metric tons (11,000 – 17,600 pounds) |
| Appearance and Physical Features | -bipedal -shorter forelimbs -deeper and shorter skull -straight, thick, muscular neck -slender hind limbs -long, muscular tail | -strongest and most agile -robust skeletal structure -bipedal -three-toed feet with giant claws -massive skull -powerful jaws and muscles |
| Distribution | Argentina (South America) | North America (Western Region), United States (Montana, South Dakota, Wyoming) |
| Speed, Movement and Agility | Top Speed: 35 miles per hour (56 kilometers per hour) | Running Speed: 20 miles per hour (32 kilometers per hour) Top Speed: 45 miles per hour |
| Weapons | -long, slender teet for knife-like bites -sharp teeth -bite force of 3,392 to 7,172 Newtons -repeated bites to inflict injury -prominent brow horns | -U-shaped jaws with strong muscles -lightweight jawbones -jaws were lined with numerous dagger-like teeth -massive bite force of up to 35,000 to 57,000 Newtons |
| Sensory Capabilities | -well-developed senses -excellent eye-sight | -bigger brain, senses are better developed -binocular range -bigger brain-to-body ratio which makes it smarter -with a heightened sense |
| Combat Skills and Fighting Techniques | -uses agility for combat -swallow how with its elastic jaw -long, sharp teeth to inflict deep wounds -weakens prey through repeated attacks | -skilled at tackling and taking down large prey -delivering a powerful bone-crushing bite -aims at vulnerable areas such as necks or flanks |
The Tyrannosaurus rex is often referred to as the king of the dinosaurs.
This massive theropod dinosaur ruled the landscape of North America during the Late Cretaceous Period.
A few million years earlier, the Carnotaurus was the top predator on the neighboring southern American landmass.
Like the T-rex in the North, the Carnotaurus occupied the apex predator niche, preying on large and small prey animals.
While they were both top dogs in their own rights, these two dinosaurs couldn’t be any more dissimilar.
The Tyrannosaurus was a giant carnivore with massive jaws adapted to crushing large prey.
Carnotaurus, on the other hand, was more lightly built and agile but still big enough to take on massive sauropods and other large prey within its ecosystem.
Carnotaurus also had something else no other carnivorous dinosaur had — a pair of horns just above its eyes.
Carnotaurus and the T-rex never crossed paths while they were alive.
Like today, North and South America were two separate continents, and the two predators didn’t have to face off against each other.
But what if they did?
In a hypothetical battle between the tyrant lizard king and the “meat-eating bull,” who would emerge as the undisputed king of the Americas?
In this article, we’ll explore the possible outcome of this battle by comparing the size, physical features, speed, and combat skills of these dinosaurs to determine the likely winner between them.
Comparing Tyrannosaurus and Carnotaurus
| Carnotaurus(“Meat-eating Bull”) | T-Rex (“Tyrant Lizard”) | |
| Scientific classification | Domain: Eukaryota Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Clade: Dinosauria Clade: Saurischia Clade: Theropoda Family: Allosauridae Subfamily: Allosaurinae Genus: Allosaurus Species: Allosaurus fragilis | Domain: Eukaryota Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Clade: Dinosauria Clade: Saurischia Family: Tyrannosauridae Subfamily: Tyrannosaurinae Genus: Tyrannosaurus Species: Tyrannosaurus rex |
| Distribution | Argentina (South America) | North America (Western Region), United States (Montana, South Dakota, Wyoming) |
The T-rex is one of the most recognizable dinosaurs.
This bipedal theropod lived in North America between 68 and 66 million years ago, with a range that primarily covered present-day western North America.
It was the most abundant and most dominant carnivorous dinosaur on the continent at the time.
Tyrannosaurus was one of the largest theropod dinosaurs to have ever lived (only outranked by the Spinosaurus and Giganotosaurus).
The genus and species name of this dinosaur, “Tyrannosaurus rex,” means “tyrant lizard king.”
This name refers to the dinosaur’s status as the apex predator on the North American continent.
The T-rex preyed on armored dinosaurs like the ceratopsians and the ankylosaurs.
Carnotaurus was a lightly built, bipedal dinosaur that lived during the Late Cretaceous, between 72 and 69 million years ago.
This dinosaur was an abelisaurid dinosaur, a group of Cretaceous theropod dinosaurs whose range was restricted to the Southern Hemisphere.
Carnotaurus lived in South America, specifically in modern-day Argentina.
The dinosaur had a pair of thick brow horns, a feature unseen in any other theropod dinosaur.
The horns were forward-pointing, like the horns of a bull.
The dinosaur’s name, which translates as “meat-eating bull,” refers to this distinctive appearance.
Physical Features
| Carnotaurus(“Meat-eating Bull”) | T-Rex (“Tyrant Lizard”) | |
| Appearance and Physical Features | -bipedal -shorter forelimbs -deeper and shorter skull -straight, thick, muscular neck -slender hind limbs -long, muscular tail | -strongest and most agile -robust skeletal structure -bipedal -three-toed feet with giant claws -massive skull -powerful jaws and muscles |
The Tyrannosaurus rex was a massive bipedal dinosaur with a huge muscular body.
This dinosaur’s body was supported by powerful hindlimbs, but the forelimbs were small and almost vestigial.
These tiny forelimbs were about the size of a human adult’s arms, giving them a stubby appearance compared to the rest of the dinosaur’s massive body.
One of the most notable features of the T-rex was its enormous skull.
It had a broad, U-shaped snout, and the jaws were lined with long, serrated teeth built for tearing flesh and crushing bones.
The neck of T. rex was supported by an S-shaped neck similar to that of other theropods.
The T-rex also had a long muscular tail.
The tail was heavy, providing balance and stability for the dinosaur’s body during locomotion.
Like the Tyrannosaurus, the Carnotaurus was a bipedal theropod as well.
The forelimbs of this dinosaur were even shorter than that of other large theropods, including the T-rex.
The skull of the Carnotarus was also deeper and shorter than any other large theropod dinosaur.
It was supported by a thick, muscular neck.
The Carnotaurus had a straight, thick neck instead of the sigmoid neck of other large theropods.
Part of the frontal skull bone protrudes forward to form a pair of prominent horns just above the dinosaur’s eyes.
While horned dinosaurs are quite common in the fossil record, most of them are herbivores.
Carnotaurus is the only carnivorous dinosaur known to have exhibited this type of adaptation.
The horns were mainly formed by skull bones, but they likely had a keratinous covering.
Each one measured about 15 centimeters (5.9 inches) in length.
The Carnotaurus also had slender hind limbs with a long, muscular tail to support.
A Size Comparison
| Carnotaurus(“Meat-eating Bull”) | T-Rex (“Tyrant Lizard”) | |
| Size | Height: 3-3.6 meters (10-12 feet) Length: 5.8-9 meters (19.2-30 feet) Weight: One metric ton (2,000 lbs) | Height: 3 to 4 meters (12 – 13 feet) Length: 12 to 15 meters (40 – 50 feet) Weight: 5 to 8 metric tons (11,000 – 17,600 pounds) |
The T-rex was by far the largest carnivorous dinosaur in North America during the Late Cretaceous Period.
With an estimated length of over 12 meters (40 feet), this dinosaur is also considered one of the largest land predators to have ever lived.
Adult T-rex individuals had a massive skull up to 1.54 meters (5 feet) long.
It stood at a height of about 13 feet at the hips and weighed 10 tons on average.
Carnotaurus was a giant dinosaur in its own right.
Although significantly smaller than the T-rex, Carnotaurus was one of the largest theropod dinosaurs in South America during the Late Cretaceous Period.
It had a slender build, which made it lighter and agile compared to the T-rex.
The average length of the Carnotaurus has been estimated to be about 7.5 to eight meters (24.6 to 26.2 feet).
This makes it the largest abelisaurid dinosaur known from complete fossils.
The Carnotaurus stood at a height of about three meters at the hip with an average weight of about 1.3 to 2.5 tons.
The skull of this dinosaur was also proportionally shorter and deeper than that of other theropods, with an estimated length of about 0.6 meters (23.5 inches).
It’s easy to see that the Tyrannosaurus has a substantial size advantage in this matchup.
It beats the South American dinosaur by all metrics, including length, height, and mass.
The sheer bulk and muscular build of this dinosaur means it could easily shove the Carnotaurus out of the way or knock it down if it ever needed to.
The jaws and teeth of the T-rex were also quite massive, so it could easily get its mouth around any part of the smaller dinosaur’s body.
But being smaller does have its perks.
The Carnotaurus was naturally more agile, so it could effectively evade attacks more effectively in a combat situation.
Speed, Movement, and Agility
| Carnotaurus(“Meat-eating Bull”) | T-Rex (“Tyrant Lizard”) | |
| Speed, Movement and Agility | Top Speed: 35 miles per hour (56 kilometers per hour) | Running Speed: 20 miles per hour (32 kilometers per hour) Top Speed: 45 miles per hour |
As mentioned in the previous section, the size difference between these two dinosaurs would impact their overall speed and agility.
Given its size, the Tyrannosaurus was expectedly not very agile.
The speed estimate for this dinosaur is usually about 20 miles per hour (32 kilometers per hour).
While this speed is not exactly slow, the T-rex wouldn’t get a medal for its speed.
Carnotaurus, on the other hand, had a slender build, with long limbs supporting a lightweight body.
It was arguably one of the fastest theropods to have ever lived, with an estimated top speed of up to 35 miles per hour (56 kilometers per hour).
The slender build of this dinosaur also meant it could make quick turns to evade sudden movements or attacks.
Being exceptionally fast like this is an advantage when facing off against an opponent that clearly outranks you in size.
The Carnotaurus could dart in and out of a fight more efficiently or even sprint away from the T-rex when it is being defeated-living to fight another day.
Battle of the Weapons
| Carnotaurus(“Meat-eating Bull”) | T-Rex (“Tyrant Lizard”) | |
| Weapons | -long, slender teet for knife-like bites -sharp teeth -bite force of 3,392 to 7,172 Newtons -repeated bites to inflict injury -prominent brow horns | -U-shaped jaws with strong muscles -lightweight jawbones -jaws were lined with numerous dagger-like teeth -massive bite force of up to 35,000 to 57,000 Newtons |
The Tyrannosaurus rex is often portrayed as the deadliest dinosaur to have ever walked the planet.
It’s a rightly deserved reputation since this dinosaur has every weapon in its arsenal to be considered a fearsome predator.
When facing off against the T-rex, one major thing any opponent would have to worry about is its massive jaws.
The Tyrannosaurus rex had one of the most formidable dentitions of all the dinosaurs.
The massive skull was supported by strong jaw muscles.
This allows the T-rex to open and shut its jaws with tremendous force.
The dinosaur’s mouth was also lined with long and thick teeth.
Each tooth measured about eight to 12 inches in length, with a D-shaped profile that reinforced their strength.
The banana-sized chompers of these dinosaurs can be slammed down on prey with a tremendous force of about 35,000 to 57,000 Newtons — the highest bite force of any terrestrial animal, living or dead.
Carnotaurus also had a formidable dentition, but not on par with that of the T-rex.
Its jaws were lined with long, slender teeth designed to deliver quick, knife-like bites.
While the teeth were sharp, the Carnotaurus’ jaws were not designed to bite down on prey with significant power.
The bite force of this dinosaur has been estimated to be about 3,392 to 7,172 Newtons on average.
The T-rex’s teeth were the game changer in any confrontation.
They were well-suited for crushing bone and tearing through flesh.
This dinosaur could deliver a devastating bite with its jaws that would incapacitate even the strongest land animal.
The T-rex can crush bones or damage internal organs with just a single bite.
Even dinosaurs with strong body armor would have a hard time surviving against the Tyrannosaurus.
The jaws of the Carnotaurus were not designed for power.
Instead, the dinosaur relied on repeated bites to the opponent’s body that could inflict a severe injury.
While the Carnotaurus’ teeth were probably inefficient against large predators, the dinosaur had an additional offensive weapon that other theropod dinosaurs lacked: the prominent brow horns.
The horn-like structures above the dinosaur’s eyes were elongated bony projections with a solid core.
Some experts think these horns were primarily used for attracting mates or intimidating rivals, but the structure of the horns suggests that they may have been useful in confrontations.
The horns were not exceptionally long or sharp, but a blow to the opponent’s neck or flank with these horns would probably do some damage.
In a hypothetical battle between these two theropods, a massive bone-crushing jaw definitely outranks blade-like teeth and a solid horn.
The Carnotaurus would still be able to do some damage, but a blow from the T-rex would be more devastating.
Sensory Capabilities
| Carnotaurus(“Meat-eating Bull”) | T-Rex (“Tyrant Lizard”) | |
| Sensory Capabilities | -well-developed senses -excellent eye-sight | -bigger brain, senses are better developed -binocular range -bigger brain-to-body ratio which makes it smarter -with a heightened sense |
Contrary to how it is usually portrayed, the T-rex was a highly intelligent predator.
It had a relatively big brain with large optics and olfactory nerves.
This suggests that the dinosaur had a well-developed sight and a good sense of smell.
The forward-facing eyes of this dinosaur gave it some level of binocular vision.
Carnotaurus had well-developed senses as well.
However, studies comparing the reptile encephalization quotient (which is a measure of dinosaur intelligence) for both dinosaurs found that the T-rex had better-developed senses compared to the Carnotaurus.
How this would affect the dynamics of a face-off between both dinosaurs depends on how the battle plays out.
A well-developed sight and good olfactory function would make it easier to spot an opponent faster.
This makes it less likely for either of these dinosaurs to sneak up on the other successfully.
Having excellent eye-sight improves agility in a combat scenario.
The T-rex’s heightened senses would allow it to track the opponent’s movements in a combat situation effectively, evading attacks with relative ease.
Being smarter also means the dinosaur would know how to land the most efficient blow with the strongest impact on the opponent.
Combat Skills and Fighting Techniques
| Carnotaurus(“Meat-eating Bull”) | T-Rex (“Tyrant Lizard”) | |
| Combat Skills and Fighting Techniques | -uses agility for combat -swallow how with its elastic jaw -long, sharp teeth to inflict deep wounds -weakens prey through repeated attacks | -skilled at tackling and taking down large prey -delivering a powerful bone-crushing bite -aims at vulnerable areas such as necks or flanks |
Both the T-rex and Carnotaurus are efficient hunters with excellent combat skills.
However, there are apparent differences in their approach to taking down prey, which would be a major factor in a combat between these two.
In North America, Tyrannosaurus lived alongside herbivorous dinosaurs like the ceratopsians and ankylosaurs.
These were bulky dinosaurs protected by their heavy armor.
To take down massive dinosaurs like this, the T-rex relied on its size and sheer bulk.
The dinosaur’s massive jaws could deliver bone-crushing bites that could break major bones or damage the internal organs of an opponent.
It could also ram opponents with its weight, knocking them down before delivering a devastating blow to the neck or back.
The Carnotaurus, on the other hand, was more agile than bulky.
It had an elastic jaw and probably targeted smaller prey that it could easily swallow whole.
However, this dinosaur may have hunted larger dinosaurs, too (especially the sauropod dinosaurs that were abundant in its ecosystem).
Its upper jaw was built like a serrated club, with long, sharp teeth that could inflict deep wounds on the opponent’s body.
The Carnotaurus likely weakened prey with repeated attacks to the flanks and other exposed areas.
In combat situations, the T-rex’s battle strategy seems to be more efficient.
The tyrant lizard king could either ram the smaller dinosaur with its weight or deliver a bone-crushing bite to any part of its body.
Any well-placed blow to any part of the Carnotaurus’ body would probably be too devastating for the South American dinosaur to survive.
Who Would Reign Supreme?
The outcome of a battle between the T-rex and a Carnotaurus seems to be decided from the onset.
The bigger size of the Tyrannosaurus gives it an almost unfair advantage over the slender abelisaurid.
The only thing the Carnotaurus has going for it is its speed and agility.
Given its slender build and flexibility, the South American dinosaur can wiggle out of tight corners and deliver quick blows to the larger dinosaur’s body.
It won’t be able to get its jaws around the T-rex’s bulky frame but would be able to inflict some wound.
If the fight goes on long enough, the Tyrannosaurus may become weak, making it more susceptible to the opponent’s attacks.
But this is unlikely.
Ultimately, the T-rex has the upper hand in this matchup.
An absolute giant with a powerful bite force and serrated teeth designed for crushing bone,
The T-rex only has to get its massive teeth around any part of the Carnotaurus’ body, and it’s game over.
It’ll be a tough matchup because of the Carnotaurus’ agility.
But at the end of the day, the tyrant lizard is more likely to emerge as the winner, proving itself once again as the undisputed king of the dinosaurs.
Sources:
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carnotaurus
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tyrannosaurus
- https://screenrant.com/jurassic-park-strongest-dinosaurs-ranked/
- https://gizmodo.com/carnotaurus-had-the-most-ridiculously-powerful-dinosaur-5850229
Jerry Young is a self-proclaimed prehistoric animal nerd. He has been fascinated with these ancient creatures for as long as he can remember, and his passion for them continues to this day. With his extensive knowledge and love for prehistoric animals, he is the perfect fit for Gage Beasley Prehistoric.
