Carcharadontosaurus
- Name meaning: Shark-toothed lizard
- average length: 11.5-12.5 m ( 35-42 ft )
- maximum length: 13-13.6 m ( 43-45 ft )
- average weight: 6.8-7.2 tons
- maximum weight: 7.8-8.7 tons
- average height: 3.2-3.4 m ( 11-12 ft)
- maximum height: 3.9-5.2 m ( 13-15 ft )
- time period: 100-92 mya
- habitat: Africa
- skull length: 1.31-1.61 m ( 4-5.2 ft )
- bite force: 7000 psi
- tooth length: 8-10 inches ( 20-28 cm )
Carcharodontosaurus is a genus of carnivorous carcharodontosaurid dinosaurs that existed between 100 and 93 million years ago, during the late Albian to early Cenomanian stages of the mid-Cretaceous Period. It is currently known to include two gigantic species, which were among the largest known predatory dinosaurs, as large as or slightly bigger than the other therapod genera. Carcharodontosaurus were carnivores, with enormous jaws and long, serrated teeth up to eight inches long. A skull length of about 1.6 meters (5.2 ft) has been restored for C. saharicus, and the skull of C. iguidensis is reported to have been about the same size.
Currently, the largest known theropod skull belongs to another huge carcharadontosaurid dinosaur, the closely related Giganotosurus (with skull length estimates up to 1.95 m) (6.4 ft).Gregory S. Paul estimates Carcharodontosaurus iguidensis at 10 m (33 ft) and 4 t (4.4 short tons). Its bite was also one of the most peculiar of any Theropod dinosaur as its main killing tactic seems to be similar to that of a Komodo Dragon, biting the animal once using its very sharp teeth and leaving it to bleed to death this tactic is still used by modern sharks, hence the reason the dinosaur got its name.
Currently, the largest known theropod skull belongs to another huge carcharadontosaurid dinosaur, the closely related Giganotosurus (with skull length estimates up to 1.95 m) (6.4 ft).Gregory S. Paul estimates Carcharodontosaurus iguidensis at 10 m (33 ft) and 4 t (4.4 short tons). Its bite was also one of the most peculiar of any Theropod dinosaur as its main killing tactic seems to be similar to that of a Komodo Dragon, biting the animal once using its very sharp teeth and leaving it to bleed to death this tactic is still used by modern sharks, hence the reason the dinosaur got its name.