The Shark-Toothed Lizard
| Meaning | Shark-toothed lizard [Carchar-odont-o-saurus] |
| Pronunciation | kar-KAR-oh-don-toe-sore-us |
| When: | Early to Late Cretaceous (about 100–93 million years ago) |
| Where: | Africa (notably in regions of present-day Morocco, Algeria, and Egypt) |
| What: | Theropod (large carnivorous dinosaur) |
| Weight: | Approximately 6–15 metric tons |
| Length: | About 12–13 meters (39–43 feet) |
| Diet: | Carnivorous (preyed on large herbivorous dinosaurs) |
| Discovered: | First described by Ernst Stromer in 1931 |
Carcharodontosaurus was a fearsome dinosaur that roamed the Earth approximately 100 million years ago during the Cretaceous period.
Its name, which means “shark-toothed lizard,” reflects its impressive set of serrated, blade-like teeth that resembled those of a shark. These teeth, some as long as 8 inches, were perfect for tearing through flesh.
Carcharodontosaurus was a large theropod dinosaur, similar in size to Tyrannosaurus rex, reaching lengths of up to 45 feet. It walked on two powerful hind legs and had relatively short arms with three-fingered hands. Its long tail helped with balance as it hunted prey.
This carnivorous giant likely preyed on large herbivorous dinosaurs like sauropods and ornithopods. Fossils of Carcharodontosaurus have been found in northern Africa, particularly in countries like Morocco, Algeria, and Niger.