Their has been an ongoing debate between paleontologist regarding the largest apex predator that dominated the dinosaur world. Fossils are still being discovered, and the list about the fiercest predator has been changed throughout many decades. Here is the list of top 10 largest and fiercest predatory dinosaurs that once roamed earth.
10. Yutyrannus
Yutyrannus is a genus of tyrannosauroid dinosaur, which contain a single known species Yutyrannus hauli. This species lived during the early Cretaceous period in northeastern China. Yutyrannus was a feathered dinosaur and was named and completely described in 2012 by Xu Xing. It was known from three complete specimen, an adult, an sub-adult and a juvenile. The fossils were found in the Yixian formation, dating from the Aptian, dating approximately 125 million years old. Yutyrannus was a bipedal predator, with an estimated length of 9 meters and weigh approx 1400 kilograms.
9. Giganotosaurus
Giganotosaurus is a genus of theropod dinosaur that lived in what is now Argentina, during the early Cenomanian age of the Late Cretaceous Period. The holotype specimen was discovered in the Candelaros Formation in Patagonia in 1993. The specimens were discovered by Ruben D. Carolini. Giganotosaurus was of the largest known carnivore, but the exact size is hard to determine due to incomplete remains found so far. The estimated length of the specimen range from 13 to 14 meters and weigh approx. 4.2 to 13 tons. Giganotosaurus was though to be homeothermic, with a metabolism between that of mammal and reptile.
8. Megalosaurus
Megalosaurus is an extinct genus of a meat-eating theropod dinosaur of the Middle Jurassic Period of Southern England. Although fossils from other areas have been assigned to the genus, the only certain remains of Megalosaurus comes from Oxford shire. Since the first find, many other Megalosaurus have been recovered, however no complete skeleton has been found. Therefore, the details of its physical appearance is not certain. Megalosaurus body length is estimated to be 9 meters.
7. Acrocanthosaurus
Acrocanthosaurus is a genus of theropod dinosaur that existed in what is now North America during the Aptian and Albian stages of the Early Cretaceous. Its fossil remains were mainly found in U.S. states of Oklahoma, Texas and Wyoming. Acrocanthosaurus was a bipedal predator. Acrocanthosaurus was one of the largest theropods, reaching 11.5 meters in length and weigh upto 6.2 tonnes. The most notable feature of Acrocanthosaurus was its row of tall neural spines, located on the vertebra of neck, back, hip and upper tail. Definite Acrocanthosaurus fossils have been found in the Twin Mountain Formation of Northern Texas, the Antler Formation of Southern Oklahoma, and the Cloverly Formation of North-Central Wyoming.
6. Rajasaurus
Rajasaurus is a genus of carnivore abelisaurid theropod dinosaur from the late Cretaceous of India, containing only one species Rajasaurus narmadensis. The bones were excavated from the Lameta Formation in the Gujarat state of western India, probably inhibiting what is now known Narmada River Valley. It was formally described by paleontologist Jeffery A. Wilson and collegues in 2003 based on partial skeleton comprising the braincase, spine, hip bones, legs and tail, a first for an Indian theropod. the estimated length of Rajasaurus was approx eleven meters and weigh 4.4 tonnes. Rajasaurus had a low horn on its forehead that is primarily made of nasal bone. The horn could have been used for display or head butting with other Rajasaurs individuals.
5. Carnotaurus
Carnotaurus is a genus of large theropod dinosaur that lived in South America during the Late Cretaceous period, between about 72 to 70 million years ago, the only species is Carnotaurus sastrei. Known from the single well-preserved skeleton, it is one of the best understood theropod from Southern Hemisphere. Carnotaurus was a lightly built, bipedal predator measuring nine meters in length and weight at least 1.5 tonnes. It had thick horns above the eyes, a feature unseen in other carnivore dinosaurs, and a deep skull siting on the muscular neck. The only skeleton was unearthed in 1984 by an Argentinian paleontologist Jose Bonaparte. Originally, the rocks in which Carnotaurus was found were assigned to the upper part of the Gorro Frigio Formation, which was considered to be 100 million years old, later they realized to pertain to the much younger La Colonia Formation, dating 72 to 70 million years ago.
4. Spinosaurus
Spinosaurus is the genus of spinosaurid dinosaur that lived in what now is North Africa during the upper Albian to upper Turonian stages of the Cretaceous Period, about 112 to 93.5 million years ago. This genus was known first from Egyptian remains discovered in 1912 and described by German paleontologist Ernst Stromer in 1915. The best known species are S. aegytiacus from Egypt and S. marocannus from Morocco have been recovered. Spinosaurus was among the largest known carnivorous dinosaurs, nearly larger than other theropod such as Tyrannosaurus, Giganatosaurus, Carcharodontosaurus. The Estimated size was at between 12.6 to 18 meters in length and 8 to 20 tonnes in weight. The skull of Spinosaurus was long, low and narrow, similar to that of crocodilian, and bore straight conical teeth with no serration. The distinctive neural spines of Spinosaurus, which were long extension on the vertebrae, grew to at least 1.5 meters long and were likely to have skin connecting them, forming sail like structure.
3. Carcharodontosaurus
Carcharodontosaurus is a genus of carnivorous carcharodontosaurid dinosaurs that existed during the Cenomanian stage of the mid-Cretaceous Period in North Africa. It has currently known to include two species C. saharicus and C. iguidensis. The genus Carcharodontosaurus is named after the shark genus Carcharodon. It includes some of the longest and heaviest known carnivorous dinosaurs with estimated length ranging between 12 to 13 meters and weights 6.2 to 15 tonnes.
2. Allosaurus
Allosaurus is the genus of carnivorous theropod dinosaur that lived 155 to 145 million years ago during the Late Jurassic period. The first fossil remains were described in 1877 by paleontologist Othniel Charles Marsh. Allosaurus was a large bipedal predator, its skull was large and equipped with dozens of sharp, serrated teeth. It averaged 9.5 meters in length and estimated weight of 2.3 tonnes. As the most abundant large predator in the Morrison Formation, Allosaurus was top on the food chain, probably preying on the contemporaneous large herbivorous, and perhaps on other predators.
1. Tyrannosaurus
Tyrannosaurus is a genus of coelurosurian theropod dinosaurs. The species Tyrannosaurus rex or more famously known as T. Rex is one of the most well known dinosaur. Tyrannosaurus lived what is now western North America. Fossils are found in variety of rock formations dating to the Maastrichtian age of the upper Cretaceous period, 68 to 66 million years ago. Tyrannosaurus was a bipedal carnivore with a massive skull balanced by a long, heavy tail. The most complete specimens measures up to 12.3 meters and probably weight 8 to 14 tonnes. The first partial skeleton of T. Rex was found in eastern Wyoming and described by Burnum Brown in 1900.
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