What Was the Most Dangerous Dinosaur in Prehistory?
Dinosaurs ruled the Earth millions of years ago, and while many were peaceful herbivores, others were some of the most dangerous animals to ever walk the planet.
So, what makes for the most dangerous dinosaur? Traits like a massive size, powerful jaws, sharp claws and, in some cases, packs of hunting companions. Combine these with specialized adaptations, and you've got some of the scariest and deadliest dinosaurs the world has ever seen.
Whether they were carnivorous predators or armored herbivores capable of defending themselves with deadly force, these dinosaurs were not to be messed with. Let's dive into the 15 most dangerous dinosaurs, ranked from the absolute king of terror to those that were more defensive but still deadly in their own right.
1. Tyrannosaurus Rex
The T. rex, star of the "Jurassic Park" franchise, takes the crown as the most dangerous dinosaur. It had the strongest bite force of any land animal in the Triassic, Jurassic or Cretaceous periods.
Weighing around 9 tons (8.2 metric tonnes) and standing nearly 20 feet (6.1 meters) tall, T. rex hunted during the Late Cretaceous period and was fast enough to catch prey, even large herbivorous dinosaurs. Its size, speed and powerful bite make it an unstoppable force in the list of the scariest and deadliest dinosaurs.
2. Spinosaurus
Spinosaurus was even larger than the T. rex, growing up to 50 feet (15.2 meters) long. It lived both on land and in water, which gave it an advantage over many other carnivorous dinosaurs.
With a long snout and conical teeth, it specialized in catching fish but could easily overpower other dinosaurs with its sheer size. Its crocodile-like jaws and semiaquatic lifestyle made it one of the most versatile and dangerous predators around.
3. Velociraptor
Though much smaller than the T. rex, Velociraptors are infamous thanks to the "Jurassic Park" and "Jurassic World" franchise. These carnivorous dinosaurs hunted in packs, using their speed and sharp claws to take down prey much larger than themselves.
They may have also been feathered, which would have made them agile and quick, similar to modern birds of prey. Their intelligence and cooperative hunting style placed them high on the list of the most dangerous dinosaurs.
4. Giganotosaurus
This colossal carnivorous dinosaur rivaled T. rex in size, growing up to 43 feet (13.1 meters) long. Giganotosaurus had an elongated skull filled with sharp teeth designed for slicing through flesh.
Living in South America around 98 million years ago, it hunted large herbivorous animals like the enormous Argentinosaurus. Its ability to take down such massive prey makes it one of the most dangerous animals to have roamed the Earth.
5. Allosaurus
Allosaurus was another large carnivorous dinosaur that ruled during the Late Jurassic period. While not as big as the T. rex, it had razor-sharp teeth and powerful limbs that made it a fearsome predator.
What set Allosaurus apart was its ambush-hunting technique. It likely attacked in groups, going after giant herbivorous dinosaurs like Stegosaurus. Its cooperative hunting strategy and ability to take down large prey make it one of the scariest dinosaurs of its time.
6. Carcharodontosaurus
Named after the great white shark (since modern scientists discovered the shark before the dinosaur), Carcharodontosaurus was a huge predator with teeth designed for cutting flesh. It was slightly longer than T. rex and hunted during the Cretaceous period.
Its massive jaws and size made it capable of taking down some of the largest herbivorous animals of the time. Carcharodontosaurus was as dangerous as they come, with a bite that could tear through the thickest hides.
7. Mapusaurus
Mapusaurus, like Giganotosaurus, hunted in packs and targeted some of the largest herbivores. Found in what is now Argentina, this 33-foot-long (10-meter-long) predator was deadly in groups, taking down massive prey like the titanic Argentinosaurus.
Though not the largest predator out there, its teamwork and hunting strategies made it incredibly dangerous.
8. Ankylosaurus
While many of the most dangerous dinosaurs were carnivores, a few dinosaurs, like Ankylosaurus, were herbivorous but still extremely dangerous.
So what exactly made the herbivore Ankylosaurus deadly? It was an armored dinosaur, covered in thick plates and possessing a distinctive combination tail tipped with a club that could break the bones of any attacker.
This heavily armored herbivore could use its tail as a deadly weapon, making it one of the most dangerous herbivorous dinosaurs.
9. Deinonychus
Another pack-hunting carnivorous dinosaur, Deinonychus had sharp, sickle-shaped claws and was quick and agile. Like Velociraptor, it likely hunted in groups to take down larger prey.
It was smaller than many of the giants on this list, but its speed, agility and sharp claws made it a dangerous predator of its time.
10. Utahraptor
Utahraptor was the largest of the raptor family, with a body length of about 20 feet (6.1 meters). It had large claws on its feet, which it used to slash its prey.
Living during the Early Cretaceous period, it likely hunted in packs and used its size and sharp claws to overpower herbivores. Its intelligence and ferocity make it one of the scariest raptors.
11. Majungasaurus
Majungasaurus may not have been the biggest predator, but it was known for its cannibalistic tendencies. This dinosaur from Madagascar wasn't just hunting herbivorous animals but also other Majungasauruses!
With a powerful bite and a stocky body, it was an aggressive and dangerous predator even among its own kind.
12. Carnotaurus
With a unique appearance and small arms, Carnotaurus looked different from other large carnivores. But don't let the tiny arms fool you; this dinosaur had a strong bite and used its speed to chase down prey.
It lived around 70 million years ago and was known for its bull-like horns, which it may have used in head-butting battles or to take down herbivores.
13. Stegosaurus
Another herbivore, Stegosaurus may seem slow and harmless at first glance, but this dinosaur had a deadly weapon: its tail, known as the "thagomizer." The tail was tipped with long spikes, which could be swung with deadly force to defend against predators.
While not an aggressive hunter, Stegosaurus' defensive capabilities made it a force to be reckoned with.
14. Baryonyx
Baryonyx was another semiaquatic predator, similar to Spinosaurus but smaller.
It used its long, clawed forelimbs to catch fish and small dinosaurs. Its size and sharp claws made it dangerous, though it likely relied more on its fishing abilities than hunting large land animals. Nonetheless, it was a formidable predator when it came to securing its food.
15. Therizinosaurus
Therizinosaurus had massive claws that could reach up to 3 feet (0.9 meters) long. These claws were likely used for defense against predators or to help gather vegetation as it was primarily a herbivore.
While it wasn't a carnivorous dinosaur, those claws make it one of the most intimidating creatures of the Late Cretaceous period.
We created this article in conjunction with AI technology, then made sure it was edited and fact-checked by a HowStuffWorks editor.
Original article: What Was the Most Dangerous Dinosaur in Prehistory?
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