Which Dinosaurs Were Large Carnivores?

Are you looking for an easy way to teach your child about dinosaurs? We’ve put together a set of free materials that parents and teachers can use right away. In this lesson, your child will dive into the fascinating world of large carnivorous dinosaurs. 

We’ll explore the biggest, most powerful meat-eating dinosaurs from the Jurassic and Cretaceous periods. Explore science in a more engaging way with captivating 3D videos and interactive quizzes. Download our app to get started!

What You Will Learn From This Lesson

What Made the Allosaurus a Powerful Hunter?

The Allosaurus was the largest and most powerful meat-eating dinosaur during the Jurassic period. You can identify the Allosaurus by the distinct bumps on its face. This predator was known for its ability to open its mouth incredibly wide, which was a significant advantage when hunting. The Allosaurus had strong forelimbs with three sharp, clawed toes on each. These powerful claws helped it grab and hold onto its prey, such as the large Brachiosaurus. It often used the tactic of lying in ambush, waiting for the perfect moment to attack.

Why Was Tarbosaurus So Agile in Attack?

Moving forward to the late Cretaceous period, the Tarbosaurus was the biggest meat-eating dinosaur found in Asia. Its agility was its secret weapon, allowing it to attack with precision. While it had a large skull that grew up to 4.3 feet long, the skull was very light and flexible, contributing to its mobility.

The Tarbosaurus was a massive predator closely related to the Tyrannosaurus, sharing a similar body form and hunting style. It had an excellent sense of smell and hearing, helping it stay alert to its surroundings. As a top Asian predator, its prey included Hadrosaurus, Therizinosaurus, Ankylosaurus, and even giant crocodiles. Its powerful jaw and teeth allowed it to easily tear apart its prey.

How Did the Tyrannosaurus Reign Supreme?

The Tyrannosaurus, also known as T-Rex, was the top predator of the Cretaceous period in North America. It was even bigger than the Allosaurus and the Tarbosaurus, growing up to 40 feet long with a maximum skull length of 5 feet. This massive body, combined with its specialized features, made it a formidable predator.

Key features of the Tyrannosaurus:

• Teeth: Massive, serrated, and banana-shaped, they could slice through flesh. Its unparalleled bite force could crush bones. 
• Vision: Its eyes were forward-facing, giving it sharper, more accurate vision than most other dinosaurs. This enabled it to precisely gauge the distance to its target.
• Skull: The parts of its skull were tightly connected, ensuring an extremely firm grip when it bit down on prey like a Triceratops.

The T-Rex reigned supreme in late Cretaceous North America, hunting prey such as Triceratops, Ankylosaurus, and Edmontosaurus. 

Fun Fact

• The Allosaurus had strong forelimbs with three sharp, clawed toes on each.
• The Tarbosaurus, despite its big head, was agile because its skull was surprisingly light.
• A Tyrannosaurus tooth was roughly the size and shape of a banana.
• The T-Rex’s bite could crush bones as easily as squashing jelly.
• Forward-facing eyes gave the Tyrannosaurus the accurate, sharp vision of a modern-day predator.

Vocabulary

• Forelimbs: The front limbs or arms of a four-legged animal, which the Allosaurus used for grabbing.
• Jurassic Period: A time in Earth’s history, spanning millions of years, when the Allosaurus was the largest meat-eater.
• Cretaceous Period: A later time period where the Tyrannosaurus and Tarbosaurus were the dominant land predators.
• Serrated: Describing the edge of the T-Rex’s teeth, meaning they had notches like a steak knife, perfect for slicing flesh.
• Agile: Able to move quickly and easily, which was a key hunting advantage for the Tarbosaurus.
• Theropoda: The suborder of dinosaurs that includes bipedal, mostly carnivorous dinosaurs like the Allosaurus, Tarbosaurus, and Tyrannosaurus.