Carnivore Dinosaur Names
Have you ever tried to say Carcharodontosaurus out loud and completely given up? You're not alone.
Carnivore dinosaur names are some of the wildest words in science long, loaded with ancient Greek and Latin, and seriously fun once you crack the code. These are the meat-eating dinosaurs of the Mesozoic Era: the theropods. Two-legged predators that ruled the land for over 165 million years.
You already know T. rex. But there were hundreds of other carnivorous dinosaurs out there some bigger, some smaller, some weirder than anything you've seen in a movie. Let's meet them.
Carnivore Dinosaur Pictures
Abelisaurus
ah-BEEL-ee-sore-us
Acanthostega
ah-KAN-tho-STEE-gah
Acrocanthosaurus
ah-kro-KAN-tho-SORE-us
Acrophyseter
ak-roh-FY-see-ter
Acutiramus
ak-yoo-tih-RAY-mus
Adasaurus
AH-dah-SORE-us
Adelophthalmus
ah-DEL-off-THAL-mus
Afrovenator
aff-ROW-ven-ah-tor
Aigialosaurus
ay-GEE-ah-lo-SORE-us
Alalcomenaeus
al-al-kom-eh-NAY-us
Albertavenator
al-BER-ta-ven-AY-tor
Albertonectes
al-BER-toe-NEK-teez
Albertosaurus
al-BER-toh-saw-russ
Alectrosaurus
ah-LEK-tro-SORE-us
Alioramus
al-ee-oh-RAY-mus
Allosaurus
AL-oh-saw-russ
Alvarezsaurus
al-VAR-ez-SORE-us
Ambulocetus
am-byoo-loh-SEE-tus
American Lion
uh-MER-ih-kan LY-un
Ammonite
AM-uh-nyte
Amphicyon
am-FIH-see-on
Amplectobelua
am-PLEK-toh-BEL-yoo-uh
Anchiornis
an-kee-OR-niss
Andalgalornis
an-DAL-gah-LOR-nis
Andrewsarchus
AN-droo-ZAR-kus
Angaturama
an-gah-too-RAH-mah
Anhanguera
an-han-GAIR-ah
Anomalocaris
ah-NOM-ah-lo-KAIR-iss
Anteosaurus
an-TEE-oh-SORE-us
Anurognathus
an-yur-OG-nah-thus
Arambourgiania
ah-RAM-boor-zhee-AH-nee-ah
Archaeopteryx
ark-ee-OPT-er-ix
Argentavis
ar-jen-TAY-vis
Arizonasaurus
air-ih-ZOH-nuh-SOR-us
Attenborosaurus
at-en-BOR-oh-SOR-us
Attercopus
at-ER-koh-pus
Aucasaurus
AW-ka-sore-us
Austriadactylus
OSS-tree-ah-DAK-tih-lus
Bahariasaurus
bah-HAR-ee-ah-SOR-us
Barbourofelis
bar-BYOOR-oh-FEE-lis
Baryonyx
bah-ree-ON-icks
Basilosaurus
BAZ-ih-lo-SOR-us
Becklespinax
BECK-el-spy-naks
Biarmosuchus
by-AR-moh-SOO-kus
Borogovia
bor-o-GOH-vee-a
Brontornis
BRON-tor-niss
Brontoscorpio
BRON-toe-SKOR-pee-oh
Brygmophyseter
brig-mo-FY-see-ter
Cambroraster
KAM-bro-RAS-ter
Cameroceras
kam-uh-roh-SEER-us
Campylognathoides
kam-PY-lo-NAY-thoy-deez
Carcharodontosaurus
kar-KAR-oh-don-toe-SORE-us
Carinodens
kar-ih-NO-denz
Carnotaurus
kar-noh-TOR-us
Carnufex
KAR-noo-feks
Cave Hyena
KAYV HY-ee-nuh
Cave Lion
KAYV LY-un
Cearadactylus
see-AR-ah-DAK-tih-lus
Ceratodus
seh-RAT-oh-dus
Ceratosaurus
ser-AT-oh-sore-us
Claudiosaurus
KLAW-dee-oh-SOR-us
Clidastes
CLY-das-teez
Climatius
kly-MAY-shus
Coelacanth
SEE-luh-kanth
Coelophysis
seel-OH-fie-sis
Coelurosauravus
see-LOO-roh-SOR-ah-vus
Coelurus
seel-YEW-rus
Coloborhynchus
koh-LOB-oh-RINK-us
Compsognathus
komp-sog-NATH-us
Concavenator
kon-kah-VEN-ah-tor
Condorraptor
KON-dor-RAP-tor
Cretoxyrhina
kreh-TOK-see-RY-nah
Cryolophosaurus
CRY-oh-LOAF-oh-sore-us
Cryptoclidus
krip-TOE-klid-us
Ctenacanthus
teh-NAK-an-thus
Cyclotosaurus
sy-kloh-toh-SOR-us
Cymbospondylus
SIM-bo-SPON-dih-lus
Cynognathus
sy-NOG-nah-thus
Cynthiacetus
SIN-thee-ah-SEE-tus
Daspletosaurus
dass-PLEE-toe-SORE-us
Deinonychus
dye-NON-ick-us
Deltadromeus
del-tah-DROH-mee-us
Devincenzia
deh-vin-SEN-zee-ah
Dilophosaurus
die-LOAF-oh-sore-us
Dimetrodon
dy-MET-ro-don
Dimorphodon
dye-MOR-foh-don
Dinofelis
DY-no-FEE-lis
Diplocaulus
dip-loh-KAW-lus
Dipnorhynchus
dip-no-RINK-us
Dire Wolf
DY-er WOOLF
Dolichorhynchops
dol-ih-ko-RINK-ops
Doliodus
doh-lee-OH-dus
Dollosaurus
DOL-oh-SOR-us
Dorudon
DOR-yoo-don
Dorygnathus
dor-ig-NAY-thus
Drepanosaurus
drep-ah-no-SAWR-us
Dromaeosaurus
DROM-ee-oh-SAW-russ
Dryptosaurus
DRIP-toe-SORE-us
Dsungaripterus
jung-GAR-ip-teh-rus
Dunkleosteus
DUNK-lee-OS-tee-us
Dvinia
DVIN-ee-uh
Elaphrosaurus
el-AF-ro-SORE-us
Elasmosaurus
eh-LAZ-moh-SOR-us
Elpistostege
el-PIS-toh-stee-jee
Emeraldella
em-er-al-DEL-ah
Enchodus
en-KOH-dus
Eodromaeus
ee-oh-droh-MEE-us
Eonatator
ee-oh-nay-TAY-tor
Eophrynus
ee-oh-FRY-nus
Epidexipteryx
ep-ih-DEX-ih-TAIR-ix
Erbenochile
er-BEN-oh-kile
Eremiasaurus
eh-REE-mee-ah-SOR-us
Eryops
EE-ree-ops
Euchambersia
yoo-KAM-ber-zee-uh
Eudimorphodon
yoo-dy-MOR-fo-don
Euparkeria
yoo-par-KEER-ee-uh
Euphoberia
yoo-foh-BEER-ee-uh
Eurhinosaurus
yoor-RY-no-SOR-us
Eurypterid
yoo-RIP-ter-id
Eurypterus
yoo-RIP-ter-us
Eusthenopteron
yoo-STHEN-op-teh-ron
Eustreptospondylus
ewe-STREP-toe-SPON-die-luss
Excalibosaurus
ex-KAL-ih-bo-SORE-us
Falcatus
fal-KAY-tus
Fasolasuchus
fah-SOH-lah-SOO-kus
Fukuiraptor
foo-koo-EE-rap-tor
Futabasaurus
foo-TAH-bah-sore-us
Gasosaurus
GAS-oh-SORE-us
Georgiacetus
jor-jee-AH-see-tus
Germanodactylus
jer-MAN-oh-DAK-tih-lus
Giganotosaurus
gig-an-OH-toe-SORE-us
Gigantoscorpio
jih-GAN-toe-SKOR-pee-oh
Globidens
GLOB-ih-denz
Gorgonops
GOR-gon-ops
Gorgosaurus
GOR-go-sore-us
Graciliraptor
gruh-SIL-ee-rap-tor
Guanlong
GWAHN-long
Guidraco
gwee-DRAH-koh
Haast's Eagle
HAHSTS EE-gul
Habelia
hah-BEE-lee-uh
Hainosaurus
HAY-no-SOR-us
Halisaurus
HAL-ih-SOR-us
Hallucigenia
ha-LOO-sih-JEE-nee-ah
Haplocheirus
hap-loh-KY-russ
Hatzegopteryx
hat-SEG-op-teh-rix
Hauffiosaurus
HOF-ee-oh-SOR-us
Helicoprion
hel-ih-koh-PRY-on
Helveticosaurus
hel-VET-ih-ko-SORE-us
Herrerasaurus
herr-RAY-rah-SORE-us
Hesperornis
hes-per-OR-nis
Hesperosuchus
hes-PAIR-oh-SOO-kus
Homotherium
HO-mo-THEER-ee-um
Huaxiagnathus
hwah-SHEE-ag-NAY-thus
Hurdia
HUR-dee-uh
Hyaenodon
hy-EE-noh-don
Hybodus
HY-boh-dus
Hydrotherosaurus
HY-dro-thero-SORE-us
Hynerpeton
HY-ner-PEE-ton
Ichthyornis
IK-thee-OR-nis
Ichthyosaurus
IK-thee-oh-SOR-us
Ichthyostega
ik-thee-oh-STEE-gah
Ichthyotitan
IK-thee-oh-TY-tan
Ichthyovenator
IK-thee-oh-ven-AY-tor
Inostrancevia
in-oh-STRAN-see-VEE-ah
Irritator
irr-it-AY-tor
Isotelus rex
eye-SOT-eh-lus RECKS
Istiodactylus
ISS-tee-oh-DAK-tih-lus
Jaekelopterus
YAY-kel-OP-ter-us
Janassa
jah-NAH-sah
Janjucetus
JAN-joo-SEE-tus
Jeholopterus
jeh-HOH-lop-ter-us
Juravenator
jur-AH-ven-ay-tor
Keichousaurus
KAY-chow-SORE-us
Kelenken
KEL-en-ken
Kronosaurus
KRON-oh-SORE-us
Kunpengopterus
kun-PENG-op-teh-rus
Labocania
lah-boh-KAY-nee-ah
Lariosaurus
LAR-ee-oh-SORE-us
Leanchoilia
lee-AN-choy-lee-ah
Lepidotes
lep-ih-DOH-teez
Libonectes
lie-BON-ek-teez
Liliensternus
lil-ee-en-SHTERN-us
Linheraptor
LIN-heh-RAP-tor
Liopleurodon
LIE-oh-PLOOR-oh-don
Livyatan
LIV-yuh-tan
Llallawavis
yah-yah-WAH-viss
Lycaenops
ly-SEE-en-ops
Lyrarapax
LY-rah-RAY-pax
Macroplata
MAK-ro-PLAH-tah
Magnosaurus
MAG-no-SOR-us
Majungasaurus
mah-JOON-gah-sore-us
Mapusaurus
MAH-poo-SORE-us
Marshosaurus
marsh-oh-SORE-us
Mastodonsaurus
mas-TOE-don-SOR-us
Materpiscis
MAY-ter-PIS-iss
Mauisaurus
MAW-ee-SOR-us
Mawsonia
maw-SOH-nee-uh
Megalania
meg-ah-LAY-nee-ah
Megalodon
MEG-ah-loh-don
Megalograptus
meg-ah-lo-GRAP-tus
Megalosaurus
MEG-ah-low-SORE-us
Meganeura
meg-ah-NYOO-rah
Meganeuropsis
meg-ah-nyoo-ROP-sis
Megarachne
meg-ah-RAK-nee
Megaraptor
MEG-ah-RAP-tor
Mesembriornis
meh-ZEM-bree-OR-nis
Metriacanthosaurus
met-ree-ah-KAN-tho-sore-us
Meyerasaurus
MY-er-ah-SAWR-us
Microcleidus
my-kro-KLY-dus
Microraptor
MY-kroe-RAP-tor
Mixopterus
mix-OP-ter-us
Mixosaurus
MIX-oh-SORE-us
Moganopterus
moh-GAN-op-teh-rus
Monolophosaurus
mono-LOH-foh-sore-us
Mononykus
mo-NON-ee-kus
Mosasaurus
MOH-za-SORE-us
Moschorhinus
mos-koh-RY-nus
Muraenosaurus
myoo-REE-no-SOR-us
Nannopterygius
nan-op-teh-RIJ-ee-us
Nanuqsaurus
nan-OOK-sore-us
Nautiloid
NAW-tih-loyd
Nectocaris
nek-toh-KAR-iss
Nemicolopterus
neh-MIK-oh-LOP-teh-rus
Neovenator
NEE-oh-ve-NAY-tor
Nichollssaura
NIK-olz-SOR-ah
Noripterus
NOR-ip-teh-rus
Nothosaurus
NO-tho-SORE-us
Nyctosaurus
NIK-toe-SORE-us
Odobenocetops
oh-doh-BEN-oh-SEE-tops
Onchopristis
ON-koh-PRIS-tis
Onychodus
on-IK-oh-dus
Opabinia
oh-pah-BIN-ee-ah
Ophiacodon
oh-FY-ah-koh-don
Ophthalmosaurus
off-THAL-mo-SORE-us
Ornithocheirus
or-NITH-oh-KY-rus
Ornitholestes
or-NITH-oh-LES-teez
Ornithosuchus
or-NITH-oh-SOO-kus
Orthacanthus
or-tha-KAN-thus
Orthoceras
or-THOS-er-as
Osteolepis
OSS-tee-oh-LEP-iss
Otodus obliquus
OH-toh-dus ob-LEE-kwus
Ottoia
oh-TOH-ee-uh
Pakicetus
pak-ih-SEE-tus
Palaeophonus
pay-lee-oh-FOH-nus
Panderichthys
pan-deh-RIK-theez
Paraphysornis
pair-ah-FY-sor-nis
Parasuchus
pair-uh-SOO-kus
Pederpes
PED-er-peez
Pelagornis
peh-LAG-or-nis
Peloneustes
pel-oh-NOO-steez
Peregocetus
peh-REH-go-SEE-tus
Peteinosaurus
peh-TY-no-SOR-us
Phacops
FAY-kops
Phorusrhacos
for-OOS-rha-koss
Piatnitzkysaurus
pye-AT-nits-key-SOR-us
Pistosaurus
PIS-toe-SORE-us
Placodus
PLAK-oh-dus
Platyhystrix
plat-ee-HIS-trix
Plesiosaurus
PLEE-zee-oh-SOR-us
Plesiotylosaurus
PLEE-see-oh-TY-loh-SOR-us
Pleuracanthus
ploor-uh-KAN-thus
Pliosaurus
PLY-oh-SORE-us
Plotosaurus
PLO-toe-SORE-us
Polycotylus
pol-ee-KOT-ih-lus
Poposaurus
PO-po-SORE-us
Postosuchus
pos-toh-SOO-kus
Procariama
pro-kar-ee-AH-mah
Proceratosaurus
proh-KAIR-at-oh-SORE-us
Procynosuchus
pro-SY-no-SOO-kus
Prognathodon
prog-NATH-oh-don
Prosqualodon
pro-SKWAL-oh-don
Protocetus
pro-TOH-see-tus
Protorosaurus
pro-TOR-oh-SOR-us
Protosuchus
PRO-toe-SOO-kus
Psarolepis
SAR-oh-LEP-iss
Psilopterus
sy-LOP-teh-rus
Pteranodon
teh-RAN-oh-don
Pterodactyl
teh-ROH-dak-til
Pterygotus
teh-RIG-oh-tus
Ptychodus
TIE-koh-dus
Pulmonoscorpius
pul-MON-oh-SKOR-pee-us
Purussaurus
poo-roo-SOH-rus
Qianzhousaurus
chyen-JOH-sor-us
Quetzalcoatlus
ket-sal-koh-AT-lus
Rahonavis
rah-HOH-nah-vis
Rajasaurus
RAH-juh-sore-us
Raptorex
RAP-toh-rex
Remingtonocetus
reh-MING-toh-noh-SEE-tus
Rhamphorhynchus
RAM-foh-RINK-us
Rhomaleosaurus
ro-MAY-lee-oh-SORE-us
Rodhocetus
rod-oh-SEE-tus
Rubidgea
roo-BIJ-ee-uh
Rugops
ROO-gops
Rutiodon
ROO-tee-oh-don
Sanctacaris
sank-tuh-KAIR-iss
Saurosphargis
saw-ro-SFAR-jis
Saurosuchus
SAW-roh-SOO-kus
Scaphognathus
skaf-OG-nuh-thus
Schinderhannes
SHIN-der-hah-nes
Scipionyx
ship-ee-OH-niks
Segisaurus
sayg-ee-SOR-us
Seymouria
see-MORE-ee-ah
Shaochilong
SHOW-chee-long
Shastasaurus
SHAS-tuh-SOR-us
Shonisaurus
SHO-nee-SOR-us
Siats
SEE-ats
Sidneyia
SID-nee-uh
Simocetus
SY-moh-SEE-tus
Sinornithoides
sy-nor-NITH-oy-deez
Sinornithosaurus
sine-or-NITH-oh-sore-us
Sinosauropteryx
SINE-oh-sore-OP-ter-iks
Sinovenator
SY-no-vee-NAY-tor
Sinraptor
SY-nuh-RAP-tor
Skorpiovenator
SKOR-pee-oh-ven-AY-tor
Slimonia
sly-MOH-nee-uh
Smilodon
SMY-loh-don
Sordes
SOR-deez
Spinosaurus
SPINE-oh-SORE-us
Squalicorax
SKWAL-ee-KOR-aks
Squalodon
SKWAY-lo-don
Stenopterygius
sten-op-teh-RIJ-ee-us
Stethacanthus
STETH-uh-KAN-thus
Styxosaurus
STIKS-oh-SOR-us
Suchomimus
SOO-koh-mim-us
Suevoleviathan
SWEV-oh-leh-VY-uh-thun
Taniwhasaurus
tah-NEE-wha-SOR-us
Tanystropheus
TAN-ee-STROH-fee-us
Tarbosaurus
TAR-bow-SORE-us
Temnodontosaurus
tem-no-DON-to-SOR-us
Teratornis
teh-RAT-or-nis
Terrestrisuchus
teh-RES-tree-SOO-kus
Tethysaurus
TETH-ih-SAW-rus
Thalassodromeus
tha-LASS-oh-DROH-mee-us
Thalassomedon
thal-ASS-oh-MEE-don
Thrinaxodon
thrin-AX-oh-don
Thylacoleo
THY-lah-koh-LEE-oh
Thylacosmilus
thy-LAK-oh-SMY-lus
Ticinosuchus
tih-CHEE-noh-SOO-kus
Tiktaalik
tik-TAH-lik
Timimus
TIM-ih-mus
Titanis
ty-TAY-nis
Titanophoneus
tie-TAN-oh-FOH-nee-us
Titanosuchus
tie-TAN-oh-SOO-kus
Torvosaurus
TOR-voh-SORE-us
Tristychius
tris-TIK-ee-us
Tropeognathus
tro-pee-OG-nah-thus
Tulerpeton
too-LER-peh-ton
Tupuxuara
too-poo-SHWAH-rah
Tylosaurus
TY-lo-SORE-us
Tyrannosaurus
tie-RAN-oh-sore-us
Tyrannotitan
tie-RAN-oh-TIE-tan
Unenlagia
oon-en-LAH-gee-ah
Utahraptor
YOO-tah-RAP-tor
Utatsusaurus
oo-TAT-soo-SOR-us
Varanops
VAR-uh-nops
Variraptor
VAR-ee-RAP-tor
Vegavis
VAY-gah-vis
Velociraptor
vel-OSS-ee-rap-tor
Ventastega
ven-tah-STEE-gah
Waipatia
why-PAH-tee-ah
Walliserops
WAL-ih-ser-ops
Wiehenvenator
VEE-en-veh-NAY-tor
Wonambi
woh-NAM-bee
Woolungasaurus
woo-LUNG-ah-SOR-us
Wukongopterus
woo-KONG-op-ter-us
Wumengosaurus
woo-MUNG-oh-SOR-us
Xenorophus
ZEE-no-ROH-fus
Xenotarsosaurus
ZEE-no-TAR-so-SOR-us
Xiaotingia
shyow-TING-ee-uh
Xiphactinus
zy-FAK-tin-us
Xuanhanosaurus
SHWAN-han-oh-SOR-us
Yangchuanosaurus
yang-choo-AHN-oh-SORE-us
Yi qi
YEE chee
Yohoia
yo-HOY-ah
Yutyrannus
YOO-tie-RAN-us
Zarafasaura
zah-RAF-ah-SOR-ah
Zhenyuanlong
zhen-YWAN-long
Zhenyuanopterus
zhen-yoo-AN-op-ter-us
Zhongornis
jong-OR-nis
Zhuchengtyrannus
zhoo-CHENG-tih-RAN-us
Zygophyseter
ZY-go-FY-see-ter
Zygorhiza
ZY-go-RY-zah
What Made These Meat-Eaters So Deadly?
Almost every carnivore dinosaur on this page belonged to a group called theropods dinosaurs that walked on two legs and were built for hunting. Their arms were often short, but their legs were incredibly powerful and their jaws were lined with serrated teeth designed to tear through flesh and bone.
T. rex had a bite force stronger than any land animal that has ever lived roughly 12,000 pounds of pressure. That's enough to crush a car. Spinosaurus was even longer than T. rex and used its crocodile-like snout to snatch fish out of rivers. Velociraptor, despite what the movies show, was actually about the size of a turkey but it had a curved killing claw on each foot that it used like a switchblade.
These meat-eating dinosaurs weren't just scary they were perfectly engineered predators. Every weird feature had a purpose.
The Most Extreme Carnivore Dinosaurs Ever Found
Giganotosaurus is one of the largest meat-eating dinosaurs ever discovered. It lived in South America about 98 million years ago and may have actually outweighed T. rex. Scientists think it might have hunted in groups to take down enormous titanosaur sauropods.
Carcharodontosaurus is another monster its name means "shark-toothed lizard," and those teeth weren't just for show. Found in North Africa, this carnivorous dinosaur had a skull nearly as long as a full-grown human is tall.
On the opposite end of the scale, Microraptor was a carnivore dinosaur the size of a crow and it had four wings. Yes, four. It could probably glide between trees to ambush prey. Scientists are still arguing about exactly how it flew.
Carnotaurus is the one that looks like a nightmare bull. It had two stubby horns above its eyes, an extremely short snout, and tiny little arms even smaller than T. rex's. Its name means "meat-eating bull" and that's exactly what it looked like.