Basic info: Name meaning: "shark-toothed lizard" Length: 39-44ft(12-13.3 meters) Height: 14-20ft(4.2-6 meters tall) Area discovered: Bahariya formation, Egypt Time Period: early Cretaceous 100-94 mya
Carcharadontosaurus is one of the largest known theropods known to exist, being slightly longer than Tyrannosaurus rex, and roamed the once lush wetlands of Cretaceous North Africa. Initial discoveries of this animal began in 1914 with the first remains excavated from the Bahariya formation by Ernst Stromer and fellow colleagues. Those first remains consisted of a partial skull, teeth, vertebrae, claw bones and various bones belonging to the hips and legs. Stromer decided to name this new-found beast, Carcharadontosaurus in response to its teeth that bore striking similarities to the teeth seen in the modern day Great white shark. Though the discovery of Carcharadontosaurus was promising things would soon take an unfortunate turn and this animal would once more be shrouded in mystery. In the year of 1944, during the mist of world war II, the remains were destroyed after the museum in which they were displayed was bombed by Brittish forces. As result, Carcharadontosaurus seemed to almost vanish into uncertainty and lost its prominence in the public view. It wasn't until 1995 that a fossil expedition led by Paul Sereno would reveal more remains of the Carcharadontosaurus and capture the public's attention once more. Sereno had found the remains in the Kem Kem formation in Morocco and excavated a more complete skull of the animal, along with some teeth. However these remains not only ushered the "revival" of Carcharadontosaurus, but equally a new species. Analysis of the skull revealed differences from Stromer's initial remains and so the fossil along with other remains found in the Echkar formation of Niger propigated the description of two species, Carcharadontosaurus saharicus and Carcharadontosaurus iguidensis. The Bahariya formation, of which this theropod inhabited, had once been a lush wetland, supporting populations of large dinosaurs, marine life, and even crocodiles. Carcharadontoaurus' available prey may have consisted mainly of the sauropod species that lived in the region. Furthermore its likely that Carcharadontosaurus developed to such an immense size in order to be better suited to tackle such large prey and it is probable that it was a specialized "sauropod killer".