The shark-toothed lizard that dominated North Africa during the late Cretaceous period

Nature · Published 3 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Carcharodontosaurus was among the largest land-dwelling carnivores in history, reaching lengths of up to 13.7 meters. Named for its serrated, shark-like teeth, this massive theropod roamed North Africa roughly 99 to 94 million years ago. Despite its size, much of its history remains a mystery shrouded in wartime destruction.

The genus Carcharodontosaurus, meaning 'sharp-toothed lizard,' belongs to the family Carcharodontosauridae. These predators were bipedal, standing on two hind limbs, and possessed skulls measuring up to 1.75 meters in length. Estimates suggest they carried approximately 60 serrated teeth, each reaching up to 15 centimeters. While they were once thought to be apex predators capable of crushing bone, recent analysis suggests their bite was less powerful than that of Tyrannosaurus rex, with teeth better suited for slicing flesh than pulverizing skeletal remains.

The scientific journey of this dinosaur is marked by a tragic loss. In the early 20th century, German paleontologist Ernst Stromer von Reichenbach collected fossils in Egypt, which were later stored in Munich. During a 1944 Royal Air Force bombing run in World War II, these original specimens were destroyed. For decades, paleontologists were left with only outdated descriptions, unable to confirm the species. The mystery was finally resolved in 1995 when American paleontologist Paul Sereno uncovered a new skull in Morocco, allowing researchers to match the findings to Stromer’s original records.

The family Carcharodontosauridae includes other giants like Giganotosaurus, found in South America. The close relationship between these geographically separated dinosaurs provides evidence for the ancient connection between Africa and South America before they drifted apart during the Cretaceous. While Carcharodontosaurus remains a titan of the fossil record, its exact biological form—particularly the size of its forelimbs—remains a subject of ongoing scientific debate, with researchers looking to related species like Meraxes gigas for clues about their evolutionary path.

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