What is the Deadliest Dinosaur?

Dinosaurs have evolved fearsome weapons to help them survive. Many of them are deadlier than modern predators like lions, tigers, and bears. The most dangerous dinosaurs are the carnivores, since herbivores won't attack you unless you piss them off. But which killer dinosaur was the deadliest? Today, we're going to look at the deadliest dinosaurs nature has created, from the flesh-tearing carnosaurs to the menacing Dromaeosaurids.

Allosaurus fragilis

Length: 30-35 ft

Era: Late Jurassic

Weapons: size, speed, strength, jaws, claws

Allosaurus was one of the first large predators to stalk the Earth. It had long forearms that allowed it to make use of its slashing claws, but a weak bite-force. However, it did not chomp down on its prey like other predators, but it used its upper-jaw like an axe, using shock and blood-loss to kill its prey. This unique method made it a versatile predator, and its prey ranged from Stegosaurus to giants like Diplodocus.

Saurophaganax maximus

Length: 35-40 ft

Era: Late Jurassic

Weapons: size, speed, strength, jaws, claws

Saurophaganax is essentially an Allosaurus on steroids that bit down like a classic carniovre, but significantly larger. It was the largest predator of the Jurassic, which would allow it to be an apex predator.

However, these two beasts would fall to extinction, but not before securing the carnosaurs' place as the rulers of Earth. This would allow the rise of one of the greatest dinosaur families: Carcharodontosauridae.

Acrocanthosaurus atokensis

Length: 36-40 ft

Era: Early Cretaceous

Weapons: size, speed, strength, jaws, claws

The first of the Carcharodontosauridae, and one of North America's largest predators, Acrocanthosaurus was a force to be reckoned with. Its teeth were designed like blades for tearing flesh, forcing prey to a slow and agonising death from bleeding. Its size also helped, and allowed it to become an apex predator.

Utahraptor ostrommaysorum

Length: 17-20 ft

Era: Early Cretaceous

Weapons: size, speed, strength, intelligence, jaws, claws

The largest Dromaeosaurid, Utahraptor was an ideal raptor. It was large, but not big enough to be too slow for running, and its toe claws were massive. They could disembowl prey with ease, helped by its forearms and jaws. Its frame is unique compared to other Dromaeosaurids. While raptors like Deinonychus were built for speed, Utahraptor was more of a fighter, and it was inclined into strength.

Giganotosaurus carolinii

Length: 40-45 ft

Era: Mid Cretaceous

Weapons: size, speed, strength, jaws, claws

Giganotosaurus was one of the largest theropods, rivaled only by Carcharodontosaurus and the legendary Tyrannosaurus rex. It was the perfect mix between speed and power, being designed for chasing down prey, and also having knife-like teeth that could cut through flesh with ease. However, it is slightly dwarfed by its African cousin...

...Which brings us to Carcharodontosaurus saharicus

Length: 40-45 ft

Era: Mid Cretaceous

Weapons: same as Giga

Carcharodontosaurus is essentially a slightly larger Giganotosaurus. It barely outweighed its South American cousin by a small weight difference. This predator lived in a world of carnivores, competing with Bahariasaurus, Deltadromeus, Rugops, and Sauroniops. But it was the top dog...er, dinosaur.

The Carcharodontosaurids' main food source was the giant sauropods. For Acrocanthosaurus, Sauroposeidon, Argentinosaurus for Giganotosaurus, and Paralititan for Carcharodontosaurus. They were reliant on the sauropods in life and death, so when their main prey went extinct, they soon followed. With the Carcharodontosaurids gone, the door would be open for another family to take the throne...Tyrannosauridae.

Albertosaurus sarcophagus

Length: 26-33 ft

Era: Late Cretaceous

Weapons: size, speed, strength, endurance, jaws

Albertosaurus was essentially a shrink-wrapped T.rex designed for speed rather than power. It had long legs that were perfect for sprinting, and it had the bone-crushing jaws shared by all Tyrannosaurs. It lived alongside Gorgosaurus, but another Tyrannosaur put both of them to shame...

Daspletosaurus horneri/torosus

Length: 30-36 ft

Era: Late Cretaceous

Weapons: size, speed, strength, endurance, jaws

While Albertosaurus and Gorgosaurus were more designed for speed, Daspletosaurus was a heavyweight that was built for strength. It was one of the largest North American carnivores, and the evolutionary forerunner to T.rex.

Dakotaraptor steini

Length: 15-17 ft

Era: Late Cretaceous

Weapons: size, speed, strength, intelligence, jaws, claws

Dakotaraptor was the last Dromaeosaurid. It was one of the largest, rivaled only by the aforementioned Utahraptor. It lived alongside Triceratops and Tyrannosaurus, most likely competing with the latter. Unlike Utahraptor, it was more designed for speed. Dakotaraptor also sported massive, 24-cm sickle-claws on its toes.

Dromaeosaurs and Tyrannosaurs were the last dinosaur carnivores. The latter rose to the top of the food chain, becoming the apex predators. With the Carcharodontosaurids gone from the picture, the Tyrannosaurs were free to evolve into giants like Tarbosaurus and Zhuchengtyrannus. In North America, Daspletosaurus ruled, paving the way for the most terrifying carnivore ever to set foot upon the face of the Earth...

Tyrannosaurus rex

Length: 40-50 ft

Era: Late Cretaceous

Weapons: size, speed, strength, endurance, intelligence, binocular vision, jaws

I find Tyrannosaurus rex to be the ultimate predator. It was massive, and its mouth sported banana-sized teeth that could crunch through solid bone. It also was smarter compared to other predators of its size like Giganotosaurus. Tyrannosaurus also had forward-facing eyes, giving it excellent vision and depth perception, which came in handy when tracking prey. T.rex was the largest terrestrial predator of North America, a worthy adversary of prey like Ankylosaurus and Triceratops. For that, I consider it to be the most dangerous dinosaur of all time. Just be grateful that this terrifying tyrant is extinct.