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Carnivorous Dinosaurs
Carnivorous dinosaurs--which included raptors, tyrannosaurs, ornithomimids, large theropods and small theropods (also known as "dino-birds")--were the most dangerous dinosaurs of the Triassic, Jurassic and Cretaceous periods. Here's an A to Z list of every carnivorous dinosaur of the Mesozoic Era.
Abelisaurus
"Abel's lizard" has been reconstructed from a single skull.
Achillobator
This fierce raptor was discovered in modern-day Mongolia.
Acrocanthosaurus
The largest predator of the early Cretaceous period.
Adasaurus
This raptor's hind claws were unusually small.
Aerosteon
This "air-boned" dinosaur may have breathed like a bird.
Afrovenator
One of the few carnivores ever to be dug up in north Africa.
Albertonykus
A tiny, birdlike, North American dinosaur.
Albertosaurus
This carnivore was a close cousin of T. Rex.
Alectrosaurus
Few specimens of this "unmarried lizard" have been found.
Alioramus
All we know of this tyrannosaur is based on a single skull.
Allosaurus
One of the most common predators of the Jurassic period.
Alvarezsaurus
A bird-like dinosaur of the late Cretaceous.
Anchiornis
This four-winged "dino-bird" resembled Microraptor.
Angaturama
A Brazilian relative of Spinosaurus.
Anserimimus
This "goose mimic" didn’t bear much of a resemblance.
Appalachiosaurus
One of the few dinosaurs ever to be discovered in Alabama.
Archaeornithomimus
A likely ancestor of Ornithomimus.
Aristosuchus
This "noble crocodile" was actually a dinosaur.
Atrociraptor
This "cruel thief" wasn't as atrocious as its name implies.
Aublysodon
This tyrannosaur was named after a single tooth.
Aucasaurus
This predator was a close relative of Carnotaurus.
Australovenator
A brand-new carnivore from Australia.
Austroraptor
The largest raptor of South America.
Aviatyrannis
This "grandmother tyrant" was one of the first tyrannosaurs.
Avimimus
A particularly bird-like cousin of Oviraptor.
Bagaraatan
No one is quite sure how to classify this theropod.
Bahariasaurus
This obscure carnivore may have been the size of T. Rex.
Balaur
This "stocky dragon" was recently discovered in Romania.
Bambiraptor
Yes, this tiny raptor was named after you-know-who.
Baryonyx
Long story short: you wouldn't want to clip this dino's claws.
Becklespinax
A weirdly named theropod of the early Cretaceous period.
Bistahieversor
This tyrannosaur had more teeth than T. Rex.
Bonapartenykus
This feathered dinosaur was discovered in close proximity to its eggs.
Borogovia
This theropod was named after a Lewis Carroll poem.
Buitreraptor
The oldest raptor ever discovered in South America.
Byronosaurus
This theropod was a close relative of Troodon.
Carcharodontosaurus
Its name means "great white shark lizard." Impressed yet?
Carnotaurus
The shortest arms of any meat-eater--and horns to match.
Ceratonykus
This dino-bird was discovered in Mongolia in 2009.
Ceratosaurus
This primitive carnivore is hard to classify.
Chilantaisaurus
This large theropod may have been ancestral to Spinosaurus.
Chindesaurus
This early dinosaur was a close relative of Herrerasaurus.
Chirostenotes
This birdlike dinosaur has been known by three different names.
Citipati
This Mongolian theropod was a close relative of Oviraptor.
Coelophysis
One of the most ancient dinosaurs that ever lived.
Coelurus
This tiny dinosaur was a close relative of Compsognathus.
Compsognathus
The size of a chicken, but much meaner.
Concavenator
This large theropod had a bizarre hump on its back.
Conchoraptor
This "conch thief" may have lunched on mollusks.
Condorraptor
A small theropod of middle Jurassic South America.
Cryolophosaurus
This crested carnivore was once known as "Elvisaurus."
Cryptovolans
Was this the same dinosaur as Microraptor?
Daemonosaurus
This "evil lizard" was a close relative of Coelophysis.
Daspletosaurus
This "frightful lizard" was a cousin of T. Rex.
Deinocheirus
All we know for sure about this dino is the shape of its arms.
Deinonychus
One of the most fearsome predators of the Cretaceous period.
Deltadromeus
An unusually speedy predator of the middle Cretaceous.
Dilong
This "emperor dragon" may have been an ancestor of T. Rex.
Dilophosaurus
This dino was distinguished by the bony crests on its noggin.
Dromaeosaurus
This "running lizard" was probably covered with feathers.
Dromiceiomimus
Possibly the fastest dinosaur that ever lived.
Dryptosaurus
The first tyrannosaur to be discovered in the U.S.
Dubreuillosaurus
This megalosaur had an unusually long, low-slung snout.
Edmarka
This may have been a species of Torvosaurus.
Ekrixinatosaurus
Its name means "explosion-born lizard."
Elaphrosaurus
Yet another theropod from the late Jurassic.
Enigmosaurus
This "puzzle lizard" was closely related to Therizinosaurus.
Eocarcharia
This "dawn shark" prowled the north African woodlands.
Eocursor
One of the earliest true dinosaurs.
Eodromaeus
Yet another ancient theropod from South America.
Eoraptor
This tiny dinosaur was among the first of its kind.
Eotyrannus
This early tyrannosaur looked more like a raptor.
Epidendrosaurus
Did this tiny dino-bird spend its life up a tree?
Eustreptospondylus
A close cousin of Megalosaurus.
Fruitadens
One of the tiniest dinosaurs ever to live in North America.
Fukuiraptor
One of the few carnivorous dinosaurs ever to be dug up in Japan.
Gallimimus
This "chicken mimic" roamed the plains of the late Cretaceous.
Garudimimus
A relative slowpoke compared to other ornithomimids.
Gasosaurus
Yes, that's its real name, and no, it isn't for the reason you think.
Giganotosaurus
Not quite a "Gigantosaurus," but close enough.
Gigantoraptor
This huge oviraptor weighed over two tons.
Gojirasaurus
This early predator was named after Godzilla.
Gorgosaurus
Might this tyrannosaur have been a species of Albertosaurus?
Guanlong
Probably the first tyrannosaur ever to walk the earth.
Hagryphus
The largest North American oviraptor yet discovered.
Haplocheirus
This feathered dinosaur predated Archaeopteryx by millions of years.
Harpymimus
Named after the winged creature of Greek myth.
Herrerasaurus
This primitive carnivore roamed present-day South America.
Hesperonychus
One of the tiniest North American dinosaurs.
Heyuannia
Yet another close relative of Oviraptor.
Huaxiagnathus
One of the biggest "dino-birds" of its time.
Ichthyovenator
This sail-backed dinosaur was recently discovered in Laos.
Ilokelesia
A primitive abelisaur from South America.
Indosuchus
This "Indian crocodile" was actually a dinosaur.
Ingenia
A small, birdlike dinosaur from Central Asia.
Irritator
This spinosaur was named by a very frustrated paleontologist.
Jinfengopteryx
This feathered dinosaur was once thought to be a true bird.
Juratyrant
This early tyrannosaur was discovered in England.
Juravenator
Why didn't this presumed "dino-bird" have feathers?
Kaijiangosaurus
This may have been the same dinosaur as Gasosaurus.
Khaan
Few small mammals dared face the wrath of this dinosaur.
Kileskus
Yet another "basal" tyrannosaur from central Asia.
Kol
It's tied with Mei for "shortest dinosaur name."
Kryptops
This dinosaur came equipped with its own face mask.
Labocania
It may or may not have been a true tyrannosaur.
Liliensternus
One of the largest carnivores of the Triassic period.
Limusaurus
Was this toothless theropod a vegetarian?
Linhenykus
This tiny dinosaur had single-clawed hands.
Linheraptor
This Mongolian raptor was discovered in 2008.
Linhevenator
This "troodont" dinosaur was recently discovered in Mongolia.
Lophostropheus
This theropod lived near the Triassic-Jurassic boundary.
Lourinhanosaurus
This hard-to-classify theropod was discovered in Portugal.
Luanchuanraptor
A small, poorly understood Asian raptor.
Magnosaurus
Once thought to be a species of Megalosaurus.
Mahakala
This dino-bird was named after a Buddhist deity.
Majungatholus
Fairly--or unfairly--known as the "cannibal dinosaur."
Mapusaurus
This huge carnivore was closely related to Giganotosaurus.
Marshosaurus
Named after the famous paleontologist Othniel C. Marsh.
Masiakasaurus
A bizarre, buck-toothed carnivore of the late Cretaceous.
Megalosaurus
The first dinosaur ever to be discovered and named.
Megapnosaurus
Its name is Greek for "big dead lizard."
Megaraptor
Despite its name, it wasn't really a raptor.
Mei
The current record-holder for "shortest dinosaur name."
Metriacanthosaurus
Yet another dinosaur that was mistaken for Megalosaurus.
Microraptor
A tiny, four-winged raptor.
Mirischia
Its name means "wonderful pelvis."
Monolophosaurus
This Jurassic predator had a single crest on its skull.
Mononykus
This dinosaur may have dug into termite mounds for its lunch.
Nanotyrannus
Was it a new kind of tyrannosaur, or a juvenile T. Rex?
Nanshiungosaurus
Yet another bizarre therizinosaur from Asia.
Nedcolbertia
Named after the famous paleontologist Edwin Colbert.
Nemegtomaia
This oviraptor-like dinosaur had a bizarrely shaped skull.
Neovenator
One of the largest predators of early Cretaceous Europe.
Noasaurus
Were this predator's giant claws on its hands, or on its feet?
Nomingia
This dinosaur had a peacock-like tail.
Nqwebasaurus
One of the few theropods to be discovered in sub-Saharan Africa.
Ornitholestes
This "bird robber" probably preyed on small lizards instead.
Ornithomimus
This "bird mimic" was much like a modern ostrich.
Oviraptor
Turns out that this "egg thief" got a bad rap.
Oxalaia
This spinosaur was recently discovered in Brazil.
Ozraptor
Not much is known about this Australian theropod.
Pampadromaeus
This "Pampas runner" was ancestral to sauropods.
Pedopenna
One of the earliest known dino-birds.
Pelecanimimus
This "pelican mimic" sported over 200 teeth.
Piatnitzkysaurus
Its teeth were as sharp as its name is funny.
Podokesaurus
One of the earliest dinosaurs to live in eastern North America.
Poekilopleuron
It may (or may not) have been a species of Megalosaurus.
Proceratosaurus
Despite its name, this theropod wasn't a close relative of Ceratosaurus.
Procompsognathus
Was it an archosaur, or an early dinosaur?
Protarchaeopteryx
"Before Archaeopteryx?" It actually lived millions of years later.
Pyroraptor
This "fire thief" prowled the plains of prehistoric France.
Rahonavis
Was it a raptor-like bird, or a bird-like raptor?
Rajasaurus
This "prince lizard" lived in what is now modern-day India.
Raptorex
A pint-sized precursor of Tyrannosaurus Rex.
Richardoestesia
Named after the paleontologist Richard Estes.
Rinchenia
Named after the famous paleontologist Rinchen Barsbold.
Rugops
This wrinkly-faced carnivore probably fed on abandoned carcasses.
Saltopus
Experts aren't sure if this was a dinosaur or an archosaur.
Sanjuansaurus
An early theropod from South America.
Santanaraptor
This carnivore was named after Brazil's Santana formation.
Sarcosaurus
This "flesh lizard" roamed early Jurassic England.
Saurophaganax
The official state dinosaur of Oklahoma.
Saurornithoides
A Troodon-like predator from central Asia.
Saurornitholestes
A close cousin of Velociraptor.
Scansoriopteryx
This early proto-bird probably lived in trees.
Scipionyx
One of the most perfectly preserved dinosaur fossils ever found.
Segisaurus
An early dinosaur closely related to Coelophysis.
Segnosaurus
One of the most unusual (and poorly understood) Cretaceous dinosaurs.
Shenzhousaurus
A small, primitive ornithomimid from China.
Shuvosaurus
Was this meat eater an early dinosaur, or a two-legged crocodile?
Siamotyrannus
Despite its name, it wasn't a true tyrannosaur.
Similicaudipteryx
The juveniles may have been differently feathered than the adults.
Sinocalliopteryx
The largest dino-bird yet discovered.
Sinornithoides
A small, feathered dinosaur closely related to Troodon.
Sinornithomimus
This ornithomimid is known from over a dozen skeletons.
Sinornithosaurus
A typical dino-bird of the early Cretaceous.
Sinosauropteryx
The first dinosaur proven to have feathers.
Sinovenator
This "Chinese hunter" preyed on its fellow dino-birds.
Sinraptor
Despite its name, this allosaur wasn't any better or worse than other dinosaurs.
Sinusonasus
It sounds like a disease, but it was actually a feathered dinosaur.
Skorpiovenator
This "scorpion hunter" really ate meat.
Spinosaurus
This dino was distinguished by the sail-like structure on its back.
Spinostropheus
This theropod was once thought to be a species of Elaphrosaurus.
Staurikosaurus
Another primitive theropod of the Triassic era.
Stokesosaurus
Some experts think this was the earliest tyrannosaur.
Struthiomimus
This "ostrich mimic" roamed the plains of North America.
Suchomimus
A fish-eater with a distinctly crocodilian profile.
Suzhousaurus
A large, early Cretaceous therizinosaur.
Szechuanosaurus
This theropod was a close relative of Sinraptor.
Talos
This dinosaur was found with an injured big toe.
Tanycolagreus
This mysterious theropod was once thought to be a species of Coelurus.
Tarascosaurus
The only known abelisaur from the northern hemisphere.
Tarbosaurus
The second-biggest tyrannosaur after T. Rex.
Tawa
This ancient theropod points to a South American origin for dinosaurs.
Teratophoneus
This "monstrous murderer" wasn't all that big.
Tianyuraptor
A small, long-legged raptor from eastern Asia.
Timimus
The only ornithomimid ever discovered in Australia.
Torvosaurus
One of the largest predators of Jurassic North America.
Troodon
Possibly the smartest dinosaur that ever lived.
Tsaagan
One of the earliest raptors yet discovered.
Tyrannosaurus Rex
The once--and always--king of the dinosaurs.
Tyrannotitan
We know very little about this fearsomely named dinosaur.
Unenlagia
A bird-like raptor native to South America.
Urbacodon
This Troodon-like predator was discovered in Uzbekistan.
Utahraptor
Probably the biggest raptor that ever lived.
Variraptor
The first raptor ever to be discovered in France.
Velociraptor
This dinosaur was vicious--but a lot smaller than you thought.
Wellnhoferia
Was it really a species of Archaeopteryx?
Xenotarsosaurus
A poorly understood abelisaur from South America.
Xiaotingia
This feathered dinosaur predated Archaeopteryx.
Xiongguanlong
A small, primitive tyrannosaur from Asia.
Xixianykus
A long-legged dino-bird from eastern Asia.
Xuanhanosaurus
This small, big-headed carnivore prowled Jurassic Asia.
Yangchuanosaurus
A large theropod of late Jurassic Asia.
Yaverlandia
A classic case of mistaken dinosaur identity.
Yutyrannus
The largest feathered tyrannosaur yet identified.
Zanabazar
This theropod was named after a Tibetan spiritual leader.
Zhuchengtyrannus
This Asian tyrannosaur was the size of T. Rex.
Zupaysaurus
This "devil lizard" was one of the earliest theropods.