The 25 Most Lethal Dinosaurs: Could You Survive an Encounter?

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A run-in with these dinos is no walk through the (Jurassic) park
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If you’ve seen movies like Jurassic Park , you know that dinosaurs are dangerous (to say the least). But which ones are the most dangerous? In this article, we’ve put together a list of the 25 most lethal dinosaurs from the land, water, and sky. Whether they were vicious carnivores or plant-eaters with wicked defenses, these dinos are not to be messed with!

What was the most dangerous dinosaur?

Tyrannosaurus Rex is considered the most dangerous land dinosaur. It was a massive 40 feet long and 20 feet tall, and had the strongest bite of any land animal ever. In the water, the 40-foot-long Liopleurodon was the most dangerous predator, while Thapunngaka (“spear mouth”) and its 23-foot wingspan ruled the skies.

1

Tyrannosaurus Rex

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  1. Tyrannosaurus Rex was the ultimate dinosaur predator. Tiny arms aside, T. Rex had the strongest bite of any land animal ever—so strong it could crush a car. Inside its mouth were sixty 8-inch (20 cm) long teeth, perfect for thrashing prey. What’s worse is that T. Rex’s brain was almost twice as large as that of other dinosaurs, making it more intelligent (and giving it a better sense of smell and sight) than its victims. [1]
    • Size: 40 feet (12 meters) long, 15-20 feet (4.5-6 meters) tall
    • Weight: 11,000-15,500 pounds (5,000-7,000 kilograms)
    • When it lived: 68-66 million years ago (Late Cretaceous)
    • Where it lived: North America & Asia
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2

Spinosaurus

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  1. Spinosaurus was even larger than T. Rex and a threat on land and water. Spinosaurus is believed to have been semi-aquatic, and its long snout full of razor-sharp teeth was perfect for snatching fish out of the water—and mangling any other creature that got in its way. Although full skeletons are missing, it's thought Spinosaurus could walk on all fours or its hind legs, making it a versatile predator. It’s named after a 5-foot (1.5-meter) tall spiny sail along its back that helped it navigate through the water. [2]
    • Size: 45 feet (14 meters) long, 16.5-20 feet (5-6 meters) tall
    • Weight: 16,000 pounds (7,400 kilograms)
    • When it lived: 99-94 million years ago (Late Cretaceous)
    • Where it lived: Egypt, Morocco
3

Velociraptor

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  1. This tiny predator would have been impossible to outrun. Disclaimer—the real velociraptor was not as big as movies like Jurassic Park make it seem. However, that doesn’t make it any less deadly. This carnivorous little monster could run as fast as 25 miles per hour (40 kilometers per hour) in short bursts, and when its sharp claws and mouth full of razor-like teeth caught up with you…well, that part of the movie is accurate. [3]
    • Size: 6 feet (1.8 meters) long, 2 feet (0.6 meters) tall
    • Weight: 15 pounds (7 kilograms)
    • When it lived: 74-70 million years ago (Late Cretaceous)
    • Where it lived: Mongolia
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4

Giganotosaurus

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  1. The “giant southern lizard” was a threat to the biggest dinosaurs around. This fearsome beast rivaled T. Rex in size and was the apex predator of its environment, able to take down even the largest sauropod dinosaurs (think big, long-necked dinos like brontosaurus) in packs. Alone, Giganotosaurus probably scavenged and hunted smaller prey—less impressive, but still a creature we wouldn’t want to be caught near! [4]
    • Size: 43 feet (13 meters) long, 11-13 feet (3.4-3.9 meters) tall
    • Weight: 17,600 pounds (8,000 kilograms)
    • When it lived: 100-95 million years ago (Late Cretaceous)
    • Where it lived: Argentina
5

Allosaurus

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  1. The vicious dino was the apex predator of the Jurassic. Allosaurus was the T. Rex of its time and place. No animal was safe from its bite—even heavily armored stegosaurus skeletons have been found with allosaurus bite marks on them! Allosaurus skeletons have been found next to each other, hinting that these fierce lizards sometimes worked together to take down large prey (or that they took their deadly aggression out on each other). [5]
    • Size: 32 feet (9.7 meters) long, 15 feet (4.5 meters) tall
    • Weight: 5,900 pounds (2,700 kilograms)
    • When it lived: 152-145 million years ago (Late Jurassic)
    • Where it lived: USA
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6

Carcharodontosaurus

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  1. The fearsome Carcharodontosaurus was known for its shark-like teeth. In fact, the dinosaur was named after Carcharodon, the scientific name for a few types of shark (including the only modern survivor, the great white shark). It had about 60 of these sharp teeth in its jaw, perfect for ripping through the flesh of even the largest plant-eating dinos (however, its bite wasn’t as strong or bone-crushing as T Rex’s). [6]
    • Size: 41 feet (12.5 meters) long, 12 feet (3.6 meters) tall
    • Weight: 13,000 pounds (15,900 kilograms)
    • When it lived: 99-94 million years ago (Late Cretaceous)
    • Where it lived: North Africa
7

Mapusaurus

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  1. Mapusaurus might be the largest meat-eating dinosaur ever found. It rivals Giganotosaurus in size, and even worse, there’s evidence that it hunted in packs and may have lived in family groups. Add in its powerful hind legs, serrated teeth, and huge jaw, and you’ve got a real monster on your hands! [7]
    • Size: 43 feet (13 meters) long, 12-13 feet (3.6-3.9 meters) tall
    • Weight: 6,600-13,200 pounds (3,000-6,000 kilograms)
    • When it lived: 99-94 million years ago (Late Cretaceous)
    • Where it lived: Argentina
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8

Ankylosaurus

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  1. This herbivore held its own against predators with a massive club on its tail. Covered with thick, bony plates for armor and a massive club at the end of its tail, ankylosaurus was no easy prey for large predators like T. Rex (yes, these two lived in the same place during the same time and would have encountered one another). Huge, side-to-side swipes with its tail could shatter an attacker’s bones, making this plant-eater a worthy and dangerous opponent. [8]
    • Size: 26 feet (8 meters) long, 6 feet (1.8 meters) tall
    • Weight: 17,600 pounds (8,000 kilograms)
    • When it lived: 68-6 million years ago (Late Cretaceous)
    • Where it lived: North America
9

Deinonychus

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  1. Deinonychus was a bigger relative of Velociraptor—and just as vicious. In fact, the Velociraptors in Jurassic Park were actually modeled after Deinonychus for a bigger, scarier effect. This predator hunted in packs and had sharp, backward-curving teeth to hook the flesh of the victims. It was a little slower than the Velociraptor because of its short lower leg bones, but still faster than us, unfortunately. [9]
    • Size: 11 feet (3.4 meters) long, 3 feet (0.9 meters) tall
    • Weight: 220 pounds (100 kilograms)
    • When it lived: 115-108 million years ago (Early Cretaceous)
    • Where it lived: USA
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10

Utahraptor

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  1. The Utahraptor was the largest raptor of all time. The Utahraptor moved on its hind legs, like other raptors, and used its long, curved claws and razor-sharp teeth to pin down and dismantle its prey. However, there’s a tradeoff for size. Unlike the smaller, more agile raptors, Utahraptor wasn’t known for its speed and dexterity. It probably ambushed prey more often than it chased it, and chances are it wasn’t great at jumping or pouncing. Still, those teeth with a larger-than-average brain still isn’t a combination we’d want to mess with. [10]
    • Size: 18 feet (5.5 meters) long, 5 feet (1.6 meters) tall
    • Weight: 770 pounds (350 kilograms)
    • When it lived: 139-135 million years ago (Early Cretaceous)
    • Where it lived: USA
11

Majungasaurus

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  1. Mjungasaurus is known for its fearsome bite (and humorously tiny arms). Like T. Rex, Majungasaurus was the apex predator of its time and place, feasting on large sauropods and other plant-eaters with its strong bite and deadly sharp teeth. However, it has one notable feature—its arms are ridiculously short for its body size, and its shoulder joints are way more flexible than other theropod shoulders. We’re not sure what it could have done with these arms except swing them around in wild, clawed circles (maybe not the best hunting technique, but still a shredde we’d rather not get caught in). [11]
    • Size: 20 feet (6 meters) long, 6-8 feet (1.8-2.4 meters) tall
    • Weight: 2,400 pounds (1,100 kilograms)
    • When it lived: 84-71 million years ago (Late Cretaceous)
    • Where it lived: Madagascar
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12

Carnotaurus

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  1. Imagine a T. Rex, but a bit smaller and with horns—that’s Carnotaurus! This deadly dino had a narrower but more flexible jaw than other predators like T. Rex or Allosaurus, meaning it could open wide to rip large chunks of flesh. Its arms were even smaller than those of a T. Rex, but it made up for it with 2 horns on top of its head (believed to be used primarily for fighting other Carnataurs, attacking prey, or for mating purposes). [12]
    • Size: 26 feet (8 meters) long, 10-12 feet (3-3.7 meters) tall
    • Weight: 2,900-4,600 pounds (1,315-2,100 kilograms)
    • When it lived: 71-69 million years ago (Late Cretaceous)
    • Where it lived: Argentina
13

Stegosaurus

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  1. This herbivore defended itself with a heavy, spiked tail. Just because Stegosaurus was a slow-moving plant-eater doesn’t mean it was easy prey. This Jurassic beast could swipe its long, heavy, spiked tail and inflict serious injuries (and sometimes even fatal wounds) on attackers like Allosaurus. The spikes, called thagomizers, could grow up to 18 inches (46 cm) long! [13]
    • Size: 30 feet (9 meters) long, 10-14 feet (3-4.3 meters) tall
    • Weight: 13,200 pounds (6,000 kilograms)
    • When it lived: 152-145 million years ago (Late Jurassic)
    • Where it lived: USA
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14

Baryonyx

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  1. Baryonyx (“heavy claw”) terrorized river banks and shallow water. With a jaw shaped like a modern crocodile, Baryonyx crouched on river banks or waded into shallow water to deliver death blows to its prey. It’s named after the huge, hooked claws on its thumbs, measuring about a foot (31 cm) long. It most likely used these to hook or pin fish to eat, but could also use them to attack any other dino in its way. [14]
    • Size: 33 feet (10 meters) long, 8-9 feet (2.4-2.7 meters) tall
    • Weight: 4,400 pounds (2,000 kilograms)
    • When it lived: 125 million years ago (Early Cretaceous)
    • Where it lived: The UK and Spain
15

Therizinosaurus

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  1. This dino’s huge claws would make a T. Rex think twice before attacking. Shaped like giant scythes, Therizinosaurus’ claws were about 3 feet (1 meter) long each. Thankfully for us tiny humans, it didn’t use these claws to hunt—Therizinosaurus was actually an herbivore (its small head and tooth shape were ideal for eating plants). However, these claws were still deadly for anything that dared attack it from the front, including the huge tyrannosaurs that were Therizinosaurus’ main threats. [15]
    • Size: 30-33 feet (9-10 meters) long, 16-20 feet (5-6 meters) tall
    • Weight: 11,000 pounds (5,000 kilograms)
    • When it lived: 85-70 million years ago (Late Cretaceous)
    • Where it lived: Mongolia
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16

Liopleurodon

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  1. Liopleurodon was the most dangerous dinosaur in water. As one of the most terrifying and largest marine dinosaurs ever discovered (but not quite as large as the movies make it seem), Liopleurodon ruled the seas of the Middle and Late Jurassic. With its large head, fast swimming capabilities, ultra-smooth and sharp teeth, and unmatched sense of smell, this predator was nearly unmatched. Its one weakness? It had lungs (like all dinos) and had to surface to breathe. [16]
    • Size: 39 feet (12 meters long)
    • Weight: 2,200–3,700 pounds (1,000-1,700 kilograms)
    • When it lived: 150 million years ago (Late Jurassic)
    • Where it lived: Europe and Mexico
17

Argentinosaurus

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  1. Argentinasaurus is one of the largest land animals ever found. Its full size is hard to estimate due to incomplete fossil remains, but one thing is clear—it’s no small feat to take an Argentinasaurus down! Small creatures could be easily smushed, and even large predators like Giganotosaurus would need backup to have any chance against this gargantuan herbivore. [17]
    • Size: 115 feet (35 meters) long, 23 feet (7 meters) tall (at the shoulder)
    • Weight: 154,000 pounds (70,000 kilograms)
    • When it lived: 90 million years ago (Late Cretaceous)
    • Where it lived: Argentina
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18

Qianzhousaurus

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  1. Qianzhousaurus was a smaller, faster version of the mighty T. Rex. At first, Qianzhousaurus seems less threatening than its bigger cousins—it’s noticeably smaller with a narrower head and a weaker bite. But, what it lacks in pure might, it makes up for in speed. Qianzhousaurus is far faster and more agile than T. Rex and other theropods, making it a frighteningly efficient predator. [18]
    • Size: 21 feet (6.3 meters) long, 6.6 feet (2 meters) tall
    • Weight: 1,700 pounds (750 kilograms)
    • When it lived: 72-66 million years ago (Late Cretaceous)
    • Where it lived: Asia
19

Diabloceratops

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  1. This devilish cousin of Triceratops came with an extra pair of horns. The Diabloceratops has an extra pair of tall, outwardly curving horns on top of its frill (in addition to a set of horns above the eyes and a sharp, horned nose). In fact, the “diablo” is its name (Spanish for “devil”) alludes to this extra fearsome pair of horns that sets this herbivore apart. While 3 horns are enough to fend off fearsome predators like T. Rex, it can’t hurt to have an extra pair—and Diabloceratops would have made good use of these against any foe. [19]
    • Size: 18 feet (5.5 meters) long, 7 feet (2 meters) tall
    • Weight: 2,000-4,000 pounds (900-1,800 kilograms)
    • When it lived: 80 million years ago (Late Cretaceous)
    • Where it lived: North America
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20

Stenonychosaurus

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  1. This bird-like predator was a fast runner and scarily smart. This small dino walked on its 2 hind legs and somewhat resembled a large, modern bird. In fact, it may have been an omnivore; its sharp teeth are serrated, but the serrations are quite large (making them suitable for hacking through tough plant material). Even though it ate plants, Stenonychosaurus was still a fearsome beast. Its long back legs hint that it could run very fast, and its large brain (relative to its body size) made it cleverer than most other dinosaurs—perfect for tricking and chasing prey. [20]
    • Size: 8 feet (2.5 meters) long, 3 feet (0.9 meters)
    • Weight: 80 pounds (35 kilograms)
    • When it lived: 77-74 million years ago (Late Cretaceous)
    • Where it lived: Canada
21

Diplodocus

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  1. Diplodocus’s long, whip-like tail makes it especially dangerous. Diplodocus was a long-necked, herbivorous sauropod that used its crane-like neck to eat from tree tops as well as the ground. In addition to its huge size, Diplodocus had some armor that made it dangerous to predators. Narrow, pointy, bony spikes lined its back (not so easy to take a bite out of), and its whip-like tail could be used for defense against attackers. [21]
    • Size: 85 feet (26 meters) long, 19-26 feet (5.8-8 meters) tall (at the hips)
    • Weight: 33,000 pounds (15,000 kilograms)
    • When it lived: 152-145 million years ago (Late Jurassic)
    • Where it lived: USA
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22

Thapunngaka

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  1. This frightening pterosaur terrorized the skies of the late Cretaceous. Discovered in Australia in 2021, Thapunngaka (Wanamara for “spear mouth”) was essentially a giant mouth full of sharp teeth with wings. Its 3-foot (1 meter) long head was full of about 40 razor-sharp teeth designed to pluck unsuspecting creatures from the sea. Plus, it was absolutely massive, with a wingspan of about 23 feet (7 meters). [22]
    • Size: 23 feet (7 meters) (wingspan)
    • Weight: 65 pounds (33 kilograms)
    • When it lived: 104-100 million years ago (Early Cretaceous)
    • Where it lived: Worldwide
23

Coelophysis

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  1. Coelophysis was one of the earliest dinosaur predators. In the Triassic (the earliest period of dinosaur evolution), dinosaurs weren’t at the top of the food chain. Take tiny Coelophysis, for example. As a small hunter, it relied on speed, agility, and wickedly sharp claws and teeth to ambush small prey (and avoid becoming a victim of the other large reptiles that ruled at the time). Though tiny, this predator was still a lethal killer (and one we’d rather see in a documentary than real life!). [23]
    • Size: 6.5 feet (2 meters) long, 3 feet (1 meter) tall
    • Weight: 60 pounds (27 kilograms)
    • When it lived: 225-190 million years ago (Late Triassic)
    • Where it lived: USA, southern Africa
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24

Tarbosaurus

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  1. This “alarming lizard” was the T. Rex of Central Asia. It’s nearly the same size as Tyrannosaurus Rex, and just as lethal. Its large head, powerful jaws, and serrated teeth gave it a fearsome bite that helped it take down large sauropods (its extra hard and rigid skull may have been an adaptation to help it tackle these dinosaurs specifically). It’s thought that the T. Rex evolved from Tarbosaurs that crossed the Siberian land bridge into North America. [24]
    • Size: 33-36 feet (10-11 meters) long, 16 feet (5 meters) tall at the hip
    • Weight: 9,900-11,000 pounds (4,500-5,000 kilograms)
    • When it lived: 100-66 million years ago (Late Cretaceous)
    • Where it lived: Central Asia
25

Megaraptor

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  1. The Megaraptor was 2 or 3 times larger than the Velociraptor (and faster). Though it's not the largest of all raptors, Megaraptor still stands out because of its scary size and extra speedy run. It’s got the longest shin and foot bones of any raptor, meaning it can cover a lot of ground with each step—not good for any prey trying to escape its claws and teeth! [25]
    • Size: 15 feet (4.5 meters) long, 6 feet (1.9 meters) tall at the hip
    • Weight: 2,200 pounds (1,000 kilograms)
    • When it lived: 94-86 million years ago (Late Cretaceous)
    • Where it lived: Argentina and Australia
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      References

      1. ↑ https://kids.nationalgeographic.com/animals/prehistoric/facts/tyrannosaurus-rex
      2. ↑ https://www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/dino-directory/spinosaurus.html
      3. ↑ https://www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/dino-directory/velociraptor.html
      4. ↑ https://www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/dino-directory/giganotosaurus.html
      5. ↑ https://www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/dino-directory/allosaurus.html
      6. ↑ https://www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/dino-directory/carcharodontosaurus.html
      7. ↑ https://www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/dino-directory/mapusaurus.html
      8. ↑ https://www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/dino-directory/ankylosaurus.html
      9. ↑ https://www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/dino-directory/deinonychus.html
      1. ↑ https://www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/dino-directory/utahraptor.html
      2. ↑ https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/fearsome-dinosaur-had-ridiculously-short-arms-24303351/
      3. ↑ https://www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/dino-directory/carnotaurus.html
      4. ↑ https://eastern.usu.edu/prehistoric-museum/exhibits/paleontology/stegosaurus
      5. ↑ https://www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/dino-directory/baryonyx.html
      6. ↑ https://museum.wa.gov.au/explore/dinosaur-discovery/therizinosaurus
      7. ↑ https://www.prehistoric-wildlife.com/species/liopleurodon/
      8. ↑ https://www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/dino-directory/argentinosaurus.html
      9. ↑ https://www.jurassicworldevolution.com/2/database?dinosaur=qianzhousaurus
      10. ↑ https://nhmu.utah.edu/diabloceratops-eatoni
      11. ↑ https://www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/dino-directory/stenonychosaurus.html
      12. ↑ https://www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/dino-directory/diplodocus.html
      13. ↑ https://bigthink.com/the-past/thapunngaka-shawi/
      14. ↑ https://www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/dino-directory/coelophysis.html
      15. ↑ https://australian.museum/learn/dinosaurs/fact-sheets/tarbosaurus-bataar/
      16. ↑ https://abcnews.go.com/International/large-fossil-footprints-point-discovery-new-megaraptor-dinosaur/story?id=109617154

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