Carnotaurus is one of the strangest dinosaurs that have
come from South America. It belongs to the carnosaur family known as
Abelisaurids. Its name comes from the peculiar characteristic of being crowned
with thick horns (probably to engage in intraspecific head-butting contests,
competing for mates). The snout is incredibly short,
giving it the appearance of a dinosaur bulldog. Although the upper part of the
skull seems powerful, the lower maxilla is rather slender and weak. Perhaps the
strangest peculiarity of this theropod is the construction of the tiny arms, a
robust humerus and incredibly short radius and ulna articulate with a four
fingered hand (one of the fingers is a spike that is directed backwards) with
palms that seem to have faced outwards! We can iust wonder what was the use of
these hands . Extensive skin impressions were found with the skeleton, making
this a fairly well known theropod.