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.