Episode Details

In this episode of pplpod, we sink our teeth into the history of Carcharodontosaurus, the massive "shark-toothed lizard" that dominated North Africa during the Late Cretaceous. We explore how this giant theropod grew to lengths of over 12 meters, challenging Tyrannosaurus rex and Giganotosaurus for the title of the largest land predator.

Join us as we uncover the dramatic story of its discovery, from the tragic destruction of Ernst Stromer’s original fossils during a WWII bombing raid to the groundbreaking rediscovery of a neotype skull in the Kem Kem Beds of Morocco. We also break down the science behind its razor-sharp, serrated teeth, its feeding habits as a flesh-slicer rather than a bone-crusher, and its coexistence with other titans like Spinosaurus in the ancient swamps of the Sahara. Tune in for a deep dive into paleontology and the evolution of one of the earth's most fearsome carnivores.