4 Real Life Dinos Used to Make Jurassic World's Hybrid

Jurassic World won’t be hitting theaters until June 12, but the movie’s official website is already giving audiences a sneak peek at its new, genetically-modified dino, a beast that’s been named Indominus rex (or “Untamable king”). Toothy, aggressive, and highly intelligent, the monster’s said to contain the spliced DNA of several real-life dinosaurs, including these guys.

1. Carnotaurus

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LIVED: Roughly 70 million years ago
RANGE: Argentina
MAXIMUM LENGTH: 25 feet (7.5 meters)
NAME MEANS: “Meat-eating bull”

Carnotaurus’ name comes from a pair of devilish-looking horns above its eyes. Additionally, this predator’s backside was covered in bony knobs called “osteoderms,” which leaked photos show Indominus rex also has.

Paleontologists suspect that Carnotaurus could have been very fast thanks to its muscular tail and powerful hind limbs. The dinosaur’s forelimbs, meanwhile, were a lot less impressive—in fact, they actually make T. rex’s much-maligned arms look beefy by comparison. Still, these stubby appendages do contain some pretty robust bones, which suggests that, despite outward appearances, they probably served some kind of function.

2. Majungasaurus

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LIVED: Roughly 66 million years ago
RANGE: Madagascar
MAXIMUM LENGTH: 20 feet (6 meters)
NAME MEANS: “Mahajanga lizard” (after the province in which it was discovered)

This beast has been accused of dino cannibalism, and the evidence is pretty damning: Several recovered Majungasaurus specimens are riddled with bite marks that perfectly match the teeth and jaws of another Majungasaurus.

Stature-wise, Majungasaurus left a bit to be desired, given its unusually-short legs (by meat-eating dinosaur standards). Buts its neck was strong, its skull sturdy, and its bite powerful—three attributes we hope Indominus rex displays!   

3. Rugops

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LIVED: Roughly 95 million years ago
RANGE: Niger
MAXIMUM LENGTH: Probably around 20 feet (6 meters)
NAME MEANS: “Wrinkle face”

Known exclusively from its skull, Rugops had fourteen holes arranged in two mysterious rows on its snout, which theoretically supported snazzy head-crests. Like Carnotaurus and Majungasaurus, Rugops belonged to the abelisauridae, a group of predators that once terrorized South America, Africa, Madagascar, India, and France.

4. Giganotosaurus

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LIVED: Roughly 97 million years ago
RANGE: Argentina
MAXIMUM LENGTH: Around 40 feet (12.2 meters)
NAME MEANS: “Giant southern lizard”

Rivaling (and possibly surpassing) T. rex in size, Giganotosaurus was one of the largest carnivores to have ever walked the earth. Unlike the tyrant lizard’s blunt, bone-crushing teeth, this predator’s chompers were thin and blade-like—perfect for gliding through flesh. A few paleontologists think Giganotosaurus was a school bus-sized pack-hunter because numerous skeletons of a closely-related dinosaur named Mapusaurus have been found buried together. Granted, from a scientific standpoint, this association really doesn’t prove anything, but just imagine the cinematic possibilities! 

And Here are Two Questions We Hope Jurassic World Answers:  

Where Did Indominus rex’s Opposable Thumbs Come From?
Somebody at Ingen decided to give this man-eating monster something we’ve never seen in actual dinosaurs: primate-style thumbs. Though a few species, such as Europe’s Iguanodon, had thumb-like spikes protruding from each hand, opposable grasping digits akin to those with which we play video games are quite another matter.

What’s Up with Its "Quills"?
For reasons unknown, an herbivorous dinosaur named Psittacosaurus had glorious bristles on its tail. Might the rods we see running down Indominus rex’s neck and arms be something similar?