Editing Carcharodontosaurus (section)

==== Cranium and teeth ====
[[File:Carcharodontosaurus_saharicus_skull_reconstruction.png|thumbnail|Reconstructed skull of ''C. saharicus'', showing known material in white|237x237px|alt=Diagram of the skull of C. saharicus]]
The largest and most complete skull of ''C. saharicus'' would measure {{Convert|1.6|m|ft}} when complete, around the same size as the largest ''[[Tyrannosaurus]]'' skulls. No skulls of the genus preserve [[premaxilla]]e, complete posterior skull regions, or [[mandible]]s. Skulls of carcharodontosaurids tend to be more slender and lightly built than those of later tyrannosaurids, which have robust builds and adaptations for crushing. The neotype cranium tapers towards the front in side view creating a triangular outline. This is similar to that of other carcharodontosaurids like ''Mapusaurus'' and ''Giganotosaurus''. Its skull was lighter than that of tyrannosaurids, with the [[antorbital fenestra]] composing over 30% of the total skull length as well as being surrounded by {{Dinogloss|fossae}} in the [[maxilla]]e (upper jaw bone), [[Nasal bone|nasals]] (nose bone), [[Jugal bone|jugals]] (cheekbone), and [[Lacrimal bone|lacrimals]] (front orbit bone). Akin to other genera, its nasal is elongated and its exposed side is covered in a rugose surface. These bumps were likely extended by [[keratin]] sheaths, creating a horn-like structure as in ''[[Ceratosaurus]]''. A similar rugosity is found on the lacrimal which would also be lengthened by keratin, forming a similar element.{{sfn|Ibrahim|Sereno|Varricchio|Martill|2020|p=165}}<ref name=":5" /> The most distinctive trait of ''Carcharodontosaurus''{{'}} skull is the sculpted exterior of the maxillae, which is unique to the genus. ''C. iguidensis'' has antorbital fossae limited to the proximity of the antorbital fenestra, a crest running along the [[Anatomical terms of location|medial]] (right) face of the maxilla, and a [[process (anatomy)|process]] along its midline. These traits are missing in ''C. saharicus'', differentiating the two species.<ref name=":6" />

{{multiple image
| align             = left
| total_width       = 240
| perrow            = 2/2
| image1            = Right maxilla of Carcharodontosaurus.jpg
| alt1              = Right maxilla of C. saharicus
| image2            = Carcharodontosaurus nasal and lacrimal bone.jpg
| alt2              = Nasal and lacrimal of C. saharicus
| image3            = Carcharodontosaurus jugal bones.jpg
| alt3              = Jugals of C. saharicus
| image4            = Carcharodontosaurus postorbital bones.jpg
| alt4              = Postorbitals of C. saharicus
| footer            = Skull bones of the neotype specimen; right maxilla (upper left), nasal and lacrimal (upper right), jugals (lower left), and postorbitals (lower right)
}}

14 teeth sockets are present in each maxilla. Parts of the braincase are known though much of their morphology is the same as ''Giganotosaurus''{{'}}. However, ''C. saharicus'' has a much more prominent [[Nuchal lines|nuchal crest]], which overhangs the skull roof. The frontal bones are firmly fused, a characteristic evident in most theropods.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Coria |first1=Rodolfo A. |last2=Currie |first2=Philip J. |title=The braincase of Giganotosaurus carolinii (Dinosauria: Theropoda) from the Upper Cretaceous of Argentina |journal=Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology |date=January 14, 2003 |volume=22 |issue=4 |pages=802–811 |doi=10.1671/0272-4634(2002)022[0802:TBOGCD]2.0.CO;2 }}</ref> The jugals are broad and triangle-shaped. The [[Joint|lower jaw articulation]] was placed farther back behind the [[occipital condyle]] (where the neck is attached to the skull) compared to other theropods.<ref name=":5" /> Two dentary (lower jaw bone) fragments which were referred to ''C. saharicus'' by Ibrahim et al. (2020) have deep and expanded [[Dental alveolus|alveoli]] (tooth sockets), traits found in other large theropods.<ref name=":0" />{{sfn|Ibrahim|Sereno|Varricchio|Martill|2020|p=167}} If like ''[[Tyrannotitan]]'' and ''Giganotosaurus'', the dentary would have 16 alveoli (tooth sockets).<ref name=":11">{{Cite journal |last1=Novas |first1=Fernando E. |last2=de Valais |first2=Silvina |last3=Vickers-Rich |first3=Pat |last4=Rich |first4=Tom |date=May 1, 2005 |title=A large Cretaceous theropod from Patagonia, Argentina, and the evolution of carcharodontosaurids |journal=Naturwissenschaften |volume=92 |issue=5 |pages=226–230 |doi=10.1007/s00114-005-0623-3 |pmid=15834691 |bibcode=2005NW.....92..226N |hdl=11336/103474 |s2cid=24015414 |hdl-access=free }}</ref>

Estimations of the tooth count of ''Carcharodontosaurus'' vary, but a recent estimate of 30 dentary, 8 premaxillary, and 24 maxillary teeth for a total of 62 teeth was made.<ref name=":12">{{Cite journal |last1=Beevor |first1=Thomas |last2=Quigley |first2=Aaron |last3=Smith |first3=Roy E. |last4=Smyth |first4=Robert S. H. |last5=Ibrahim |first5=Nizar |last6=Zouhri |first6=Samir |last7=Martill |first7=David M. |date=January 1, 2021 |title=Taphonomic evidence supports an aquatic lifestyle for Spinosaurus |journal=Cretaceous Research |volume=117 |pages=104627 |doi=10.1016/j.cretres.2020.104627 |bibcode=2021CrRes.11704627B |s2cid=224888268 |url=https://researchportal.port.ac.uk/portal/en/publications/taphonomic-evidence-supports-an-aquatic-lifestyle-for-spinosaurus(e7fb2358-2ac6-4b6c-9697-225a525e8366).html }}</ref> Carcharodontosaurid teeth are some of the largest of any dinosaur group, with a maxillary tooth from SNSB-BSPG 1922 X 46 being {{Convert|6.8|cm|in}} tall and {{Convert|3.5|cm|in}} wide.<ref name=":8" /><ref>{{Cite web |title=Discoveries {{!}} Paul Sereno - Paleontologist {{!}} The University of Chicago |url=https://paulsereno.uchicago.edu/discoveries/carcharodontosaurus/#:~:text=Carcharodontosaurus%20is%20Africa%27s%20answer%20to,-inch-long%20serrated%20teeth. |access-date=June 30, 2023 |website=paulsereno.uchicago.edu}}</ref> However, they are extremely thin, with most being under a centimeter thick. Serrations are numerous on the anterior and posterior margins, with over 18 to 20 serrations per centimeter of edge in ''C. saharicus'' and up to 32 per centimeter in ''C. iguidensis''.<ref name=":6" /><ref name=":8" /> Its teeth are straight, laterally flattened, and spindle-shaped in cross-section. However, dentition towards the back of the mouth became more recurved than those in the maxilla. The posterior margin of these [[Crown (tooth)|crowns]] are recurved and convex at its termination. Bowed [[Tooth enamel|enamel wrinkles]] are present on both dorsoventral sides of the crowns. These wrinkles curve towards the marginal serrations, composing a band-shape along the ends.<ref name=":5" /><ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Brusatte |first1=Stephen L. |last2=Benson |first2=Roger B. J. |last3=Carr |first3=Thomas D. |last4=Williamson |first4=Thomas E. |last5=Sereno |first5=Paul C. |date=December 12, 2007 |title=The systematic utility of theropod enamel wrinkles |journal=Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology |volume=27 |issue=4 |pages=1052–1056 |doi=10.1671/0272-4634(2007)27[1052:TSUOTE]2.0.CO;2 |s2cid=85615205 }}</ref><ref name=":11" />