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#Post#: 81--------------------------------------------------
Re: Isla Nublar - Dinosaur Field Guide
By: Dr. Dromaeosaurus Date: April 20, 2012, 10:41 am
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Baryonyx Walkeri
Length: 42 feet
Height: 16 feet
Weight: 4 and a half tons
Coloration:
Male - Green mottling, with dark green blotches on the back and
a pale yellow underbelly.
Female – Brown with paler underbelly.
Juvenile (both sexes) - A lighter version of the adult female.
Diet: Mainly fish, along with carrion and occasionally small
dinosaurs such as Dryosaurus. Baryonyx is the top predator on
Nublar and it is on this island only that it has expanded its
diet to other dinosaurs as well as fish.
Preferred Habitat: Near rivers, lakes or coasts.
Social Structure: Either solitary or in pairs. Like grizzly
bears, several individuals may congregate near water sources
where fish is plentiful.
Description: Smaller relative of the gigantic Spinosaurus. Long,
crocodile-like jaws, enlarged, heavy thumb claw. Long front
limbs.
Behaviors: Unlike Spinosaurus, Baryonyx is generally docile
unless provoked. It respects the territories of larger
carnivores, and its preferred habitats are close to water, where
it may come into competition with the giant crocodile
Deinosuchus or Spinosaurus itself. Baryonyx is not particularly
territorial, and males tend to avoid conflict with one another
unless fighting over females or prime fishing spots. Females are
aggressive when guarding young.
Baryonyx is primarily a fish-eater, using its long,
crocodile-like jaws or its large, hook-like thumb claws to spear
fish and other aquatic prey straight out of the water. Its
pointed, conical teeth (as opposed to other carnivores' curved,
serrated teeth) are perfect for maintaining a hold onto slippery
prey. The claws- used for spearing fish and killing small prey-
are also heavily used by males when fighting one another and for
defense. Baryonyx is also a fantastic swimmer, capable of
staying submerged for up to four minutes. Baryonyx is even known
to sleep underwater; when resting the dinosaur can remain
submerged for up to 20 minutes, surfacing to take a breath even
when not fully awake.
Baryonyx's forelimbs are so long, it is capable of standing on
all fours. It tends to adopt this position over water when
waiting for a fish to swim by, or to submit to more dominant
individuals. It hardly ever walks on all fours as it risks
blunting its claws.
#Post#: 82--------------------------------------------------
Re: Isla Nublar - Dinosaur Field Guide
By: Dr. Dromaeosaurus Date: April 20, 2012, 10:43 am
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Triceratops Horridus
Length: 37 feet
Height: 16 feet
Weight: 10 and a half tons
Coloration:
Male – Green and brown mottled bodies with darker back striping.
Female – Brown mottling with lighter brown back striping.
Juvenile (both sexes) – Brown and green mottled bodies.
Diet: Low-growing plants, from shrubs and ferns to fallen fruits
and tough woody vegetation. Will also occassionally consume
carrion.
Preferred Habitat: Open spaces broken by brush.
Social Structure: Lives in herds of up to 15 individuals, mostly
female. Dominant individuals are usually male, but in the
absence of males females are equally capable of filling in for
dominant position.
Description: Quadrupedal herbivore. Small nasal horn with long
brow horns, moderately elongated frill. Sharp curved beak. Body
large, bulky, and robust. Young have poorly developed frills and
stubby horns.
Behaviours: Due to its poor-eyesight, similarly to a rhinoceros
Triceratops is quick to aggravate. It relies on its sense of
smell most of all to detect the slightest hint of danger, and
has been known to attack harmless animals and kill a full grown
Tyrannosaurus. For this reason most predators avoid hunting
Triceratops, for sometimes even merely passing can prove
dangerous. When a herd is threatened by a big predator such as
Tyrannosaurus, Triceratops females bunch together to form a
circle, horns facing outwards, pushing the vulnerable infants
into the centre where it is safer. The males meanwhile, stand
outside the circle closest to the threat; bellowing, swaying
their large heads and stamping their feet before charging the
predator if it is unwise to hang around. A full grown healthy
Triceratops is capable of lifting an animal up to a tonne in
weight with its head alone, and the deadly brow horns have the
potential to inflict fatal wounds.
Triceratops spends about a half of the day eating and one third
resting during the hottest part of the day, either in the shade
or wallowed in mud beside the river. Triceratops herds tend to
have more females, with a few males taking charge over three or
four females each. Of course disputes are common, with jealous
males wanting to add each others’ harem to their own collection.
These disputes are solved by the famous pushing contests,
whereby after a series of bellowing and elaborate displaying,
two males lock horns and shove to and fro in tests of strength.
Defeated males leave the herd and become loners unless they can
fight their way back into a herd. With no other herd members to
look out for danger, the loner’s aggression heightens so much so
that it has the tendency to charge at anything without
provocation.
Triceratops herds thrive on the plains of the Triceratops
Paddock and they have learnt to co-exist in relative harmony
with the myriad of ornithopods and sauropods which share its
habitat. Occasionally Triceratops herds can be seen alongside
herds of the succesful hadrosaur, Parasaurolophus; the two
species mingling regularly during the breeding migration.
#Post#: 83--------------------------------------------------
Re: Isla Nublar - Dinosaur Field Guide
By: Dr. Dromaeosaurus Date: April 20, 2012, 10:48 am
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Dilophosaurus Venenifer
Length: 25 feet
Height: 13 feet
Weight: 475 pounds
Coloration:
Male – An olive green, with green blotches and some white
striping on the body and crests, and a red and yellow mottled
frill.
Female and juvenile (both sexes) – Like the male, only a more
drab green and paler markings.
Diet: Meat, from lizards to small ornithopods. Prefers fresh
meat over carrion.
Preferred Habitat: Heavily forested terrain near a water source.
Social Structure: Pack animals with a patriarchal society.
Generally sociable with other dilophosaurs.
Description: Bipedal carnivore. Pair of semi-circular crests on
top of the head. Large frill of vibrantly coloured skin which
usually lies folded back against its head and neck, capable of
fanning out and vibrating when the animal is angered, scared, or
simply playing.
Behaviours: Also known as "spitters", Dilophosaurus gets its
nickname from its ability to spray a thick, black gooey
substance at its victim to a distance of up to 20 feet, causing
burning of the skin and immediate blindness if delivered to the
eyes. This substance has the odor and texture of vomit and it is
possible the dinosaur mixes in powerful acids from its stomach
with venom produced from the venom ducts prior to release.
Dilophosaurus can also inoculate its venom by biting and chewing
prey and then releasing, waiting for the victim to die,
similarly to a Gila Monster or a Komodo dragon. A single bite
from a Dilophosaurus causes extreme pain and eventual paralysis
and allows Dilophosaurus to take down much larger prey than
their teeth and claws would otherwise allow.
Dilophosaurus is elusive and nocturnal. The frill around its
neck can be extended to 'hypnotise' prey or to warn off enemies
before delivering a bite or spitting. The frill is capable of
being vibrated, making a loud rattling sound.
Juveniles and subadults are very playful and inquisitive, taking
their time in bringing down prey while adults are usually more
reserved and direct in their hunting strategies. Dilophosaurus
communicate by making a variety of hooting, whistling and
squeaking sounds, but when aggressive, it produces a deafening,
hissing scream.
#Post#: 84--------------------------------------------------
Re: Isla Nublar - Dinosaur Field Guide
By: Dr. Dromaeosaurus Date: April 20, 2012, 10:49 am
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Metriacanthosaurus Shangyouensis
Length: 34 feet
Height: 13 feet
Weight: 2 and a half tons
Coloration:
Male – A distinct blue color, with broad triangular white
stripes, white underbellies, and red heads.
Female and juvenile (both sexes) – Like the male, only without
the red head.
Diet: Scavenger and predator of small to medium-sized animals.
Preferred Habitat: Dense forest and jungle.
Social Structures: Pairs and small groups.
Description: Medium-sized bipedal carnivore. Metriacanthosaurus
has slightly elongated vertebrae spines which form a small ridge
along its back, making it appear rather humpbacked. This, unlike
Spinosaurus or Ouranosaurus, is an attachment for muscles;
reinforcing the skeleton and adding to its overall power. Pound
for pound, Metriacanthosaurus is the most muscular dinosaur on
Nublar.
Behaviours: This fast, medium-sized dinosaur is elusive and
seldom seen as it prefers to hide in dense forests and Jungle.
Its skin is unusually tough and provides protection against the
abundant parasites such as ticks which share its jungle habitat.
Metriacanthosaurus groups do not usually co-operate to bring
down prey. A single Metri will hunt by itself and share the food
with its pack members. Groups will also take to the habit of
teasing and mobbing other medium-sized carnivores similar to how
crows act towards buzzards.
Metriacanthosaurus is very particular to heat and does not do
very well in droughts or heat waves. It is generally more active
at dusk, night and dawn when it is cooler and during the day it
rarely moves, instead taking up residence in shady patches or
even resting in water with just its nostrils visible above the
surface.
Metriacanthosaurus roars sound similar to the mating calls of
crocodiles and alligators although much higher in pitched.
Metriacanthosaurus does not hold a territory of any sort as it
is nomadic and never stays in the same place for very long. It
buries its dung to hide its scent from the larger carnivores and
if unable to do so, it will resort to eating it as it is
incredibly fearful of dinosaurs the size of Tyrannosaurus.
#Post#: 85--------------------------------------------------
Re: Isla Nublar - Dinosaur Field Guide
By: Dr. Dromaeosaurus Date: April 20, 2012, 10:52 am
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Proceratosaurus Bradleyi
Length: 18 feet
Height: 10 feet
Weight: 750 pounds
Coloration:
Male – Green with darker green back blotches and pale yellow
underbellies. Nose horn is red, and the back of the head is
adorned with grey quills.
Female and juvenile (both sexes) – Like the male, but without
the quills and a gray horn.
Diet: Mostly a scavenger of dead or near-dead beached animals
including fish, turtles, cetaceans and prehistoric marine
reptiles. Will also consume live turtles and seabirds and the
eggs and young of seabirds, turtles and Nothosaurus. Will attack
colonies of seals on the shoreline, sometimes even swimming into
the water after their mammalian prey.
Preferred Habitat: Along coasts and estuaries.
Social Structure: Individual or small packs with no real
heirarchy.
Description: Small bipedal carnivore, this species is a smaller,
earlier relative to the giant Tyrannosaurus. The most notable
feature of this dinosaur is the small nosehorn similar to those
of Ornitholestes and Ceratosaurus. Like a male Sornaensis
raptor, male Proceratosaurus have quills at the back of the head
(although these are spikier than those of the raptor and
incapable of movement). Like its giant cousin, this species has
incredibly strong jaws capable of crushing the shells of turtles
and marine animal bones.
Behaviors: This dinosaur is the beachcomber of Isla Nublar and
is often seen prowling the coastlines of the island in search of
the bodies of dead and dying animals washed up from the ocean.
Being such a dedicated beachgoer, this dinosaur has a salt gland
which allows it to drink right from the ocean itself. Like a
marine iguana, it expels the excess salt through its nostrils in
a 'spitting' action. This can surprise many dinosaurs,
especially those familiar with the spitting Dilophosaurus, thus
is useful as a bluff defense.
When not found at the beach, Proceratosaurus frequent the
River's and Ponds where it has a symbiotic relationship with
Baryonyx. Proceratosaurus has a much better eye for danger and
when it sees larger predators it reacts with a high-pitched
warning screech. As a result Proceratosaurus are not attacked by
Barynonyx and are also rewarded by being allowed access to the
leftovers of Baryonyx's fish prey.
Unique among theropods, Proceratosaurus has an odd form of
locomotion, consisting more of hops and jumps than steps and
leaps. Its calls are also unique, consisting of hissing,
hooting, barking and bizarre duck-like quacks.
#Post#: 86--------------------------------------------------
Re: Isla Nublar - Dinosaur Field Guide
By: Dr. Dromaeosaurus Date: April 20, 2012, 10:55 am
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Pteranodon Longiceps Sternbergi
Height: Females 6 feet, males 7-8 feet
Weight: Females 60 pounds, males 72 pounds
Wingspan: Females 25 feet, males 36 feet
Coloration:
Male– Black body, a gray chest and wing edges. Faint dark
reddish brown tint on its back. Crest is orange with black
markings.
Female and juvenile (both sexes) – Amber or beige body with
black markings on wings, back, beak, and crest.
Juvenile (both sexes) - Almost entirely gray body, with a pale
yellow beak.
Preferred Habitat: Upland areas near the coast, where they nest
on cliff faces.
Diet: Carnivorous but mostly consumes fish.
Social Structure: Both sexes tend to be solitary, however apart
from during the breeding season they hold no quarrel with other
individuals over territory and space. During the breeding season
males and females gather, with the females soaring overhead and
males displaying on the cliffs below, and once the mating is
over the young are reared in large colonies by the females while
the males return to their solitary lifestyles.
Description: Large pterosaur. Long head with deep toothless jaws
and a long crest that extends backwards. In females, the crest
is flattened, however in males the crest is larger and wider,
and projects upwards. In juveniles, the crest is small and
triangular. The head is much bigger than the rest of the body,
and hollow bones reduce the animal’s weight to allow for flight.
The tail is short and pointed. There is a pouch on the throat
region, which females use to store regurgitated fish for the
young. The wings are leathery, and the body has a coating of
downy fuzz.
Behaviours: Pteranodon longiceps “sternbergi” is a glider rather
than a flier; its vast wings and lightweight frame means that it
can use rising air currents to soar effortlessly for hours,
covering long distances out to sea while hunting for food. It
has excellent eyesight to spot shoals of fish swimming close to
the surface of the water; swooping down to catch its prey in its
beak before swallowing whole. While graceful in the air, it is
ungainly and clumsy on the land. Therefore it lands only to rest
and to mate and nest; always on high cliffs where they are safer
from land-dwelling predators. Unlike its "hippocratesi"
contemporary, this type of Pteranodon is non-aggressive and
prefers to fly from danger; however it is quite capable of
defending itself with its sharp, pointed beak.
During the breeding season, males establish the best locations
on rocky outcrops near the coast from where they call and
display to the females which soar overhead. The males compete
with each other with screeching and head-bobbing, showing off
their elaborate crests. Beak-sparring between individuals over
space is common. Generally it is the largest males with the most
impressive crests who attract the most females. Once the mating
is over and all the females have left, the males also leave to
carry on with life as normal. They play no part in rearing the
young.
During the nesting period large colonies of females congregate
in large, noisy, crowded communities to lay their eggs on cliffs
near the sea, often so close to each other that their wings
virtually touch. However the females endure this seemingly
uncomfortable practice without complaint, and aside from the
occasional quarrel, they are generally respectful of each
others’ space. Nesting in a community has its advantage in that
it is safer than nesting alone - an individual Pteranodon
nesting in plain sight is more exposed than one who is hidden
amongst many others. Even so, mothers are often forced to
abandon their young for long periods of time in order to hunt
for food, and during that time the young are vulnerable to
latecomers who wish to usurp the nesting site by killing the
young in order to lay their own eggs. In addition groups of
marauding Cearadactylus may attempt to wade into the nesting
colonies of Pteranodon in search of the unprotected babies – the
other mothers of the colony will not defend their neighbours’
young if it means their own will be safer once the Cearadactylus
leave.
Additional note: At one time, it was believed that P. longiceps
and P. sternbergi were distinct species, with the more common P.
longiceps being the most common and social and the rarer P.
sternbergi being the most solitary. However it has recently come
to pass that they are in fact one and the same species which
display sexual dimorphism (not true in palaeontological terms).
#Post#: 87--------------------------------------------------
Re: Isla Nublar - Dinosaur Field Guide
By: Dr. Dromaeosaurus Date: April 20, 2012, 10:58 am
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Tylosaurus Proriger
Length: 45 feet
Weight: 8 and a half tons
Coloration:
Adult and juvenile (both sexes) - Upper part of the body is a
dark mottled green, and the underside is lighter.
Diet: Turtles, fish, sharks, seabirds, pterosaurs, Nothosaurus,
whale carcasses, drowned animals.
Preferred habitat: Shallow nearshore waters.
Social structure: Solitary.
Description: Long, slender, flexible body. All four limbs are
paddle-like flippers and the long tail has a fluke at the end.
The jaws are long and narrow, and the snout has a bony tip at
the end, used as a ramming weapon. Like snakes and lizards,
Tylosaurus' tongue is forked and it also has a Jacobson’s organ-
a structure used by snakes and lizards to detect scent particles
in air and water. This means that Tylosaurus has an exceptional
sense of smell for detecting prey. Although streamlined for
quicker propulsion through the salty ocean waters, the skin of
Tylosaurus is similar to that of its closest modern relatives,
the monitor lizards, in having an almost chain-mail quality to
it, thus able to withstand even the sharpest of teeth.
Behaviours: Tylosaurus is not a fast swimmer- instead of chasing
after prey, it uses the cover of seaweed and rocks in order to
get close before making a sudden burst of speed at the last
minute, ramming into the victim with its hard, bony-tipped
snout. Stunned by the impact, the prey is then killed by
Tylosaurus' jaws.
These reptiles are fighters through and through, and their
underwater clashes are a sight to see. Although somewhat
protected with its armor-like skin, its flippers and tail are
not so well protected, and it is not entirely uncommon to see a
tylosaur with a missing limb or large rips in the webbing of its
tail. Like manatees, their flippers end in nails, and these are
used to allow the male to get a better grip on a female during
mating. Tylosaurus has an incredibly flexible body more akin to
a snake than any lizard. It is able to squeeze its way through
anything as long as its head can fit, and it is particularly
fond of exploring the shipwrecks off the coast of Isla Muerta in
search of food. Like the Megalania, Tylosaurus sometimes become
involved in feeding frenzies over the corpses of dead whales or
drowned animals. This reptile is also capable of leaping from
the water to snatch a seabird or pterosaur from the air.
Tylosaurus gives birth to a single live offspring, and the
mother guards the juvenile for the first few months before
abandoning the offspring.
#Post#: 88--------------------------------------------------
Re: Isla Nublar - Dinosaur Field Guide
By: Dr. Dromaeosaurus Date: April 20, 2012, 11:00 am
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Now that it appears that all the species present in both
Jurassic Park and Jurassic Park: The Game are in the Field
Guide, this topic is now locked. Please PM me if i'm incorrect.
;)
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