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Isla Nublar Herbivores
Topic Started: Jun 21 2018, 02:28 PM (22 Views)
Spiegel
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Ankylosaurus magniventris
Length: 28 feet
Height: 9 feet
Weight: 4 tons
Coloration:
Adult & Juveniles - brown underbellies and dark gray back plates. The facial area is a reddish-brown color.
Diet: Low-lying vegetation. Ankylosaurus does not chew its food - it is a fermenting herbivore, with a wide belly full of stewing meals which it has swallowed whole. Ferns, fruits, tubers, and even fungi are on the menu for these beasts. As a result Ankylosaurus is prone to frequent boats of flatulence.
Preferred Habitat: Ankylosaurus will live just about anywhere with sufficient vegetation, although its huge bulk prevents it from entering the denser forests and upland regions of Isla Sorna.
Social Structure: Solitary, although tolerates others of its kind in close proximity.
Description: Quadrupedal herbivore. Ankylosaurus is one of the most heavily-built animals on the island; the dinosaur equivalent of an armored tank. Its mighty back clad in scutes and spikes keep the animal safe even from the powerful jaws of giant predators such as Tyrannosaurus. Even its eyelids are armored. If all this protection wasn't enough, Ankylosaurus also wields a thick lump of solid bone the size of a beach ball at the end of its powerful tail, serving as a deadly weapon.
Breeding Season: All year breeder. Males and females mate when they happen upon one another and the female is in the right condition.
Behaviors: Despite its formidable arsenal of weapons and armor, Ankylosaurus is a somewhat peaceful animal and will even tolerate carnivores around it to a certain degree. If threatened however, it will produce a loud, rumbling bellow, swinging its tail in an attempt to deter the attacker. Ankylosaurus has perhaps the strongest hips of any dinosaur, and is therefore able to to swing its heavy club with enough force to shatter the femur or skull of a large predator. A well-aimed blow could potentially disable the largest of carnivores, and even pulverize massive trees. However, Ankylosaurus is not entirely invincible - its soft underbelly is its most vulnerable spot. Flipping one of these heavy, well-armored herbivores is nigh impossible, but when dealing with a particularly persistent predator, Ankylosaurus will dig its limbs into dirt or sand to protect its vulnerable underbelly and throat.
Ankylosaurus is not particularly territorial, however when there is a chance for mating males will challenge each other by slamming their powerful clubbed tails repeatedly into the ground while intermediately bellowing at their rivals. If neither male are intimidated by this show of noise and strength, they will stand side by side and proceed to shove and pound one another into submission. While their tough armor protects their bones and organs, these contests can leave males bruised and disoriented, and vulnerable to predator attack.
As Ankylosaurus is quite a slow-moving creature, small birds have been known to take refuge upon its broad carapace, sometimes even making nests between the spikes. In particular, the primitive bird Archaeopteryx is sometimes known to use Ankylosaurus backs as their own private perches. The bird is protected from its predators and catches insects stirred up by the Ankylosaurus' movements, while Ankylosaurus itself is barely aware of the presence of its riders except for when the shrill warning shrieks the Archaeopteryx emit alerts it to the presence of danger.
Ankylosaurus has poor eyesight, but it makes up for this with a heightened sense of smell. Owing to its poor eyesight, Ankylosaurus is easy to spook and therefore does not cope well with sudden movements. As a result it can be a danger to small, fast-moving herbivores such as Gallimimus and Dryosaurus, which - to the Ankylosaurus - vaguely resembles small two-legged predators. Slower moving herbivores such as hadrosaurs are less of a problem, and in fact are beneficial to the Ankylosaurus for their better eyesight and loud warning calls. While Ankylosaurus may mingle freely with other large herbivores, it typically does not need the protection of a herd, nor does it have the brain capacity for complex social interactions.
The female Ankylosaurus will lay her eggs in shallow scuffs of dirt in more forested regions, and she will refuse to leave while the eggs are incubating. Mothers are very protective of their young, and will defend them to the death. The young lack the hard carapaces of the adults and their tails lack the solid lump of bone, and thus they are much easier to kill if predators are able to separate them from their mothers. Unfortunately, this is not easy, as the scutelings walk directly under the female's tail.
Ankylosaurus vocalizations include hippo-like grunts, deep, low tones, and deep bellows. The calls of the juveniles are somewhat higher in pitch, and their distress calls resemble a pig-like squealing. This sound is programmed to instantly bring the mother Ankylosaurus into defensive action.

"Apatosaurus" excelsus
Length: 70 feet
Height: 15 feet
Weight: 30 tons
Coloration:
Adults - an overall gray color with darker gray markings on the back.
Juveniles - lighter gray body.
Diet: Any low-growing plants it can find.
Preferred Habitat: Wide open spaces to accommodate its size.
Social Structure: Medium-sized groups close to hadrosaur herds and other sauropod species.
Description: A long-necked sauropod, Apatosaurus is the third largest animal on the island. It is a heavily-built animal with forelimbs slightly longer than its hind legs, a small head in comparison to its body-size, and jaws lined with chisel-like teeth. The whip-like tail is long and tapered at the end, held clear off the ground. The long neck is relatively stiff and cannot be lifted much higher than shoulder height.
Behaviors: Apatosaurus' tail has multiple functions. Its primary use is to counterbalance the animal’s long neck. Most famously, it is used as a weapon against predators. However, the tail is also used as an important communication device between other Apatosaurus. In a herd, members keep in constant contact with others in the group with their long tails; occasionally whip-cracking and using the resulting breaking of the sound barrier to communicate over long distances. The tail also serves as a visual communicator; with individuals constantly waving their tails in the air to remind others of their location, thus helping to keep the herd together. In addition, Apatosaurus touch the backs of other individuals at close range with their tail tips almost continuously, seemingly to reassure and comfort others with their presence.
The tails of male Apatosaurus are also used as a device to attract females. During the breeding season, males can be easily distinguished by the ends of their tails, which develop red rings as they become flushed with blood. Males will wave their tails around in front of a receptive female, accompanied by deep-frequency bellows and stamping of their feet. Competing males will attempt to warn the other off using this method as well, although in extreme circumstances fights may break out, involving each male standing side by side and attempting to use their bulk to push and shove against one another in tests of strength.
Apatosaurus breeding season coincides with the breeding seasons of the other two sauropod species of Isla Sorna, occurring outside the breeding seasons of hadrosaurs. After mating, gravid females will travel single file into the Meadow, laying their eggs en mass on the edge of the forests bordering the Lower Mountain Range. The females will then quickly move away, being far too large to remain without risking stepping on the vulnerable eggs and young. A few of adults may remain on the outside of the Meadow, discouraging predators from entering. Although hundreds or even thousands of eggs may be laid between the three species, few survive to hatch and even fewer hatchlings survive into reach their full size owing to the abundance of predators. Like baby turtles, the sauropodlets will instinctively make a beeline for the relative safety of the forests, remaining together in mixed species crèches. Juveniles grow rapidly, and upon reaching adolescence they will move out of the forests onto the open grasslands in order to seek adult herds to join.
Even though the full-grown adults have little to fear against predators due to their immense size, the younger individuals are vulnerable to predators such as Allosaurus and Tyrannosaurus. The young remain in the center of the herd while the much larger, older individuals remain on the outside - providing a barrier to hide and protect the vulnerable juveniles from predators. The adults protect themselves by lashing out with their whip-like tails, inflicting painful, discouraging blows.
Apatosaurus produce distinctive bellowing and whinnying calls.
Additional Notes: This species is actually Brontosaurus which was believed to be a species of Apatosaurus at the time of its cloning by InGen.

"Brachiosaurus" brancai
Length: 82 feet
Height: 50 feet
Weight: 80 tons
Coloration:
Male - mainly a pale green and gray mottling, with pale yellow striping on their bodies and a red crest. The reddening of the crest is a sign of maturity and dominance.
Female & Juveniles - brown and gray mottling, with some individuals having darker striping.
Diet: Treetop foliage.
Preferred Habitat: Brachiosaurus can be found in wide-open spaces where there is sufficient tree coverage, often close to a water-source such as a lake or a river, where it likes to bathe.
Social Structure: Brachiosaurus live in small groups of 5-10 individuals dominated by a single patriarch. These herds are well-spread out so that they do not overgraze.
Description: Brachiosaurus is by far the largest dinosaur on Isla Sorna - indeed the largest animal cloned by InGen. Despite its enormous weight and volume, Brachiosaurus is surprisingly graceful when in motion. Its long neck allows the animal to reach heights of up to 14-15 meters (even higher when the dinosaur rises up on its hind legs), enabling it to feed on treetop foliage inaccessible to all other herbivorous dinosaurs. As well as its huge size and long neck, this sauropod is also distinguished from Apatosaurus and Mamenchisaurus by its considerably longer forelegs than its hind legs, resulting in its distinctive downward-sloping back. Unlike Apatosaurus and Mamenchisaurus - whose tails are long and tapered at the end - Brachiosaurus' tail is relatively short and stiff. Brachiosaurus' head is tiny and high-crested, with nostrils on the forehead. Its teeth are chisel-shaped.
Breeding Season: Dry season. Migrates to Meadow alongside Apatosaurus and Mamenchisaurus.
Behaviors: Brachiosaurus is a peaceful animal which can often be seen grazing in harmony together with various different species of herbivorous dinosaur, such as hadrosaurs and the other two species of sauropod. Brachiosaurus keeps in constant contact with others of its kind through a variety of musical honks and bugles, as well as infrasonic booms which can travel incredible distances. The song-like calls are also used to settle disputes between individuals and to warn others of approaching danger.
Fights between Brachiosaurs are practically non-existent, with disputes normally being settled by their calls. In extreme circumstances, particularly between evenly-matched males competing for dominance, they will fight, standing side by side and shoving one another until one backs down.
It is its massive size which makes this sauropod so dangerous - when agitated, it pays little attention to where it steps. Adult Brachiosaurus typically have little to fear from carnivores Ceratosaurus-sized or smaller. Even Tyrannosaurus tend to avoid them. Full-grown, healthy adults are virtually invincible.
After mating, female Brachiosaurus will congregate together, often amongst Apatosaurus and Mamenchisaurus, to lay their eggs in mass nests in dirt or sand within the Meadow region southeast of the Game Trail. The adults then quickly move away to avoid the risk of crushing the eggs and hatchlings with their large feet. Some may remain at a distance in order to discourage predators; however the football-sized eggs are greatly sought after and a majority of the eggs and hatchlings are taken by small nest raiders such as Gallimimus thus helping to keep the numbers of these gigantic dinosaurs under control. The hatchlings that survive remain hidden amongst the forests, in constant danger from the myriad carnivore species. Their only defense is to eat and grow as fast as possible, and when they have grown large enough, the young Brachiosaurs move out of the forests to join the feeding groups of adults. Although still vulnerable to carnivores, they benefit from the protection the larger individuals provide. Only one in a hundred juveniles ever reach full-adult size.
Additional Notes: This species is actually Giraffatitan which was believed to be a species of Brachiosaurus at the time of its cloning by InGen.

Corythosaurus casuarius
Length: 23 feet
Height: 13 feet
Weight: 3 tons
Coloration:
Male - a creamy white body, with orange splotches outlined in black and a vivid red crest.
Female & Juveniles - same as the male, but the crest is smaller and duller.
Diet: Plants. Corythosaurus is not picky at all. Batteries of chewing teeth in its jaws make short work of tough fibrous vegetation.
Preferred Habitat: Open plains dotted with several large stands of trees.
Social Structure: Corythosaurus live in herds and often join herds of other hadrosaur dinosaurs such as Parasaurolophus. These herds often stick close to sauropods such as Brachiosaurus for security, and the hadrosaurs themselves are often trailed by groups of Gallimimus and Dryosaurus which in turn seek safety amongst the larger animals.
Description: Large, heavy bodied herbivore. Corythosaurus is easily recognized by its laterally-flattened, plate shaped crest. This crest is larger and rounder in males. As well as being used for gender recognition, the crest also helps the Corythosaurus to produce calls different from any other type of duckbill. The sounds a Corythosaurus makes are loud, short, high-pitched cries.
Breeding Season: Wet season. Migrates along with Parasaurolophus/ Triceratops to Meadow after mating on Game Trail. Lays eggs in colonies at the center of Meadow. Herds leave with their young at end of wet season.
Behaviors: Being a target for many predators, Corythosaurus has very acute senses, especially its eyesight and smell. This hadrosaur species tends to be much bolder in the face of danger than its contemporary and close relative Parasaurolophus, and it is more likely to stand its ground against danger as opposed to running away. A threatened Corythosaurus herd will stand together, making it difficult for the predator to pick out a single individual, and produce ear-splitting honks to try and deter the predator from approaching. A synchronized wall of sound by a group of these duckbills can be very discouraging to a young predator in particular; and many carnivores have learned to associate hunting Corythosaurus with pain after having bad experiences with these noisy herbivores in their youth. If the noise tactic does not work, the herd will move toward the enemy as one, threatening to stampede and intentionally crush the predator or predators with their combined weight. Hunts may be abandoned if the risk of being trampled is too great. Even a lone, cornered Corythosaurus can be a challenge. Its large size and powerful tail and legs can prove to be dangerous weapons against smaller predators, such as Velociraptor. Ironically when mixing with Parasaurolophus herds, Corythosaurus tend to follow the lead of its relatives, and will run alongside the tube-crested hadrosaurs when the herd is under attack.
Corythosaurus breeding season coincides with the breeding season of Parasaurolophus, and it is during this time when the two species are more likely to form mixed herds. Corythosaurus females are known to incite males to display or to fight one another, using calls and body language. When a strange male approaches a female Corythosaurus, she will alternate between interest and disinterest and purposely look towards the other males of the herd. The male will be prompted to challenge these other males, hoping to gain the female's favor. Males fight using loud vocalizations and bodily shoving matches, and this allows the female to observe the males' performance and to evaluate them as potential mates. Generally, females prefer the biggest, strongest males with the largest crests and produce the loudest sounds.
After the mating, the Corythosaurus and Parasaurolophus herds will migrate to the Meadow to lay their eggs. Their nests are colonial, with mounds being set close together to allow room for the adults to move in between. The eggs are incubated with vegetation, and the juveniles are brought food and protected by their parents until they are able to leave the nests and travel with the adults.
Although it usually grazes on all fours, Corythosaurus often raises up onto its hind legs in order to run; to observe its surroundings or to reach up to browse from the lower levels of trees. Like Parasaurolophus, Corythosaurus display latrine behavior; with entire herds preferring to expel their waste together at a designated location - usually an area of dense forest.

Gallimimus bullatus
Length: 20 feet
Height: 9 feet
Weight: 200 pounds
Coloration:
Adults & Juveniles - various shades of orange ranging from paler yellows to almost red, with some individuals having darker striping or blotches.
Diet: Although generally classed as a herbivore, Gallimimus is in fact an omnivore. While it does mostly feed on plants, fruits, and seeds throughout most of the year, during the breeding season Gallimimus will compliment its diet with the eggs and hatchlings of other dinosaurs (generally hadrosaurs). Gallimimus will also consume any small animal that can fit in its beak and swallow whole; such as insects, mammals and lizards - when it can catch them.
Preferred Habitat: Generally prefers wide open spaces.
Social Structure: Large flocks. Gallimimus commonly mingles with the herds of larger herbivores such as hadrosaurs and - only when the risk to itself is minimal - Triceratops and Stegosaurus.
Description: Bipedal omnivore. Gallimimus is a long legged, gracile dinosaur, with long feet and an absent hallux (first toe) to allow for swift running. The neck is long and the head is small with an elongated, toothless beak. Its eyes are large.
Breeding Season: Wet season. Travels alongside Corythosaurus and Parasaurolophus to the Meadow, and lay their eggs on the forest edge where it is more sheltered. Their young hatch before most of the hadrosaurs are hatching, which allows them to obtain the nutritious eggs (and later, nestlings) as a food source.
Behaviors: Gallimimus’ sense of sight is highly acute and thus these dinosaurs are often the first to detect predators before others - producing a brief, high-pitched scream as a warning call. Many different species of herbivorous dinosaur tolerate the presence of the Gallimimus for this reason. Gallimimus is easily spooked; a sudden movement from even a non-dangerous animal could potentially cause the entire flock to stampede, causing animals nearby to also fly into a panic and follow suit.
Gallimimus are among the fastest animals on Sorna, capable of running at speeds of up to 55-60 mph. They stampede en-mass and are incredibly agile, making it difficult for a predator to select a single individual within the moving flock. This is not to say that Gallimimus is completely defenseless - the toes of its feet are armed with strong, sharp claws and a captured or cornered individual will attempt to strike at its attacker with its powerful legs and feet, much akin to a cassowary, and a single blow can kill a raptor. In addition to this, Gallimimus will attempt to lash out with its clawed hands and bite with its sharp beak.
During the breeding season, Gallimimus migrate to the Meadow alongside the plains-dwelling hadrosaurs. They do not do this just to lay their own eggs however; Gallimimus flocks follow the migrating herds because they have long-since learnt that a feast of hadrosaur eggs and hatchlings await. This is the only time the Gallimimus become a threat to the nesting colonies of hadrosaurs, and while Corythosaurus and Parasaurolophus can become dangerous in defense of their offspring, at least one egg and hatchling per nest is taken by a Gallimimus, aiding population control.
With this abundance of food Gallimimus mate later in the season, after the infant hadrosaurs have all hatched and are still confined to their nests. Gallimimus males fight over females by kicking at one another with their hind legs - a risky affair that has the capability of causing severe injuries. After mating females lay their eggs in the forests bordering the Meadow where they are relatively hidden by predators and where they are not in danger of being trampled by the hadrosaurs. Nests are communal - many females lay their eggs in a single nest, taking turns to sit on them while several others take turns in standing guard and visiting the nesting hadrosaurs to snatch a vulnerable nestling. During the breeding season Gallimimus eat practically nothing but eggs and infant hadrosaurs, and thanks to all the protein the juvenile Gallimimus hatch and grow quickly, being ready to join the adults just when the hadrosaur infants are big enough to leave the nest with their herds.

Lesothosaurus

Microceratus

Pachycephalosaurus wyomingensis
Length: 13 feet
Height: 5 feet
Weight: 1,000 pounds
Coloration:
Adults & Juveniles - blue and brown mottling.
Diet: Herbivore. Pachycephalosaurus is not particular about what it eats, as it does not have to bother with chewing. Being restricted to highlands forces its food preference to be low growing shrubbery and other flora evolved to flourish in cold, low oxygen areas. These include perennial grasses, sedges, forbs, cushion plants, mosses, and lichens. Pachycephalosaurus is a fermenting-vat herbivore, and as a result it is prone to occasional bouts of flatulence.
Preferred Habitat: Upland forests of the Mountain Ranges or Southern Highlands, but will make do with scattered brush elsewhere.
Social Structure: Small groups to medium-sized herds consisting of several females, their young, and a few subordinate males led by a single dominant male who guards his herd fiercely. Some males may be solitary, usually as a result of being evicted from their herd by a stronger male. Younger, adolescent males chased from their natal herds form small bachelor herds, but with males being less tolerant of each other - especially as they grow into adulthood - their only incentive for remaining together is for protection against carnivores. When they reach breeding age, the males leave to seek lone females to claim; or challenge another male for his herd. Sometimes the more passive males of a bachelor herd will follow a more dominant male to help him take over a herd. They become the defender males, helping the dominant male keep order and protect the herd from predators and rival males.
Description: Bipedal herbivore. Pachycephalosaurus is a tough animal, quite large and bulky, and easily recognized for its tall, domed head. Well known for its aggressive head-ramming, the dome of Pachycephalosaurus' skull is 30 cm thick. Surrounding the dome and decorating the snout are bony knobs and short bony spikes. These are more pronounced in males than in females. Infants of both sexes also have blunt knobs (males develop spikes as they age). Hatchlings lack the familiar dome of the adults; instead their skulls are flat and quite soft, rising and thickening into the distinctive dome as the animals grow. Higher layers of fat to endure the lower temperatures of the highlands also prevent Pachycephalosaurus from staying in the lowlands and hotter areas for long periods. Organs are adapted to higher altitudes, such as a large heart and lungs.
Breeding Season: Dry season. Migrates to the highest mountains to lay their eggs, where it is significantly cooler and there are less predators.
Behaviors: Pachycephalosaurus is well-known for its aggressive, territorial nature, and both sexes will use their domed skulls as weapons. When faced with danger, Pachycephalosaurus may try to defend itself by facing the predator with head lowered, snorting and stamping its feet before charging. Although not so effective against large carnivores, such as Tyrannosaurus, charging at smaller predators such as Velociraptor and ramming into their sides can be fatal; having the potential to break bones and crush organs. Pachycephalosaurus herds will often bunch together in a circle when under threat, protecting the more vulnerable young in the center.
Males are much more aggressive than the more docile females, and usually one dominant male leads over a harem of females, their young, and a few subordinate "defender" males. During the breeding season, the aggression of the males explode as they enter the rut, and they will compete with each other for females and ultimate dominance over the herd. The spikes on the base of their domes will grow dramatically, inducing further pain and frustration in the rutting males, and they will use these spikes to impress females and warn off less experienced males. Equally-matched males will face one another, posturing, roaring, and scraping the ground with their clawed feet; and unless one backs down they may fight, using their domed skulls to batter each other into submission. The winner will then gain control of the females while the loser is usually evicted from the herd.
Females lay their eggs high in the mountains, where few predators can reach. All the young in the herd belong to the dominant male - rarely ever are they sired by a subordinate defender male, as the dominant male punishes severely those males who dares to mate with the females in his harem. The young are able to move about with the herd soon after hatching, are nimble of foot and have superb balancing skills. They are born with a strong awareness of heights and danger, so they instinctively know where to be cautious. When they reach adolescence, the young males start to become troublesome and rowdy, often sparring with one another as they prepare for adulthood. To prevent the problem from growing worse, the dominant male will chase his sons out of the herd before they are old enough to challenge him. His daughters are allowed to stay, and may even become a part of his harem - resulting with the problem of inbreeding. However, the dominant male is usually ousted by a new male by the time his daughters reach breeding age.
Typically, females are subordinate to the males, and often greatly outnumber the males in a herd. However, in the absence of males, the strongest, most dominant female in an all-female herd of Pachycephalosaurus starts to undergo a change in which the blunt knobs at the back of her skull become somewhat spikier. Her body muscles develop; and she becomes more aggressive and vocal to compensate for the lack of males which normally protect the herd. Even in the event that a true male takes over the herd, the change of the affected female is permanent. She will not be chased off however, as being female the new male will not see her as a threat and he would not have to worry about her stealing the other females in his harem. In fact she will remain useful to the herd in acting as a defending force, helping the dominant male in protecting the more docile females while still being able to mate and carry eggs.
The Pachycephalosaurus' vocalizations include bleats, growls, bellows and snorts, and some kind of shriek, similar to a pig's squeal, produced when the animal is scared. Sometimes, Pachycephalosaurus herds can also quite happily mingle with other large herbivores while grazing, particularly Maiasaura, which shares the lower regions of its upland habitat.

Parasaurolophus walkeri
Length: 30 feet
Height: 13 feet
Weight: 3 tons
Coloration:
Male - a pale brown body with a white or cream underside. Dark brown stripes run horizontally in pairs or in threes along the top of the back on each side of the body, running from the back of the head leading all the way down to the tip of the tail, as well as several stripes on the backs of the thighs. The crest is also a dark brown, however the entire head and neck gains a vibrant red tint during the breeding season. A variant of Parasaurolophus is also present on Sorna; this morph is often green in color with darker stripes running in pairs or threes horizontally along each side of the body, as well as a dark crest and darker stripes on the hind legs. The head region has a faint reddish tinge, becoming more evident during the breeding season.
Female & Juveniles - overall a duller version on the male; the whole body is of mottled browns (still with the striping) and the underside is merely a little lighter in color than the rest of the body. No redness on the head region. Green variant is also present, being like the male except without the red head.
Diet: Parasaurolophus’ batteries of grinding teeth can handle practically all vegetation on the island, so it will eat any plant matter that it comes in contact with.
Preferred Habitat: Open spaces, preferably with a nearby water source.
Social Structure: Highly sociable, with large herds. Parasaurolophus herds tend to be organized into individual gender-groups. Females and males tend to group and interact within their own sex, unless it is the mating season. Each of these groups have their own ranking system, with dominant males and females being louder and more assertive, and with males gaining a more vibrant red tint to their heads and crests during the breeding season.
Description: Large, heavy bodied herbivore. Parasaurolophus is one of the most distinctive dinosaurs due to its spectacular tube-shaped crest, up to two meters long and protruding from the back of the head. This crest allows the dinosaur to produce a loud trombone-like sound, which is produced constantly by the herd in order to reassure and keep individuals close. Calls warning of danger are somewhat louder and higher in pitch. The young lack crests at birth. Like its relatives, Parasaurolophus is able to stand and walk on all fours, as well as stand and run on its hind legs.
Breeding Season: Wet season. Migrates along with Corythosaurus/ Triceratops to Meadow after mating on Game Trail. Lays eggs in colonies at the center of Meadow. Herds leave with their young at end of wet season.
Behaviors: Parasaurolophus are very sociable herbivores, and their herds often intermix with herds of Corythosaurus as well as flocks of Gallimimus. Some Parasaurolophus herds have even formed symbiotic relationships with groups of sauropods, such as Brachiosaurus. The Parasaurolophus, with their better eyesight, keep on the lookout for predators, while the sauropods repay their smaller companions by protecting them with their immense size and strength. The Gallimimus are useful for their better senses and overall alertness.
Male Parasaurolophus often shy away from harmless animals that may approach them, in contrast to the females which are more territorial. Females will react with loud honks and posturing towards other, smaller herbivore species that attempt invade their personal space. Outside the mating season, this includes the males. Females dislike males mixing with their own groups and hence the two gender groups are kept separate. Both sexes, however, will react in the same manner towards carnivorous creatures - when under attack, Parasaurolophus is more likely to run than fight. Their herds stampede, making a lot of trumpeting noises as they do so. Predators may decide to abandon the hunt if the risk of being trampled is too great, or the sounds made by the hadrosaurs are too aggravating. Parasaurolophus can also swim quite well, and while usually wary of aquatic and semi-aquatic predators such as Deinosuchus and Spinosaurus, Parasaurolophus herds have been known to instinctively charge straight into large bodies of water in order to escape a pursuing land-predator.
During the mating season, the heads and necks of the males become tinged with a vibrant red to impress females and express dominance, and they produce a pheromone which makes the females more accepting of their presence. Males display to the females by rearing up onto their hind legs and producing loud bellowing honks. Generally, the female prefers the biggest, strongest males with the most vibrant colors, the largest crests and can produce the loudest sounds. After the mating, the Corythosaurus and Parasaurolophus herds will migrate to the Meadow to lay their eggs. Their nests are colonial, with mounds being set close together to allow room for the adults to move between. The eggs are incubated with vegetation, and the juveniles are brought food and protected by their parents until they are able to leave their nests with the adults. Once Parasaurolophus herds leave the Meadow, they are once again divided into same-sex groups. The juveniles, regardless of gender, are allowed to travel between the two groups of mothers and fathers, and both genders of the adults will display the same level of care towards the young. Once they reach adolescence however, the young begin to spend more time within the groups of their own gender.
Aggressiveness and violence are virtually non-existent amongst these hadrosaurs, as conflicts are solved quickly by size exhibitions and deafening sound contests. Parasaurolophus are among the noisiest of dinosaurs on Isla Sorna. Together with Corythosaurus, along with the sonorous bellows of nearby Brachiosaurus, their herds are often said to resemble the sound of an out-of tune orchestra.
Parasaurolophus and Corythosaurus herds display latrine behavior. Herds move single file through areas of thick jungle to reach their latrine location easier. Once at their latrine location, the Parasaurolophus perform synchronized urination and defecation. Once relieved, the Parasaurolophus will ritually drink from the urine, possibly to recover lost nutrients in the waste such as sodium.

Sinoceratops

Stegosaurus stenops “gigas”
Length: 40 feet
Height: 18 feet
Weight: 5 tons
Coloration:
Adults & Juveniles - gray and green mottled bodies with gray plates (golden yellow in sunlight; tinted red or orange when flushed with blood).
Diet: Low to medium-growth plants. Prefers tender shoots and other soft vegetable matter due to its simple tooth structure.
Preferred Habitat: Broken forests and open plains with ample water supply. Stegosaurus herds are nomadic and have no defined territory. They migrate from location to location, stripping one area of plants before moving on to the next.
Social Structure: Stegosaurus is a very herd-oriented species; a fellow Stegosaurus doesn’t even need to be in the same herd to offer its protection for another. It is often found in herds of four to seven individuals but will also occasionally join up with other families from time to time. Stegosaurus has been known to herd with other animals as well, if conditions of life call for it.
Description: Quadrupedal herbivore. Stegosaurus is a well-protected animal - its main weapon is its tail, equipped with four lethal spikes (thagomizer), which Stegosaurus can wield with incredible skill. The tail is highly flexible so that the animal can strike predators of any size and in any direction. In addition, the animal's throat is protected by small, bony scutes. The most distinguishable feature of this dinosaur are the double row of large pentagonal plates running down its back. Isla Sorna's Stegosaurus species is much larger than fossil specimens, hence the "gigas" in its name.
Breeding Season: Prepares for the mating season at the end of the wet season. Afterward they migrate to forested areas near a water supply. The next wet season will provide fresh plants for the young to feast upon.
Behaviors: Stegosaurus is one of the most recognizable dinosaurs on Isla Sorna, and probably most famous for its tiny brain, the size of a walnut. Despite its brain size, this dinosaur is actually as intelligent as a modern day dog. It is able to form defense formations and is also mildly strategic and capable of organizing simple plans. Old members of the herd are also able to remember the locations of vital water sources during times of drought.
At one time, it was thought that the plates on Stegosaurus’ back were used for defense, however InGen soon discovered that this was not the case. Stegosaurus plates are far too thin and fragile to offer good protection, and are filled with blood vessels, which makes them susceptible to heavy bleeding if ripped off by a predator. Instead the plates are used for display; when the animal is alarmed or displaying to other Stegosaurus, blood flows through the vessels, creating a vibrant red/orange coloration in the plates. This is to warn or scare carnivores; while males use this ability to intimidate rival males and attract females.
When left alone in peaceful, non-threatening conditions, Stegosaurus is a docile and calm animal, and it will happily browse in close proximity to other large herbivores so long as they are respectful of distance. Each herd member remains on the alert for danger. Stegosaurus' eyesight is weak, but it is more than made up for its excellent sense of smell. However, because of its poor eyesight, Stegosaurus is easy to spook. Trace scents left behind by a carnivore that are days old can make it edgy, and it will respond by bellowing and twirling its thagomizer until the herd finally moves away. Even the scents of dead animals may upset it, as it has learned to associate the smells of dead and rotting flesh with predators and scavengers. Stegosaurus may also grow agitated by the scents of anything that is remotely strange or foreign. One panicked adult will set off a chain reaction amongst the others of the herd. Therefore Stegosaurus is a dinosaur that is normally best avoided, as it has a tendency to swing its tail at even harmless creatures, particularly those that vaguely resemble two-legged carnivores.
During the breeding season, groups of male Stegosaurus will separate themselves from the main herd in order to take up individual positions away from the females. Once clear of the herd, males begin their displays which involve twirling and swaying of their thagomizers, stamping their feet, bellowing and flushing blood into their back plates to make them appear a vibrant red. When males get too close to one another and have no room to display, aggression and size is usually the determining factor. Aggressive males win the majority of the time, even when the less-aggressive males are larger. Equal-sized males with the same levels of aggression give one another a wide berth. Conflict usually involves two males shoving against one another in tests of strength. They never use their tails on each other, as their spikes can inflict serious injuries - the smell of blood, along with the sounds of amorous roaring and bellowing, would only attract unwelcome attention.
Female Stegosaurus may visit many males with whom they will attempt to mate several times. Once all the breeding females in a herd have mated, the males will rejoin the herd and accompany the females to their preferred nesting grounds. Eggs are usually laid in forested regions, in shallow dips in the ground dug by the female's back feet. The herd remains near the nest site, discouraging predators with their size, plates and thagomizers, and when the young hatch, they are quite self-sufficient, able to feed themselves and move around with the adults. They end up forming a group with other hatchlings, a so-called crèche. Juvenile Stegosaurus are curious and starts to explore their surroundings soon after hatching and they are quite fast-movers, which is a useful survival trait when living amongst a group of large, poor sighted, clumsy adults. While the adults do their best to avoid stepping on the young, accidents do occur, and many of the young perish either by being crushed by an adult, or moving too far away from the herd and being seized by a predator. As the juveniles grow older, being stepped on becomes less of a problem.
Stegosaurus is fiercely protective of its young as the infants - with their tail spikes being no more than blunt stubs - are particularly vulnerable to attack from predators, especially since they have a tendency to wander from the safety of the adults when exploring their surroundings. However, juvenile Stegosaurus can produce a very distinctive alarm call which provokes any adult Stegosaurus nearby into an immediate defensive reaction.

Stygimoloch

Triceratops horridus
Length: 35 feet
Height: 15 feet
Weight: 10 tons
Coloration:
Male - their bodies are mainly grayish tan the mottling and back striping being a mix of light purple and darker/near black mottling; a low green mottling surrounds the body. Other individuals display a darker brown-green mottling.
Female - mottled gray-brown with green tinting and lighter colored streaks.
Juveniles - brown, green/blue mottled bodies, and pinkish underbellies.
Diet: Low-growing plants, from shrubs and ferns to fallen fruits and tough woody vegetation.
Preferred Habitat: Open spaces broken by brush.
Social Structure: 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. Like bull elephants, some of the oldest, largest males are solitary and only locate herds in the search of females when they want to mate.
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.
Breeding Season: Wet season. Migrates along with Parasaurolophus/ Corythosaurus to Meadow after mating on Game Trail. Lays eggs on edge of Meadow, forming a natural barrier deterring predators entering from Game Trail
Behaviors: Triceratops is yet another of Isla Sorna's most easily-recognized dinosaurs, and it is also among the most dangerous of the island's herbivores. Its head-end is well-protected; as well as its sharp horns, its short frill is solid and bony, and provides some protection around the neck region from the sharp teeth of its predators. However its back end is vulnerable, and so Triceratops tends not to turn its back on an enemy; being capable of rapid turning in order to keep a predator in its sights. Despite its bulk Triceratops can charge alarmingly fast, throwing its weight and driving the double brow horns deep into the underbelly of an aggressor. Immensely powerful, a full-sized, healthy Triceratops is capable of lifting animals and objects up to a tonne in weight with its head alone, and the deadly brow horns have the potential to inflict fatal wounds. Triceratops has even been known to kill a full grown Tyrannosaurus via impaling, while smaller predators are typically mowed down and trampled to death.
Triceratops has poor vision and relies on its sense of smell to detect danger. Much like a rhinoceros, Triceratops is quick to aggravate, even by accident. Sometimes merely walking too close to a herd of these animals can prove to be risky business, as Triceratops has the tendency to charge at anything that it may consider a threat to itself or its young, be it a predator or a harmless herbivore. For this reason most predators avoid hunting this short-tempered herbivore unless they have the benefit of a pack.
Triceratops herds tend to have more females, with a few males taking charge over three or four females each. Disputes are common amongst the males in particular, with jealous males wanting to add other males’ females to their own harems. In the absence of males, the most dominant females in an all-female herd will take charge, becoming more aggressive and battling each other for dominance. Such disputes are resolved by the famous head-pushing contests, whereby after a series of bellowing and elaborate displaying, two individuals will lock horns and shove to and fro in tests of strength. These battles can be very dangerous for the participants, as one or both of the opponents has the potential of losing a horn and thus having less a chance of winning future fights and defending themselves effectively from predators. With the defeated males often being ousted from the herd, it is usually the case that their injuries distract them from the approach of hungry carnivores and those with broken horns are at a serious disadvantage. In some circumstances, some of the larger males (and occasionally females) actually choose to live alone. With no herd members to help look out for danger, a lone Triceratops' aggression heightens so much so that it has the tendency to charge at anything without the slightest provocation. Therefore, most predators choose to leave them well alone, preferring to go after easier prey that is less likely to put up a fight.
When a Triceratops herd is threatened by a big predator such as Tyrannosaurus, the adult members bunch together to form a circle with horns facing outwards, pushing the vulnerable infants into the center behind the defensive wall. Not only does this protect the infants, but it also keeps the defenseless tail-ends of the adults guarded against attack from the rear. The adults outside the circle closest to the threat will bellow, sway their large heads and stamp their feet in unison in an attempt to deter the predator. Usually the most vocal and aggressive in the defense of the herd are the males. The most dominant of the males are likely to charge if the predator is unwise to stick around.
Triceratops spends about a half of the day eating and one third resting during the hottest part of the day, either standing idle in the shade or wallowed in mud beside rivers and lakes. Triceratops herds thrive on the Game Trail and they have learned to co-exist in relative harmony with the myriad of hadrosaurs, sauropods and Stegosaurus which share its habitat - as long as the other species respect the Triceratops' personal space. Occasionally a Triceratops herd can be seen walking beside a lone adult Mamenchisaurus, combining great size with horns and aggression, making these animals even less likely to be approached by their predators.
During the mating season, the male Triceratops flushes blood into the blood vessels running through his frill, making the frill appear tinged with red. Each male bellows and sways his head continuously to attract the females, and fights between males become commonplace as each one tries to keep as many females as possible while preventing them from wandering off to join rival males' harems. The noise caused by their mating battles often attracts the lone, aggressive, larger-sized bulls which wander between herds, and more often than not the females will choose to side with them rather than the males of their own herds. The jousting battles help to weed out the weak and the old, leaving only the best to sire the next generation.
Several large nest bowls are made per herd, and two or three females each deposit their eggs in a single nest. The young remain in the nest and are fed chewed up plant material until they are big enough to move around with the adults without the threat of being accidentally crushed underfoot. Juvenile Triceratops are very playful, and genders can be distinguished by their distinct method of play. Females chase one another and tend to stick close to the adults, while males are bolder, noisier; and often play-fight by bashing heads, mimicking the jousting battles of the adults. While adult's calls are composed of deep bellows, grunts, snorts and rumbles, the young's calls are higher in pitch, consisting of squeals, bleats and squeaks, while producing a shrill cry when scared.
Edited by Spiegel, Jul 9 2018, 01:19 PM.
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