Anaya Oka's Wild World Of Natura

Anaya Oka was a hailed Naturan biologist born during the Age of Expansion. Born in Crenda with mixed Mazani/Kashdani ancestry, Anaya Oka grew up in a family of breeders who cared for and raised a wide variety of animals from Triceratops to  Paraceratherium and even Kelekens. Anaya developed a deep love of animals growing up and when she entered college she pursued biology as a major and has been a part of Natura's biology community for the rest of  her life.

One of her most famous feats was her twenty year journey across Natura. Creating a field guide of nearly every known species on the planet closely observing their behavior and unique nature. Her works known as the Wild World of Natura are award winning and beloved by adults and children around the world. The Wild World Of Natura is considered a important part of Naturan history and is continually updated with new observations and studies by Anaya Oka and her students.

It would appear that during her studies. Anaya Oka apprenticed under a paleontologist trained in Earth science and thus uses scientific names from Earth to identify species.

Tyrant Of The North, Tyrannosaurus Rex

Regions: Sandova, Marcia

Local Names:

Sandova: Khanluu

Marcia: Xer

Size:

Males: 12 to 13 Meters Length, 3 Meters Tall

Females: 12 to 14 Meters Length, 3-4 Meters Tall

Coloration:
Tyrannosaurus Rex in Natura has two distinctive subspecies based off their region. The feathered T. Sandovis found in the icy far north of Sandova. And T. Marcian found in the Marcia region.

T. Sandovis Coloration:

Males: At birth males have a dark cream chick feathers with black spots dotting the body. Upon maturity, Male T. Sandovis developed a mix of brown and cream feathers which cover their body and their heads have a white feathers with yellow feathers found along the muzzle. Black stripes may be found on the body, typically on the head and back with patterns depending on the individual may be linked to hormone levels as males with more stripes tend to be more aggressive. Skin under feathers is a soft reddish-brown.

Females: Young female T. Sandovis are easily identified because they have dark brown chick feathers. Upon maturity, they develop either grey, white or a lighter brown colored feathers. These feathers cover their body universally but females have distinct longer feathers on their arms and tail which are usually a unique color from the rest of their feathers such as red, blue and sometimes black. Their skin is a dark brown.

T. Marcian Coloration:

Juveniles: Unlike T. Sandovis at birth, young T. Marcian are rather indistinguishable from each other. They are covered in bright yellow feathers with black stripes and white dots across the body that make them easily spotted among the environment. They start out mostly covered in these feathers, shedding them as they age and eventually completely losing them.

Males: Male T. Marican upon aging to maturity have a distinct color scheme. Their upper body has a light primary color usually brown, red, yellow, a soft orange or green color and then have a more muted under belly usually cream or a darker shade of their upper body color. Male T. Marcians may develop stripes which cover their back and head usually this is a mix of colors black, white, red and even orange and their muzzle may be plainly colored or have a chalky white coloring around the muzzle.

Females: Females are much less decorative than males. They typically have one primary color that covers their entire body and the soft underbelly color. Though upon reaching maturity, females develop a distinctive stripe that covers the length of their tail typically black or white in color.

Diet: Tyrannosaurus Rex is a highly active hypercarnivore that's diet revolves around consumption of meat from large animals. Tyrannosaurs hunt in groups and target large herbivores such as hadrosaurs, smaller sauropods, some species of ceratopsians and even target large herbivorous mammals such as elephants and ungulates. Tyrannosaurs are actually not known to actively hunt smaller animals as they may be a waste of energy and cannot be shared with the rest of the group. However they are not above chasing down smaller animals if sufficiently hungry. Attacks on humans and domesticated animals are not uncommon with Tyrannosaurs and they have often been hunted because of this behavior.

Habitat: It has often been question why Tyrannosaurus Rex has not been found in the southern regions of Copiaevum. While terrain barriers such as the Nadura River have been proposed, it may also be due to the preferred environment of Tyrannosaurs. Naturan Tyrannosaurs despite their large bodies prefer to live in dense forest where they build large nesting areas using trees and vegetation to create a sort of encampment for their nest and for pack members to rest. They leave the safety of the forest to hunt, using nearby open terrain to cooperate and hunt prey where they can use their size and speed to their advantage. Tyrannosaurs actually appear to grow stressed in environments where they cannot build encampments and in overly dense terrain they are unable to effectively maneuver against swift prey.

Social Structure: Tyrannosaurus Rex despite what first impressions may indicate is actually a highly social predator. A Tyrannosaur pack is identified by two terms, a Clan is a gathering of 10 to 14 individuals while a House is a highly successful group with 18 to 28 individuals. The majority of these members are youthful sub-adults who are the offspring of older individuals, should they reach adulthood they will drift off to form their own packs while being replaced by their siblings. These packs are led by the eldest member, typically the oldest parent who has the most mature offspring who acknowledge their parent's authority. Tyrannosaurs of either gender can take up this position of leadership but it often tends to be the larger females. Disputes are settled through confrontations which may turn into physical fights but such violence is uncommon.

Tyrannosaurs have rather complex vocalization, while it may mostly resemble quiet rumbling with louder growls and hissing noises. It has been found that Tyrannosaurs can maintain rather complex communication among pack members while it remains little understood we can identify that Tyrannosaurs have unique identifying sounds which may indicate a personal name and these vocalizations seem to very depending on the pack. Different packs with similar vocalizations seem to get along more peacefully than with packs that have a more foreign sounding set of vocalizations implying a sense of kinship.

Interactions With Humans: Common knowledge and general sense has often taught Naturans to make a dedicated effort to stay far and away from a group of traveling Tyrannosaurs. And there is great wisdom to this choice, Tyrannosaurs are highly intelligent animals that are incredibly difficult to predict in their behavior. While generally they are not highly aggressive, they have grown to regard humans as something to be treated with caution. It is not uncommon for a seemingly passive Tyrannosaur to take a sudden and dramatic turn in personality and lash out at any humans brave enough to approach their presence.

But because of their great intelligence and social nature. Tyrannosaurs are capable of being raised among humans, but it is very strongly not recommended to seek out a Tyrannosaur as a pet. Tyrannosaurs have to be raised from birth by a human partner who must be recognized as a family member by the young Tyrannosaur, if this process is not done even the most tame of Tyrannosaurs will return to being feral. They must be fed nearly constantly to maintain a healthy condition and weight, and must be interacted with and cared for daily for hours to maintain proper mental health. Young Tyrannosaurs may seem harmless but even as infants they are powerful animals and can destroy a home with trivial ease. Upon becoming a sub-adult and later maturity, a Tyrannosaur can kill most humans with ease. They are powerful animals and should one be taken in they must be prepared to dedicate their life toward caring for their partner to maintain trust and health.

Anaya's Comments:

"Of all the animals I have closely studied. Few have captured my imagination as much as the Tyrannosaurus, they are amazingly social and caring animals despite their fearsome appearance. Throughout history they have been seen as symbols of power and terror, it is not difficult to see why. There is a great power to the Tyrannosaurus but also a deep and ancient wisdom. Show them respect and remain cautious at all times in their presence and you will witness breathtaking displays of Dinosaur behavior."

Guardian Of The Forest, Triceratops

Regions: Marcia

Local Names:

Marcian: Rika

Size

Males: 9 Meters Length, 3 Meters Tall

Females: 7 to 8 Meters Length, 2.9 Meters Tall

Coloration:

Juveniles: Young Triceratops are born with a soft orange upper body and a cream colored underbelly. As Triceratops typically nest near the end of summer and hatchlings are born during the fall and winter. This coloration serves as a camouflage as young Triceratops can blend in fairly well with piles of fallen leaves.

Males: As Male Triceratops mature their cream underbelly darkens with age to match a similar tone as their upper body and head which can take on a variety of colors. Male Triceratops are sometimes described as "Plain" colored but they often can be quite colorful. Shades of brown, dull green, red, grey, black and even yellow have been observed among mature male Triceratops.

Females: Female Triceratops likewise darken with age and have a similar wide variety of body colors. However what sets them apart is the presence of stripes and spots on their body which usually compliments their main color pattern. These stripes and spots are arranged in unique patterns and appear to be hereditary, by memorizing a female's pattern you can determine which younger females are her children and even relatives.

Diet: Triceratops have powerful sharp beaks and equally formidable jaws and teeth which allow them to tear into flora. Their favored foods are ferns, palms and Cycads, which they acquire by using their teeth and powerful bodies to knock over trees and acquire their desired vegetation. Naturan Triceratops have been observed eating leaves, pinecones and other more foreign plant life however they appear to prefer ferns and palms over these alternative foods.

Habitat: Triceratops are natural roamers, they never seem to settle in one place for too long and will often forage through the forest of Marcia tearing through the vegetation as they travel. Triceratops are actually key to the creation of Marcia's many famous forest clearings as they often clear out aging trees and consume loose plants that grow along the path of the trails. They used these cleared path to move faster before they find a forest area to settle and feed in. Triceratops due seem to follow a set path however, during the Spring and Summer they roam norther Marcia even venturing as far as the natural borders with Sandova. But as fall approached they will head south presumably to avoid the harsh northern cold of winter.


Social Structure: Triceratops are rather reserved animals, they prefer to travel in small groups over joining large herds like other Ceratopsian species. These groups are usually little more than five or six individuals, typically these are led by a mature mated pair and the rest are either mature offspring or younger triceratops who are adopted by the mates. Triceratops only gather in large numbers during the fall during mating season, where young Triceratops gather to compete to impress and get mates. Triceratops mate for life, so both males and females compete fiercely to gain the notice of their peers. Once a pair forms they are together until death, they will nest and guard their young until they eventually drift off to join large herds of animals for protection. But these young will eventually return to be among their own kind where they will seek out either their parents or simply mature Triceratops seeking companions.

Interactions With Humans: Triceratops are large and incredibly powerful animals. With their dense muscles and multitude of weapons they often pose a formidable presences to humans. Triceratops are not especially aggressive animals but they are known to have little patience for having their territory encroached on. Females in particular tend to be more defensive than males especially those with offspring. Triceratops despite their reputation for fighting will usually use physical displays and threatening calls to ward off unwanted guest. But should they feel they are in danger they will brace themselves and charge with great speed.

Because of their dangerous nature it was often common for Hunters to pursue Triceratops as killing one was seen as a heroic feat. However in Marcian culture, reputed to be a feat of the hero king, Karet, a practice of domesticated Triceratops has appeared. Though somewhat more formidable than other Ceratopsian species. If hand raised by humans from a young age, Triceratops can grow to be docile and extremely loyal companions. Their sharp intelligence, senses and aggressive resistance to danger makes them incredibly resilient mounts. Many heroes throughout Naturan history have sought out Triceratops as their mount of choice.

Anaya's Comments:

"Triceratops are fascinating animals. They have a deep sense of respect and wisdom behind their weary eyes. I myself raised a young Triceratops that I called Odori as a child. As of this writing, Odori and I have traveled across the world and she has been my most dependable friend. Her wild counterparts are no less beautiful creatures who I have been deeply blessed to observe."

"The legendary fighting spirit of the Triceratops cannot be overstated. Those seeking to raise a Triceratops should be warned that they start early! Odori charged me more times than I care to remember as a young one."

Dragon Of The River, Spinosaurus

Regions: Salzaan, Crenda, Catacha, Yggdrasil

Local Names:

Mazani: Salarica

Size: 18 Meters Length, 4 Meters Tall (*Including Sail) *Both Genders

Coloration:

Juveniles: Young Spinosaurus are born resembling Crocodiles in coloration. They are usually a dark green or tan color, some individual chicks may have black spots to further break up their profile. At birth their sails are rather small little more than noticeable ridges on their back which grow with maturity.

Females: Female Spinosaurus tend to be rather plain colored. As they age they can become uniformly colored typically shades of brown, grey, green, red and tan coloring. Their sails have no distinctive coloring but may develop patterns of lighter and darker coloring which helps identify them as individuals.

Males: Males Spinosaurs tend to stand out as they are much more brightly colored than females. They can develop a similar range of colors like females but unique colors that be found with males is black, white, a soft grey-blue and white. There are also two variants of Male Spinosaurus, the first variant of males develop stripes and distinctive facial coloring known as Mask which give them ornate decorative patterns. The second variant of Males do not develop these ornate patterns and resemble plainly colored females.

Diet: Like most predatory theropods, Spinosaurus are hypercarnivores but they have are distinctly mostly Piscivores in diet. Spinosaurus are excellent swimmers and their long neck and jaws, along with their large deadly claws make them adept at chasing down aquatic wildlife to consume. Large fish, marine mammals and marine reptiles are all the primary prey of a Spinosaurus. But these large predators are more than capable of consuming prey on land, a Spinosaurus is willing to eat about nearly anything it can kill and will more than gladly ambush animals near the water dragging them in to claw and drown before eating. Large herbivores and even smaller predators are not above the Spinosaurus' range of targets.

Habitat: Spinosaurus are adapted for a nearly entirely aquatic lifestyle. They are comfortable in any environment with a sufficient amount of water for them submerge themselves in. Surprisingly they seem to have no preference in type of water they live in, provided their is enough depth they can thrive. Open or congested waters, clear or murky, Spinosaurus are highly adaptable animals. One particular area they thrive in is the regions connected by the Nadura river where scores of Spinosaurus settle in its waters, fond of the environment of the massive river system.

Social Structure: Spinosaurus were originally thought to be rather solitary animals. They spend most of their time alone patrolling the waters. But this initial observation would turn out to be rather limited in scope. Spinosaurus have a rather unique system of social interaction, that revolves around their method of courtship. The first is the relationship between decorative Male Spinosaurus and the female resembling Plain colored Male, it has been observed that Spinosaurus gather in large numbers at times and was thought to be simply a coincidence or simply plentiful food. But the truth is that these gathers are exclusively between male Spinosaurus, the decorative Males interact with the plain Males and the two seem to form bonds with each others. The decorative Males even seem to compete with each other to impress their peers.

It would seem this bonding ritual is to attract the plain Males almost like mates. Once a bond is formed these same sex pairs seek out a female, it would appear that females are incredibly territorial and are on guard around males so the plain colored males approach females in an attempt to calm them once they are accepted the decorative male will approach and begin courtship. If successful one of the males will mate with the female and the pair will move on to seek another female and the exchange repeats. Male pairs are extremely competitive and will fight any other males they encounter during this period and may even kill Juveniles or destroy nest to entice females. These mating periods are incredibly violent yet fascinating to behold.

Interactions With Humans: Spinosaurus are powerful animals and are known to kill humans. Humans who live in Spinosaurus land have always been historically cautious and respectful of these animals, some cultures even worshiping them as deities. Spinosaurus are actually prone to being rather calm animals, they keep to themselves but they possess sharp minds and a degree of openness to social interaction. Their have been tales both modern and old of humans rearing Spinosaurus from a young age and being able to train them. Too a degree these stories appear to be true, Spinosaurs raised in captivity have been known to be much less aggressive around humans than their wild kin. But raising a Spinosaurus is no easy feat and is incredibly dangerous as with any large predatory theropod.

Anaya's Comments:

"It should be noted that Polar Spinosaurus are more of a subspecies and tend to have a unique black and white coloring compared to their mainland counterparts. They are also much fatter, to provide warmth in the winter environment. They are believed to have been selectively bred by humans in a time long ago to settle this area but that is the domain of historian work."

"Despite their size, Spinosaurus are incredibly fast swimmers, they use their large hump-like sails much like a boat to give them a sort of aerodynamic form to cut through the water. A Spinosaurus race through the water at speeds rivaling some boats when their pushing themselves. Its a thrilling experienced to be chased by a hunting Spinosaurus!"

The Wandering Pilgrim, Iguanodon

Regions: Sandova, Marcia, Europa, Husni

Local Names:

Kashdani: Kua

Marcian: Ukip

Timijinn: Shulung

Size:

Males: 13 Meters Long, 3 Meters Tall

Females: 11 Meters Long, 3 Meters Tall

Coloration:

Both Sexes: Iguanodon have a rather unique adaption that is observed among relatively few dinosaurs, where their coloration is completely determined by location. Temperature, sun exposure and the diet of the parents all play a direct role in determining the color of juvenile Iguanodon which they retain for life. For example, Sandovan species tend to have white or dark red-brown coloration. Marcian species may have shades of green or shades of brown. Europan species have yellow-green variations and stripes. While Husni species have tan and golden coloration. Like many dinosaurs, Iguanodon have individual patterns in their coloring. Males tend to have more vibrant patterns then females.

Diet: Iguanodon like most ornithopods is a herbivore adapted for using their large mouths to consume large mouthfuls of plantlife and grinding it down with their powerful jaws. However unlike most of their relatives, Iguanodon are not low browsing herbivores and instead prefer dieting on taller plantlife. Tree foliage, tall bushes and even uniquely to Naturan Iguanodon, tree flowers are the primary diet of these herbivores. They use their maneuverable hands to grip high foliage and pull it down to feed allowing them to stand up while feeding and giving them a better view of their surroundings.

Habitat: Due to their naturally nomadic lifestyle, Iguanodon are actually quite comfortable in nearly any environment. Harsh deserts, sprawling tundras, thick forest and vast grasslands are all favorable to this animal the only requirement seems to be space needed in order to spread out and explore their surroundings. Provided they have access to food and know the location of water, Iguanodon are incredibly resilient animals.

Social Structure: Iguanodon are social animals that live in groups of around 20 to 30 individuals. Unlike most herding animals they tend to spread out over some distance and will at times mix in with herds of other species for cover. Iguanodon groups have no real hierarchy but males are usually accompanied by a group of females as a sort of psuedo harem but they don't display any particular courting interaction unless it is breeding season. During this periods Iguanodons will gather in great number and males will conduct an incredibly dangerous sport of courtship wrestling. Standing bipedal and using their powerful forelimbs males will grapple and poke at each other with their thumb spikes until a winner is decided. Victorious males gather large subgroups than losers who struggle to attract any mates.

Iguanodons are naturally nomadic, they never remain in one place too long and at times will feel a sudden natural urge to travel great distances. Typically heading north in warmer weather and making journeys south during colder periods. Seasonal change seems to be the main source of these changes but it appears Iguanodons have strongly rooted instincts that drive them to travel beaten paths through the world.

Interactions With Humans: Wild Iguanodon despite their great size and imposing natural weapons are actually rather docile animals. While one should never approach a wild animal without preparation both for your safety and the safety of the animal. Iguanodon are rather tolerant of other species being in their presence, preferring to reserve their defensive energy for active threats such as large predators. Few attacks on humans by Iguanodon have ever been recorded and are generally regarded as peaceful animals. This is likewise why they're highly popular for domestication as even wild Iguanodons can be tamed within as much as a few hours of direct work with the animal.

Iguanodon are usually more comfortable among nomadic people or in the ownership of travelers and sometimes those with sufficient amounts of space. They make poor livestock and zoo animals as they often grow stressed if they remain in one location for too long even if they are well provided for. Their adventurous spirit has made them legendary companions among Naturans.

Anaya's Comments:

"Many cultures throughout Copiaevum that utilize Iquanodon as mounts have similar folklore discussing the wisdom of a rider always trusting their Iguanodon mount to find the true path after being lost in some manner. Iguanodon are known for having an incredible sense of direction and are hailed for never being lost for long, it remains to be seen if this is mere instinct or perhaps a sign of incredibly detailed memory."

The Lion Dragon, Allosaurus

Regions: Europa, Catacha, Avion

Local Names:

Mountain Tribes: Allogan

Size:
It should be noted that there are two distinct subspecies of Allosaurus that are identified by region and their wildly different sizes. A. Humilis which is found in Europa and Catacha, and A. Mons which is found solely in the Avion region.

A. Humilis

Males: 8.5 to 9.7 Meters Long, 2.5 to 3 Meters Tall

Females: 8.5 Meters Long, 2.4 Meters Tall

A. Mons

Both Sexes: 12.1 Meters Long, 3 Meters Tall

Coloration:

Males: Males are born black and white with a mix of stripes or spots. But as they mature this white tends to fade away to their underbelly but the stripes may remain to their tail. Upon maturity they may develop a tan, red, grey or black upper body and have distinctive red horns above their eyes. Some males may have more stripes but this is usually only observed with male Catachan subspecies of Allosaurus.

Females: Female Allosaurus are born a dark grey-black color with stripes. As they mature they typically retain a darker coloring than their male counterparts, usually shades of brown, red or grey and black. They lack the noticeable red horns and they tend to blend in with the rest of their body. Stripes are more common among females regardless of subspecies.

Diet: Allosaurus like most large theropods are hypercarnivores whose diet primarily revolves around the consumption of meat. Allosaurus usually target large animals as their primary source of prey even targeting them over more potentially vulnerable smaller animals. Stegosauria, ornithopods, ceratopsians and even some Sauropods and large mammals are targeted by Allosaurus. They are highly aggressive predators that rely on ambush tactics while hunting, they will surprise their prey with a burst of speed and energy even using uncommon tactics like jumping and attempting to latch onto bigger animals. Allosaurus can open their mouths wide and tear at their prey like a hatchet leaving large wounds. Once they succeed they wait their prey out for them to bleed out or die of exhaustion.

Habitat: Allosaurus rather adaptable animals but they prefer regions where they have maneuverability and are able to effectively remain on the move at all times. Allosaurus packs make claims on territory and then spend their time moving between their territory to maintain their claim upon it. They are known to strategically place nest around their territory which serve as markers for their claims and during breeding season will lay their eggs within these nest.


Social Structure: Allosaurus were originally thought to be solitary animals that may at times cooperate in small groups of two to four at most. But upon further review it has been revealed that Allosaurus make large claims of territory which is over seen by a greater collection of Allosaurus which are composed of a number of these groups. There is typically an elder who is the dominant figure of the group who lives in the "Center" of their territory and once a territory is established the members of the greater group spread throughout the territory patrolling and defending their claims. Rival groups of Allosaurus and other large theropods may challenge these claims which leads to conflict.

These groups grow or shrink around breeding season where most of the last generation born have reached sexual maturity. Young adult Allosaurus typically leave their groups in search of new ones to preserve genetic diversity and must be adopted into a new group by a mate. This means that both females and males preform courtship to try and earn their way into new groups. Allosaurus are highly social but they are fiercely competitive and aggressive, even in groups infighting is a common occurrence as Allosaurs will engage in duels to assert their dominance and position in a group.

Interactions With Humans: Due to their preference for larger prey, Allosaurus are not known for attacks on humans. But wild Allosaurus are naturally quite unpredictable and are prone to aggression depending on their temperament. If food is scarce they have been known to hunt down humans and will be agitated by human settlements on their claimed territory. They have been known to hunt down and chase out encamping humans on their claimed land. Though despite the danger posed some brave souls have been able to take advantage of their social nature.

If raised from a young age and taught to view a human as their group leader and parent. Allosaurus can grow to be rather tame animals and further domestication via breeding has developed a breed of rather loyal riding animals that can travel great distances due to their natural patrol instinct. As they are natural fighters, Allosaurus mounts are known for their durability and willingness to stay in the fight regardless of their injuries.

Anaya's Comments:

"The A. Mons species proved to be quite the mystery to field scientist such as myself. But I've determined that Allosaurus size and health is relative to potential rivals in the region. Europa and Avion both have large populations of rival predators which Allosaurus co-exist with on a regular basis. But in Avion their only rivals are Carnotaurus which is a naturally elusive animal that avoids confrontation. This has boosted Allosaurus into the position of an Apex Predator and thus allowed greater physical growth."

The Dancing Swordsman, Stegosaurus

Regions: Marcia, Europa

Local Names:

Marcian: Platutego

Size:

Males: 9 Meters Long, 4.6 Meters Tall

Females: 7-8 Meters Long, 4 meters Tall

Coloration:

Both Sexes: Stegosaurus are typically born the same color they are in adulthood. They range from shades of green, brown or a dull yellowish color. Some Stegosaurs may develop patterns such as stripes, or diamond like shapes on their skin and distinctly to males they will develop patches of color on their throat typically red or blue. As both heat regulation and self defense, Stegosaurus has the ability to pump its Plates full of blood which reveals a bright color pattern on the spikes. Each individual has their own pattern which stands out from the crowd.

Diet: Stegosaurus is a surprisingly adaptable eater, its typically eats low laying plants such as ferns, shrubs and horsetails, some have even been observed eating grass as an adaption. Fallen trees may be scavenged for leaves or fruits, there is little a Stegosaurus will not eat if its in reach. They typically feed by browsing, keeping their heads down and eating their fill of whatever is it reach of their head.

Habitat: Stegosaurus prefers environments with open terrain, where they have space to roam and have good line of sight. They are highly mobile, never staying in one place too long as they search for fresh supplies of plant life to feed on. Interestingly they will at times venture into thick vegetation or forest, it is believed that they prefer to nest in forest over open terrain perhaps believing them to be safer.

Social Structure: Stegosaurus are social animals that travel in herds. These herds can contain anywhere from 30 to 70 individuals of various age, typically juveniles make up the bulk of that number. These herds are usually led by a dominant male who asserts authority through dominance displays. Stegosaurus herds sometimes mix in with other herbivores and they are surprisingly tolerant of other animals. Some smaller animals may even gather around Stegosaurus for protection and the Stegosaurus will likewise rely on them as an early warning for potential predators.


During mating season, males will attempt to attract females with colorful displays on their plates and mating calls. They will also engage in mock duels where they swing as each other with their tail spikes, but these contest are usually bloodless as males prefer to avoid injury. Interestingly, Stegosaurus will at times wander off in isolation, these loners usually end up in forest or other hard to reach locations and do not seek out other animals until they feel the urge to return to their herd.

Interactions With Humans: Stegosaurus are large and intimidating animals. While they are not overly aggressive, they are prone to be rather wary of unfamiliar things. As such it is ill advised to approach a Stegosaurus herd without caution. Stegosaurus are particularly sensitive about their young and will react poorly to any attempts to approach their juveniles usually with sharp warnings if not outright aggression.

Stegosaurus due to their size, hefty diet and lack of any means of being properly mounted are usually not considered good domesticated animals. While some cultures have attempted to breed them as livestock, they are notably hard to contain and expensive to care for. Thus they are mostly hunted for meat in Northern Natura.

Anaya's Comments:

"Stegosaurus despite their size are incredibly limber animals. You would be surprised how well they can stretch their neck and tail. Their defensive posture has constant movement and resembles a beautiful dance their they're on guard. An elegant and rare beauty for such a large animal."

The Savanna Stalker, Smilodon

Regions: Crenda

Local Names:

Mazani: Shere Kaar

Size:

Both Sexes: 2.5 Meters Length, 1-1.2 Meters Tall

Coloration:

Both Sexes: Usually they are various shades of brown, tan and a dull golden coloring with white fur on the underbelly. As they mature they develop black spots and stripes over the body which form a camouflage to disrupt their coat. Certain genetic conditions produce Smilodons with entirely white or black fur across their entire body, cubs born with such fur are rare in the wild but are sometimes bred for appeal in captivity.

Diet: Smilodon are carnivorous mammals that will consume nearly any animal they suspect themselves able to take down. Smilodons are ambush predators, that lack much physical speed but have great strength and stamina. They rely on stealth to sneak up on prey and then will tackle their prey to the ground cooperating to wrestle down large animal subduing them until they can position themselves with their great fangs and stab into their neck cutting off the air supply and causing a slow but assured death. Cautious yet precise hunters, Smilodons carefully choose their prey to maximize success.

Habitat: Living on the Crendan savanna, Smilodons are at home on the plains. They establish their homes in the open typically in areas with good visibility so they can remain watchful, though they are quite fond of tall grass as it allows them to remain hidden from potential prey and enemies. Though they prefer open ground they will occasionally gather under trees or around water to cool off.

Social Structure: Smilodons unlike most predatory felines is social much like Lions. They live in large social groups referred too as Pride. A Smilodon pride can number too as many as 50 individuals, but average to about 16 typically. Unlike Lions however, Smilodons prides tend to have more of a mix up of genders while there is a dominant male figure the dominant male is usually more tolerant of other males within their pride than male Lions provided they share a blood kinship such as being siblings or parent and child. The dominant male will even allow these accepted male to breed and will not threaten their cubs.

Still competition is fierce and there are males who lack Prides of their own, they will form exclusively male packs with similar males and attempt to conquer a pride for themselves. These battles for control are fierce and many cubs will sadly lose their lives during them.

Interactions With Humans: Smilodons are not known to actively hunt humans and are usually instinctively cautious and avoid humans whenever they detect a presence. But Smilodons are active predators and some may feel inclined to hunt a human if they so choose so one should always been on guard when a Smilodon is on the prowl. However interestingly, because of their social behavior and tolerance for others of their kind Smilodons are instinctively inclined to be respectful of a hierarchy so if carefully raised from a young age by a handler they can to some degree be raised as tamed companions. But this is quite a dangerous feat, as Smilodons are still felines in the end and are unpredictable due to their powerful instincts.

Anaya's Comments:

"Smilodon are among many mammalian carnivores on the continent of Copiaevum. While Crenda has some of population of large Dinosaurs, there is little doubt that mammals dominate the environment of my home and due to their high population some could argue they're an apex predator in the region. But determining such things is a difficult debate in a species rich environment like Natura."

The Forest Tower, Brachiosaurus

Region: Marcia

Local Name:

Marcian: Moraku

Size:

Both Sexes: 26 Meters Length, 15 Meters Tall

Coloration:

Both Sexes: Brachiosaurus are typically born a soft-grey color and retain this coloring for most of their lives. Some individuals may develop patches of color which may result in certain changes in color such as the underbelly being a brighter shade than the upper body. Some patches or stripe-like patterns may appear. However distinct to males is during breeding seasons they will develop lush red coloring over their face as display.

Diet: Sauropods have a reputation for not being picky eaters, but this couldn't be further from the truth with Brchiosaurus. They are exclusively high browsers that prefer to eat only from tall trees, ignoring any ground based flora. Leaves, bark from tree limbs, even some fruits and pine cones are the preferred diet of Brachiosarus and they will refuse to eat much else. Even their young who aren't tall enough to reach trees will feed from the fallen debris of the meal of their elders.

Habitat: Brachiosaurus prefer forested environments where their primary diet thrives. However they avoid traveling among thick foliage and stick too exposed trails where they are able to free move around and have sight of their surroundings. At times however in search of new trails they will duck down and move through the trees to forge a path to a new trail or even to browse on lower plant life than what they would normally feed on.

Social Structure: Brachiosaurus are herding animals that travel in groups usually numbering around 7 to 9 individuals. These groups usually travel among flocks of other animals, the Brachiosaurus with their great size and high watch point make excellent lookouts for predators and they are quite comfortable around different species. Some Brachiosaurus can be seen wandering alone after close study it would appear that Brachiosaurus gather in groups of mostly females with only one or two males. This ties into Brachiosaurus more vocal nature compared to most other sauropods, they sing regularly to communicate with each other and maintain relationships. Lone Brachiosaurus are typically males searching for groups of females or sometimes a lone female searching for a potential group to be adopted into.

While typically docile animals, Males will at times get into physical fights for access to groups. These violent encounters are titanic and quite dangerous for both animals. Many males both young and old meet their end during these battles.

Interactions With Humans: Brachiosaurus are incredibly docile animals despite their great size and large bodies. They are among one of the most easily approached sauropods and they have a deep curiosity most dangerous situations with a Brachiosaurus are often the result of poor judgement rather than aggression. Because of their docile nature, Brachiosaurus are capable of being domesticated besides for their large size. By maintaining healthy groups and separating males they can be kept rather comfortably on large enough for them to move around without restriction.

Anaya's Comments:

"The majestic songs of Brachiosaurus really have no comparison. They are like whales on land able to form elegant melodies which can travel for quite some distance. Many entrepreneurs take recording equipment and make CDs from singing Brachiosaurus recordings."

"Brachiosaurus have distinctively short tails for sauropods of their size. Many sauropods use their tails as weapons but for Brachiosaurus their tails are purely for balance. For defense they rely on their bodies, with their raised heads they tend to be more limber than most sauropods and can effectively maneuver themselves to wrestle and stamp enemies. They are also unafraid to use their massive necks to their advantage and will swing their heads violently to bash enemies."

The Stalking Shadow, Carnotaurus

Region: Avion

Local Name:

Mountain Tribe: Skulligan

Size:

Both Sexes: 8 meters Length, 2.4 Meters Tall

Coloration: Carnotaurus a unique ability for an animal of its size. While they are born a bright green color, their skin contains a specialized layer with crystals that allow them to alter their coloration which they use to alter their coloration at will. Carnotaurus can take up a wide variety of colors such as black, grey, green, red, brown, yellow, orange and even colors like blue, pink, purple and turquoise. They can also create patterns even some imagery into their skin which gives them an unmatched ability for stealth as they use their camouflage to blend in with their surroundings.

Diet: Carnotaurus are carnivorous ambush predators that specialize in using their color changing abilities to sneak up to unsuspecting prey and striking. Carnotaurus has a rather weak bite force for their size but they have long powerful necks and a wide mouth which allows them to use their head like a hatchet. They will swing down cutting or sweeping up unsuspecting prey hacking them down before they know the identity of their attacker. Typically because of this hunting method they stick to hunting smaller animals that they can easily bite down on but they may target bigger prey when cooperating with a hunting partner to bring down large target simultaneously.

Habitat: Carnotaurus are primarily forest dwellers. Deep forest have plenty of spaces for them to hide themselves among the trees and are more difficult to spot among the foliage. At times they will venture to the edge of forest to pick off browsing animals that stray too close. Carnotaurus seem to naturally avoid too much exposure to direct sunlight, they will actively move to avoid too much exposure to the sun as direct exposure appears to throw off their camouflage and cause distortions in their coloring. Because of this Carnotaurus tends to be more active at night than during the day.

Social Structure: Carnotaurus are naturally elusive animals. They avoid other animals at most opportunities and roam the forest alone. However they may extend some tolerance for another member of their kind and for hunting pairs that cooperate with each other to seek out food. These hunting pairs are usually mates or have some form of familial relation like being siblings. But partnerships between perfect strangers have been observed these pairs usually last for life but at times will break contact.

Carnotaurus have large stalking grounds and thus competitions between males over mates are rear. During breeding season females will leave scent markers which males will track, once they locate each other they will preform courtship by changing colors and doing rhythmic motions. They use their large horns as display markers, they grow with age in males so the bigger the horns, the more mature the male which impresses potential mates. Once a partnership is formed, these partners will cooperate to raise their young until the juveniles eventually drift off on their own at which point they will either form a hunting pair or go their separate ways.

Interactions With Humans: Carnotaurus are notorious for their reputation as man-eaters. Because of their tendency to ambush smaller prey, humans are just in the size range for their sweeping ambushes. Because of this Carnotaurus is highly feared and was even worshiped as a god of death in ancient mountain tribe culture. Due to their infamy, Carnotaurus tends to be avoided if not outright hunted down. But some brave individuals have taken the risk of approaching these animals and with patience and determination they can actually be raised into obedient companions but as always one should remain cautious at all times their natural instincts are powerful.

Anaya's Comments:

"Despite their aggressive appearance and hunting methods. Carnotaurus aren't known for being fighters, they prefer to have the element of surprise and will avoid confrontations even with their own species. Should a conflict break out they are more prone t give up and flee than fight."

The Frost Giant, Woolly Mammoth

Regions: Sandova, Marcia (Rare)

Local Name:

Timijinn: Uruxiang  

Size:

Males: 5 Meters Length, 3 Meters Tall

Females: 5 Meters Length, 2.5 Meters Tall

Coloration:

Both Sexes: Woolly Mammoths like most Proboscideans have grey skin. Unique to them however is that Mammoths are covered in a thick layer of long hair to keep them warm in the cold northern conditions. Mammoths are typically a dark brown color, but they possess genes for lighter colored hair which resembles a dirty blonde color sometimes Mammoths with this coloration are born in the wild but it is more common in captivity.

Diet: Woolly Mammoths are herbivores like all of their close relatives. However unique to them even among Mammoths is that Woolly Mammoths very rarely if ever consume plant material from trees. Their preferred diet is grassed, shrubs, bushes and small tree saplings which they browse on throughout the day while roaming their territory. They eat until the ground is bare and then move on to new feeding ground.

Habitat: As their diet would imply, Mammoths prefer the open terrain of grasslands where they have space to roam and travel together browsing off grasses and other plant life that catches their interest. Mammoths rarely venture into forest but at times they may travel through them for survival. Though they may at times gather near the edge of forest where they feed on young trees which prevents growth of the forest. And while they prefer colder climates, Mammoths are capable of traveling into warmer terrain and may at times travel south if its get too cold.

Social Structure: Woolly Mammoths like many of their relatives are herding animals. Female Mammoths travel in large herds led by a mature dominant female known as a matriarch. The matriarch leads herds through various feeding grounds that have been traveled by past herds in routes formed by generations, a matriarch grows up learning the steps of her mother and teaches the next generation these same steps. Male Mammoths are typically found in small herds that may roam the territory near female herds, because males are bigger they often defend herds from predators and threats by acting as pseudo look outs. During mating season they grow more aggressive and put on fights and displays to appeal to females.

Because of their preference for open terrain and smaller size, Woolly Mammoths tend to be more numerous than some of their relatives. Mammoth herds can grow quite large, some successful herds have been known to have hundreds of individuals the majority being calfs and youths.

Interactions With Humans: The tale of man and mammoth has typically throughout history been the story of predator and prey. Since the age of stone, sapients of the Homo genus have targeted Mammoths for their meat and thick fur to use as clothing. Some even use Mammoth bone to build shelters, no part of a Mammoth would go to waste because  this Mammoths tend to have a instinctive fear of humanoids and will avoid them if not become outright aggressive should humans  come to close. But due to their size and larger numbers, if raised from a young age Mammoths can become rather docile and even tamed animals. They are quite intelligent and can be trained to follow directions and commands. These domesticated Mammoths are used by Northern cultures as work and companion animals.

Anaya's Comments:

"Woolly Mammoths are animals capable of enduring many hardships. One may be surprised to find that even large predatory dinosaurs have a difficult time hunting Mammoths, with their great tusk and willingness to cooperate to chase away threats only the most determined of predators dare approach Mammoths and almost always target the younger members of the herd."

King Of The Sky, Quetzalcoatlus

Regions: Global

Local Name:

Kashdani: Yularin

Timijinn: Pazingluu

Crendan: Thundura Koko

Mountain Tribe: Skylos

Size:

Both Sexes: 11 Meter Wingspan, 5 Meters Tall

Coloration:

Males: Male Quetzalcoatlus have a mostly white body, both their skin and hairs are a soft white color with soft blue patches around their eyes. Some individuals may developed black or grey coloration but among those individuals white stripes are usually present. Their crest are typically a soft grey or yellow color and red at the tips.

Females: The female have a very different coloration. They have dark brown upper bodies and tan underbellies, and have bright yellow patches alongside their beak. They have distinctive blue crest.

Diet: Quetzalcoatlus are active predators that do not hunt from the air. Uniquely they hunt via stalking the ground, using their powerful beaks they roam the ground in search of prey, pecking and snapping at smaller animals to kill them before swallowing them whole. They typically do not hunt cooperatively, but may land in groups to attempt to lure out prey and lure them toward each other in a bid of mutual benefit. Like many species of pterosaur they at times demonstrate piscivore behavior, swooping low over water to snap up any fish on the surface or simply standing alongside a waterfront and spear fishing with their beaks. Scavenging is common among Quetzalcoatus, as they will use their size to intimidate predators away from their kills and claim stolen kills for themselves.

Habitat: Quetzalcoatlus are surprisingly adaptable animals. They adapt well to life in nearly any environment, from forest, open fields, topics, even deserts and tundra are not beyond their reach. So long as they find space to take off into the air they will land and roam nearly anywhere to feed and rest. But typically they only nest in mountainous terrain where their nest are safe from roaming predators. These giants are surprisingly adept climbers and can find difficult locations to lay their nest and care for them.

Social Structure: Quetzalcoatlus are not very social animals while they are known to travel in formations from 4 to as many as 12 individuals. There is no real social hierarchy or interaction among them, at times fights may even break out among Quetzalcoatlus that get too close to each other. They will use their beaks and powerful bodies to snap and wrestle with each other, both genders preform these fights regularly. Only during mating seasons to they display any real social behavior, these pterosaurs build their nest in the mountains. Females climb the mountain and build nest and then call out to indicate they are ready to breed, males gather and preform stunning aerial displays flying and calling out to the females. Once a female chooses a mate she will fly up to meet with the male in the air and they will fly in formation until returning to the female's nest. Quetzalcoatlus cooperate to raise their young but once they are strong enough to fly and feed themselves, the parents will part ways and leave their young to fend for themselves.

Interactions With Humans: Quetzalcoatlus will eat anything that is smaller than itself. And humans are no exception they are infamous man-eaters who are known particular to target young children and infants as meals. So humans often take efforts to chase off and avoid Quetzalcoatlus. Still some cultures have a degree of reverence for these flying giants and many tributes and deities across Natura are said to exist in the form of a Quetzalcoatlus. Because of their anti-social nature and their great range, Quetzalcoatlus are often avoided or not regarded as possible to domesticate or tame. But legends exist among the Mountain Tribe people that in ancient times a clan who worshiped Quetzalcoatlus possessed the ability to train these giants and ride them as mounts. But their technique for domestication has long disappeared from the world.

Anaya's Comments:

"The Quetzalcoatlus flight pattern is often quite difficult to predict. But recent discoveries have found that nearly all Quetzalcoatlus during breeding seasons will return to the mountain they were born into. We suspect they follow weather patterns and use the wind to guide them around the world. They appear to almost always follow patterns that will take them directly back to their birthplace."

The Armored Warrior, Ankylosaurus

Regions: Marcia, Europa

Local Name:

Marcian: Tanku

Size:

Males: 7 Meters Length, 2 Meters Tall

Females: 6.25 Meters Length, 2 Meters Tall

Coloration:

Both Sexes: Ankylosaurus are usually quite universal in coloring. They have a completely armored upper body which is usually dark brown color with grey osteoderms. Their lower bodies and head are usually brown but sometimes grey and even a dull green color. This is believed to be camouflage as a sleeping Ankylosaurus can easily be confused for a pile of rocks.

Diet: Ankylosaurus are herbivores that are particularly fond of low laying foods. Ferns, bushes and leaves from small trees are all a regular part of their diet. Their mouths are adapted for slicing apart plants from their source and they do not even chew simply leaving it to their digestive system to take care of the excess. Due to this method of feeding they actually do not eat much food and spend most of their time digesting rather than feeding.

Habitat: Ankylosaurus usually prefer forest over open terrain, they lumber through dense vegetation to browse and use it as cover to obscure themselves while resting. At times they will brave open terrain in search of new feeding grounds but they are usually rather steadfast animals. Once they settle into an area they rarely ever leave unless circumstances force them otherwise.

Social Structure: Ankylosaurus are typically solitary animals, they spend most of their time alone and avoid groupings of other animals. Especially males who will mark their territory with urine to frighten off rival males from their feeding grounds. The only herding is done between mating pairs who will group together with their offspring and watch over them until they reach maturity, once they are old enough they will part ways. But outside of these family groups, Ankylosaurus has little patience for outsiders even of their own species. Fierce bashing competitions between feuding Ankylosaurus is a common sight around these giants.

Interactions With Humans: Due to their aggressive solitary nature, Ankylosaurus is more inclined to lash out at anything that comes too close to them. Making them incredibly dangerous animals to approach they are known to have killed more humans than most predators. Due to their thick hides and solitary nature, they make unattractive targets for hunting and domestication has been deemed a nigh impossible feat. If you encounter an Ankylosaurus in the wild, the best idea is to give them a wide berth and go in the opposite direction.

Anaya's Comments:

"Ankylosaurus is more than capable of using its powerful tail club to slap at predators and disable or even kill them. But you may be surprised to find these herbivores usually prefer to avoid a fight whenever possible when they sense an incoming attacker they will lay low and look like a surprisingly convincing rocky mound. I've made the mistake of nearly sitting on one before!"

The Dancing Hunter, Utahraptor

Regions: Marcia, Europa

Local Name:

Marcian: Tahu

Size:

Both Sexes: 7 Meters Long, 2 Meters Tall

Coloration:

Males: Males are born with soft white thin plumage which eventually gets replaced by larger feathers as they mature. Upon maturity they have a white underbelly and their upper body tends to be red, orange, yellow or tan with stripes of a darker shade. Their arm feathers may form decorative patterns along the middle section which creates imagery they use to display the exact imagery tends to vary among individuals. Solid colors such as all white or black are rare but are sometimes found in the wild.

Females: At birth females can be told apart from males due to their plumage having dark black spots. Like males they have white underbellies but the spots from youth remain, the feathers under their arms also have no patterns on them which makes them easily spotted. Their upper body's share the same coloration as males but they are sometimes observed having fewer stripes.

Diet: Utahraptor like all dromeaosaurs are social carnivores. Hunting in packs they cooperate to hunt down prey and are not afraid to target animals of nearly any size. Usually they prefer large herbivores such as hadrosaurs, small sauropods and large mammals but they will kill nearly anything they can get near. While not the fastest dromeosaurs due to their heavyset bodies they tend not to chase prey preferring to herd of ambush unsuspecting animals and wrestling them down in a struggle. They will at times rely on endurance hunting, injuring prey and proceeding to wait them out until they succumb to wounds.

Habitat: Utahraptor are rather adaptable animals. They are comfortable wherever there is prey to feed on, be it open fields or dense forest vegetation they will gladly brave any terrain. However they are very territorial animals and lay claim to large spaces of land and tend to be rather intolerant of rival predators in their territory.

Social Structure: Utahraptor is a very social species. They live in large groups that can have anywhere from 30 to even 100 individuals of various ages. They have complex vocalizations and physical body language and scent production that they use to interact and socialize with each other and maintain relationships. Leadership is held by a dominant figure typically the most able bodied individual of either gender, this dominance is established through fierce contest. The pack will gather and preform rhythmic dances and one by one they will grow fatigue and leave the two who last the longest dancing and calling will challenge each other and proceed to have a physical confrontation which may lead to a fight. These fights are highly dangerous and may end in injury or death, the winner earns the right to determine the formation of the pack and coordinates hunts, as well as has the first rights to meals for them and their mate and offspring. Dominate individuals may be challenged regularly and must constantly affirm their dominance, they cannot afford to hesitate for even a moment lest they face a fight.

Utahraptors to not have rigid mating rituals, usually they pair for life with an individual. But a dominate figure tends to have the first rights to picking a mate and attempts to court their mate can be seen as a challenged to their authority and violence may ensue. But once mating pairs are formed the pack tends to raise offspring communally, often adults will care for young chicks regardless of their parentage and adoptions of chicks with lost parents have also occurred.

Interactions With Humans: Utahraptors are intelligent animals and have a long memory, most of the time they will avoid humans as they are aware that we are a potential threat to them. But some packs may target humans as prey if they feed on Hominids regularly. These packs are incredibly dangerous as they are often capable of using their sharp intelligence to outwit and confuse targeted humans and kill them with ease. Because of this Utaraptors are often avoided or hunted but as with many of Natura's lifeforms some brave individuals dare to approach these animals.

Because of their social nature they are capable of becoming tame. Dromeosaurs are intelligent animals and some can even be raised as companion animals. Utahraptor is a difficult case, if raised from a young age and carefully monitored they can be trained even as a mount. But they are notoriously difficult animals and because of their competitive nature will often challenge their handler even if they were hand raised. They are usually ill-advised companions most prefer their more tamed relatives, Dakotaraptor.

Anaya's Comment:

"Utahraptor is a rather unique dromeosaur. Many of their relatives rely on speed and athletics to hunt prey but Utahraptor hunts much like a species of tyrannosaurid using their raw strength to wrestle down prey. Such similarities are strikingly common among animals in the Naturan biome."