Raptorex

From Hyfenwiki

Common Name: Raptorex (RAP – tore – icks)
Scientific Name: Deinonychus Amanyana
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Saurischia
Family: Dromaeosauridae
Genus: Deinonychus
Species: Amanyana

System: Amazus
Planet: Amanye Prime
Biome: Tropical Rainforest
Habitat: Forest Floor

Physical Characteristics

Raptorex stands approximately 1m (just over 3ft) tall and 2.8m (just over 9ft) in length at adulthood. It is scaled with no feathers, closely resembling the stereotypical dinosaur looks. The hind feet have larger than average, slightly hooked claws on all three sturdy toes. The head is a classical theropod like build with a sharp tooth filled snout and forward facing eyes. The nostrils, two small slits on the end of the snout, are small, and it is known that the Raptorex has a poor sense of smell for a predator (though still easily surpassing a human). The ears are recessed into the skull on the sides of the head, and give highly acute hearing. In combination with its excellent vision provided by its huge, sclera-less eyes, the hearing compensates for the lower than average sense of smell.

Behavioral Characteristics

Though naturally vicious when hunting prey, Raptorex are not cruel to their own species. This sense of “nobility,” gives rise to its name, which means Bird of Prey King. Wounded Raptorex are often left alone to care for themselves rather than culled out by stronger members of the population. Mating rituals are simple: males display feats of agility to females, who choose the male they deem most fit. Raptorex are unusual in that males and females are equals within the population, and packs are often headed by an Alpha pair rather than a dominant male or female. A male and female Raptorex will stay together during and after mating to care for offspring, but will then separate at the time of the next mating the following year. The offspring of the preceding year are often pushed out of the pack and often form their own, younger pack. Older packs often stay together for the duration of their lives.

While it’s obvious that the repeated inbreeding of the younger packs would bring out inherent flaws in other organisms, this phenomenon does not frequently appear in Raptorex populations.

Nutrition and Diet

A carnivorous species, Raptorex also chew on certain plants that seem to clean the teeth and provide oral hygiene, though the plant does not seem to be eaten, rather, spat out after being ground to a pulp. Raptorex will scavenge and consume carrion, but do not squabble over meals, even when desperate.