Errreembuhr
CEO of EODD
[SIZE=9pt]OUT OF CHARACTER INFORMATION[/SIZE]
- [SIZE=9pt]Intent: To further flesh out the fauna of New Plympto[/SIZE]
- [SIZE=9pt]Image Credit: Jurassic Park 3[/SIZE]
- [SIZE=9pt]Canon: N/A[/SIZE]
- [SIZE=9pt]Links: Shadowcloak[/SIZE][SIZE=9pt], Velociraptor[/SIZE][SIZE=9pt], Ssi-Ruu[/SIZE][SIZE=9pt], Nosaurian[/SIZE]
- [SIZE=9pt]Name: Dryptodosaur[/SIZE]
- [SIZE=9pt]Designation: Non-Sentient[/SIZE]
- [SIZE=9pt]Homeworld: New Plympto [/SIZE][SIZE=9pt](Assumed)[/SIZE]
- [SIZE=9pt]Language: N/A[/SIZE]
- [SIZE=9pt]Average Lifespan: 20-30 Standard Years[/SIZE]
- [SIZE=9pt]Estimated Population: Planetary, but can thrive on any planet with ideal habitat conditions[/SIZE]
- [SIZE=9pt]Description: Dryptodosaurs are reptilian creatures close in appearance to Ssi-Ruuk, standing about as tall as an average human, though with an elongated tail and powerful legs which contain several dangerously sharp talons.[/SIZE]
- [SIZE=9pt]Breathes: Type I Atmosphere [/SIZE]
- [SIZE=9pt]Average height of adults: 1.7m[/SIZE]
- [SIZE=9pt]Average length of adults: 4.5m[/SIZE]
- [SIZE=9pt]Skin color: Dull Grey, Beige, Varying Individual Coloration(Males Only, see below)[/SIZE]
- [SIZE=9pt]Hair color: N/A[/SIZE]
- [SIZE=9pt]Distinctions: Similar in reptilian build to Ssi Ruuk though slightly smaller, a major distinction noticed by researchers is that while females are often dull and otherwise unremarkable colors such as grey or beige only, males are primarily these colors but also possess scale patterns along their back and tail in various shades of red, blue, green, orange, and purple. Males also have thin spines between the eyes typically in white and black, but may also occasionally contain darker shades of the previously stated colors. Extremely rare, however, are males that appear to only be the same uniform colors as females, however if seen in the UV spectrum via technology or species with the ability, are in fact in colors such as berl, crynor, and onsible.[/SIZE]
- [SIZE=9pt]Races: N/A[/SIZE]
[SIZE=9pt]Intelligence: Dryptodosaurs are extremely intelligent despite their lack of sentience, capable of utilizing a variety of vocalizations and body movements to communicate with others of its species, both its packmates and strangers, something that provides a deadly advantage while hunting as they can organize and plan an attack. In addition to this, studies have shown that they possess strong problem solving skills and persistent natures, a combination that often leads to them continuing to hunt prey that have entered buildings or climbed into trees.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=9pt]Claws & Teeth: As predators the Drypto possesses a powerful bite, capable of severing the spinal cord of a human or ripping limbs apart with enough of a pull. In addition they possess very sharp talon-like claws on their feet, including a primary 15cm-long claw specifically designed for deep penetration into soft tissue. Their hands also possess claws, though much shorter, but still capable of slashing deeply at prey.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=9pt]Speed: The Dryptodosaur is built for speed, with its body shape and relatively light weight making it an excellent runner. At a top speed of 100km/h it can outrun most species on foot, something optimal for both hunting prey and escaping threats.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=9pt]Squishy: For all its speed and killing power the Dryptodosaur isn’t much more resilient than a human. Its bones can be broken with enough force, and its scales aren’t well suited to defense, meaning it can be very easily hurt or killed with only a couple shots from even sub-par blaster weapons or slugthrowers.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=9pt]Fragile Nasal Structure: The nasal structure that allows the Dryptodosaur to make complex vocalizations and communicate with its kind is quite fragile. Despite being well protected within the creature’s skill a significantly powerful blow can crack the bones of the structure, making it exceptionally difficult for the creature to communicate with its pack mates. This takes away one of its crucial abilities as it can’t call for help or organize, leaving it highly vulnerable and isolated even if it survives the encounter.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=9pt]Male Visibility: Males possess very distinct and visible colorations in their scale patterns, which while a major benefit for helping it in finding a mate to reproduce, makes it also highly visible in the wild, eliminating stealthy approaches once noticed.[/SIZE]
- [SIZE=9pt]Diet: Carnivorous[/SIZE]
- [SIZE=9pt]Communication: While they lack speech and language, the Dryptodosaur communicates via a variety of sounds made from a complex nasal structure as well as body movements[/SIZE]
- [SIZE=9pt]Technology level: N/A[/SIZE]
- [SIZE=9pt]Religion/Beliefs: N/A[/SIZE]
[SIZE=9pt]Dryptodosaurs are highly intelligent pack hunters, apex predators that prefer savanna-type environments and light woodlands, who utilize speed and deadly claws to take down prey. Extremely persistent hunters, the Dryptodosaur is often referred to as the apex predator of New Plympto’s plains and woodlands, capable of operating in varying hunting styles. Against groups of prey and in agreeable environments they often hunt individually, silently stalking single targets to pick off stragglers one by one utilizing their slender frames for a stealthy approach. Larger prey however are typically hunted with the entire pack, usually by 1-2 separating a weak link from the rest of a herd and leading it into a prepared ambush by the rest of the pack. While they tend to hunt non-aggressive prey, this can be done as well to other predators, with a single Drypto acting as bait to lure the target into a trap set by the rest of the pack. Several hunters have been lured to their deaths this way, leading to many guides on the planet to inform travellers that spotting a lone Drypto is far more dangerous than spotting a pack.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=9pt]Packs are almost universally led by a single female, with the rest of the pack composed of 3-4 males. Males are easily identifiable from females, as while their bodies are a majority the same grey or beige colors as females, they possess coloration patterns along their spines down to the tail in a wide variety of shades. Thin spines are also present in males along the brow between the eyes. These differences are a part of the mating selection process, though not the primary determining factor, which ties into packmate selection as well. Female Dryptos are solitary creatures prior to reaching sexual maturity, and their first mating cycle is also when they begin forming their pack. The primary method of earning the female’s affection is by bringing the female an offering of a hunted creature. If other males are in competition for the same female she will often select depending on the male’s coloring display, with both fighting off the losing male after the selection is made.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=9pt]With the female’s first mate accepted as a hunting partner, the second mating season will often see the first mate standing aside as a second is chosen, forming a true pack. Upon the third however the two primary males will compete with each other and any newcomers that season violently to determine who will mate with the pack’s alpha, though these competitions almost never result in death, and should the newcomer be the victor, they will be accepted into the pack. Up to 8 eggs can be laid in a single clutch, which take 9-10 weeks to hatch. The pack will gravitate around the nesting area during this time, keeping watch on the eggs to protect them from scavengers, and making the area particularly dangerous as they’ve been noted to display heightened aggression towards trespassers.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=9pt]HISTORICAL INFORMATION[/SIZE]
[SIZE=9pt]Another creature reintroduced to New Plympto after its recovery, the Dryptodosaur is one of the few predators native to the system, though it can be found on many other planets with plains and open-canopy woodlands as a major terrain feature. Related closely to Nosaurians in terms of evolution, data has shown that they diverged from the sentient natives of New Plympto approximately 9-10 million years ago, though are much closer in their DNA structure than Nosaurians are to a similar relative, the Cairsus Dragon. It’s also been postulated that the Drypto is related to the Ssi-Ruuk, given very similar appearances between the two, though no Ssi-ruu have ever agreed to be studied to compare between the two.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=9pt]They were present on the planet during the Clone Wars, though kept clear of the more active battle areas as it rarely crossed into their natural territory. Like the majority of other species, much of the Drypto population was wiped out by the Vong bioweapons, however also like the others it was reintroduced, though in higher numbers than some of the other predators as they possess small but noticeable numbers across the galaxy. Since then they’ve thrived quite well in their original natural habitat, growing to pre-Vong numbers quickly enough to return to their place as the apex predator of the grasslands.[/SIZE]
