Expanded Herbivore Profiles
Not mandatory to read, just for fun! All written by real paleontologists at Nat Hist :)
ECOLOGICAL NICHE: SMALL TERRESTRIAL HERBIVORES (SCROLL LEFT/RIGHT)
Camptosaurus (1 slot)
Camptosaurus is a genus of plant-eating, beaked ornithischian dinosaur from western North America and possibly also Europe that lived during the Late Jurassic Period. Camptosaurus grew up to 6 meters (20 ft) in length so though a small dinosaur relative to many well-known herbivores, it was still a large animal.
Social: Camptosaurus, being one of the smaller-sized herbivores, prefers to live in herds and often acts as scouts for them with their loud vocalizations. Nat Hist Researchers have observed them in both same-species herds or mixed herbivore herds and seem to prefer being in herds of fellow ornithopods.
Fighting: Being nimble and agile, they are inclined to flee, especially given their small size and lack of defenses. Although sometimes they can defend themselves and their herds by biting at their aggressors. They are a peaceful herbivore unless provoked.
Nesting: Camptosaurs prefer to nest in warm, humid environments with heavy vegetation. They can be found nesting in pairs or large, communal groups. The more eyes, the better, as parents will often leave their young in hiding to lure carnivores away from them. Able to take advantage of various types of vegetation and with camouflage skin that resembles the forest floor, hatchlings can remain undetected by predators that may pass within a few feet of them.
Other: Camptosaurus are social little animals that are always active and engage other herbivores with playful behaviors.
ECOLOGICAL NICHE: MEDIUM TERRESTRIAL HERBIVORES (SCROLL LEFT/RIGHT)
Anodontosaurus (4 slots)
Anodontosaurus was a medium sized ankylosaurid that lived in the Late Cretaceous and was discovered in Alberta, Canada. It would have measured roughly 5 meters long (16 ft) and weighed roughly 2 tons. Its name means “toothless lizard”, though it was not actually toothless that is simply how the skull was discovered.
Social: Anodontosaurus is primarily a solitary creature, though can be seen in small groups. When they are feeling social, however, some will group with various other herbivores for added safety. Large herds of migrating Anodontosaurus can be seen during the nesting season.
Fighting: Anodontosaurus is an incredibly durable dinosaur that has few natural predators when it's an adult. Relying on its thick osteoderms, and bony tail club, they will fight back against anything, including apex carnivores. Anodontosaurus is also an adept swimmer and has been observed using waterways to escape the nuisance of predation. They have been observed to enter rogue states from what appears to be from itchy skin–caused by an osteoderm infecting mite. This heightened irritation leads them to attack anything they come across.
Nesting: Anodontosaurus prefers to nest in heavily vegetated wetlands or forests. Parents, while protective of their nest and hatchlings, aren’t the best after young reach juvenile and often leave them to fend for themselves when they reach adolescence.
Other: When Anodontosaurus encounter each other they will often loudly roar. It is unclear whether this is territory related or some sort of greeting.
ECOLOGICAL NICHE: LARGE TERRESTRIAL HERBIVORES (SCROLL LEFT/RIGHT)
Albertaceratops (3 slots)
Albertaceratops, “Alberta horned face”, is a centrosaurine ceratopsian that lived during the Late Cretaceous. It is known from an extraordinarily well-preserved single skull that was found in Montana in 2001. Its characteristic brow horns are actually fairly unique among centrosaurines as they are more commonly found in chasmosaurines like Triceratops. Their function was likely multipurpose, potentially providing protection from larger carnivores like Daspletosaurus, and serving as a social display structure.
Social: Nat Hist Researchers observe that Albertaceratops are quite migratory, traveling long distances same-species herds to find the best nesting grounds, occasionally even tolerating other groups of herbivores, especially fellow ceratopsians and Pachycephalosaurus.
Fighting:Albertaceratops may seem small in comparison to large ceratopsians like Eotriceratops, but with a body mass of nearly 4 tons they are well-equipped to take on their predators. When in a herd with young and weak members, Albertaceratops will try to form a protective circle/wall against their attackers, with these weak and young members in the circle/behind the wall. When rogue they tend to aggress Styracosaurus, fellow rogue Albertaceratops and medium and small carnivores.
Nesting: Albertaceratops nest in warm, coastal areas with plenty of vegetation. Both parents care for and protect the nest and young, with females being especially protective. The whole herd gets involved in hatchling rearing and protection as well.
Other: When Albertaceratops migrate to and from nesting grounds they uniquely migrate in a single file line with the herd leader at the front and the vulnerable behind the leader, followed by the remaining members.
ECOLOGICAL NICHE: VERY LARGE TERRESTRIAL HERBIVORES (SCROLL LEFT/RIGHT)
Ampelosaurus (4 slots)
At a length of up to 14 meters (46 ft) and weighing in at around 8 to 10 tons, Ampelosaurus is actually a surprisingly small titanosaurian sauropod compared to its relatives in Patagonia. Discovered in Late Cretaceous France which was an archipelago during this time, Ampelosaurus’ size was likely not due to island dwarfism, though like animals with insular dwarfism it seemed to have a slower and more restricted growth rate due to its island environment.
Social: Nat Hist Researchers have primarily documented Ampelosaurus in same-species herds and with other sauropods, though they can mix with most species. However, they tend to not herd with Bardboldia given that both of these animals are the largest herbivores of Gondwa and require lots of food–both competing with each other for resources.
Fighting: When Ampelosaurus is being attacked, it would quite literally throw its weight around. Being too slow to simply run away, it is typically forced to fight. Though slow, single bulls have been seen exhibiting rogue behavior toward anything that will approach it when they are in this aggressive state.
Nesting: Ampelosaurus, like other titanosaurs, have been documented gathering in dry, open spaces to lay their eggs in mass deposition sites. Hatchlings quickly scramble to meet up with nearby adults, seeking safety in the shadow of their adopted parents.
Other: Ampelosaurus has an interesting habit of broadcasting the rise of the sun. They also have the ability to store fat in preparations of dry seasons and also when they migrate to dry areas to lay their eggs.