Dicynodont

"if you need to take a bath, do it next to a bloat of Dicynodonts. Aint no saver place to go into the water."

The Dicynodont is a hairy reptile which scurries over the misty forest floors of Astrohanasia. They life in groups of one male and three females which are called bloats.

Basic Information

Anatomy

The Dicynodont is a small barrel-shaped creature with a resemblance to both a turtle and a pig. They have four stumpy legs with each small flat feet which end in five small clawed toes. Both males and females have small tusks of around 15 centimetres long which they use to forage on the mud near the riverbed in which they roam.

Genetics and Reproduction

During mating season young males will seek out the bloats of older males and will try to intimidate them away from their groups with their horns. The male with the sharpest horns will usually win out and take the spoils. They lay their sticky leathery spherical eggs in clutches of two which they bury under the mud of their river terrarium.

Growth Rate & Stages

When first born a Dicynodont measures on about 20 centimetres, but they will quickly grow into an adult over a year time. After reaching adulthood the females will stay with the group until enough females have been born to form a new bloat, meanwhile the males will be immediately sent of to life on their own, usually not seeing another Dicynodont until next mating season.

Additional Information

Geographic Origin and Distribution

The Dicynodonts life in and around the many rivers flowing through Alba, where they waddle over the bottom as if it was land and graze upon the water weeds.

Perception and Sensory Capabilities

Dicynodonts have several small elliptical whiskers on their face. These whiskers are specialise hair follicles filled to the brim with nerve endings These whiskers allow them to "see" through the mud and to notice nearby predators while walk underwater.

Average Height

80 to 105 centimetres

Average Weight

365 - 410 kilograms