Pachy

Pachycephalosaurus (Pachy for Short) are a race of Synthisaur. These prehistoric herbivores have served as the base species for a series of new Synthisaur designs. Their primary feature is the reinforced skull and spring-like neck designed for breaking bones.
Combine their lethal headbutts with their defensive and territorial behavior, they can prove dangerous to the cornered and unwary alike.

"You know David, Synthi's don't need sharp teeth and gnarly claws to be dangerous." Shirley explained. It was my first week on the Abominable Substation, and working under the Chief Behavioral Specialist meant that I'd be getting crash courses on how to deal with Synthisaurs.
She walked up to a holo terminal in front of a containment cell. "Pachycephalosaurus. They eat bugs and plants. Get to be about hip-high." She tapped on the terminal, and brought up surveillance footage.
The video was of two Pachys in quarantine, the little dinosaurs milled about the sterile room. A man in a hazmat suit stepped in. The Pachys seemed irritatted, croaking warnings at the man who ignored them. They bolted and with cobra like swiftness, headbutted the man in the leg. A sickening crunch could be heard over the muffled scream. The next attack went for the chest, and the man stopped moving.
"That was Thomas, you saw him on the way in. He suffered three broken ribs and a shattered kneecap. He's lucky we heard the containment alarm or he'd have died from internal bleeding. So two lessons, don't fuck with any Synthisaur, and don't go into containment alone."
The brutal lesson certainly would not be lost on me.

Appearance

Pachycephalosaurus are bipedal creatures, with long legs and short arms. Their scales range from green to grey, and they lack the feathers of many similar Synthisaur designs. The most notable feature of the Pachy is the hardened, smooth dome that forms its primary weapon. This hardened dome is studded around the edge, making for a nasty weapon.
Pachy do not have naturally sharp claws, instead evolving with long thick claws for digging into the ground. Their teeth are similarly not sharp, a beak with flat blade-like teeth in front and molars in the back.

Behavior

Pachycephalosaurus are driven by a desire to have territory. If left to their own devices, a pack of Pachys will separate and claim territory with scent and markings. They are extremely protective at their territory, and will attack interlopers should a Pachy deem them a threat. What constitutes a threat to the Pachy is hard to determine, however offering food before entering has a high chance of placating a defensive Pachy.
If a Pachy is moved from its home territory, it will wander for a period ranging from four hours to a day. During this 'new territory' time, a Pachy will be far less aggressive as it does not have a territory to protect.

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A cornerstone species critical to any Abominable Labs terraforming plan!

Genetic Ancestor(s)

• Synthisaur

Scientific Name

Pachycephalosaurus Wyomingensis

Genetic Arsenal

The Pachy is a species not designed for consumer usage, because of this, genetic upgrades are primarily for survival in new environments.

Ultra-hard Plating

Giving Pachys tougher heads serves to increase their survivability, great for mixed species environments.

Guanine Crystal Layer

A layer of controllable Guanine Crystals can be embedded underneath the scales of a Pachy, granting it the ability to change the patterns and coloration of its skin.

Created Branches

Sviniar

A synthetic species created by the Abominable Creations Lab, these are Pachycephalosaurus who have been granted wings. While they can not fly, they can climb and glide.
They serve as ambush predators on worlds requesting tall vegetation such as jungles and forests.