InGen Dino Documents:
Theropods
Pt. 1
Allosaurus
(Different Lizard)
As one of the most common carnivores ever discovered, Allosaurus was frequently known as the lion of the Late Jurassic, living alongside dinosaurs like Ceratosaurus, Dryosaurus, Ornitholestes, Camptosaurus, Stegosaurus, Diplodocus, Brachiosaurus, Camarasaurus and Apatosaurus, as well as the elusive carnivores Torvosaurus and Saurophaganax. Adults would grow to be about at least 33 feet in length and 14 feet in height, though some individuals on the island have been reported reaching up to 40 feet long, which is extremely rare. In the wilds of Isla Sorna, Allosaurs are mainly seen thriving in forests, but will often venture away in search of potential prey if no food is available in their range. However, they must constantly be on the lookout for other, more dangerous theropods when hunting in open areas. Tyrannosaurs would regularly steal Allosaur kills while Carnotaurs would occasionally fight an Allosaurus for the right to claim the carcass, with the outcome being random. Though Allosaurus would usually avoid confrontations with T-Rex, there was a reported incident involving three Allosaurs fighting a bull Tyrannosaurus to prevent it from stealing an Apatosaurus carcass. When hunting, Allosaurus will usually go solo while attacking dinosaurs like Stegosaurus, Camptosaurus, and some ornithopods like small Ceratopsians or Iguanodonts, along with the occasional Dryosaurus. But when opportunity knocks, Allosaurus will gather into gangs to bring down sauropods like Diplodocus or Camarasaurus, only to go their separate ways once the hunt is over, with the rare exception of some Allosaurs, notably males, forming a coalition of up to three or four members, a behavior which InGen scientists find unusual. Due to lacking the bone crushing jaw power of T-Rex, Allosaurus would compensate by using it's upper jaw like an ax to kill it's prey, delivering a blow which causes the victim to die from shock and bloodloss. Males and females are distinguishable by their color patterns, with males being a tannish orange with brown stripes while females, who are slightly bigger, appear to be dark red/orange with gray stripes on the back. During mating season, males will seek out potential females and then fight amongst each other to earn mating rights. The male and female will remain together for a couple more days or even weeks, mating every so often until the female eventually drives the male away. Females usually make their nests near the lakeside of the forests, laying up to 11 eggs in total. Mothers will protect their young from threats of all kinds, including other Allosaurs. The main species, Allosaurus fragilis mostly lives in the Northern parts of the island where they compete with various Tyrannosaurs, Abelisaurs, Megalosaurs and Carnosaurs. The smaller European subspecies named Allosaurus europaeus thrives in the western parts, with their only competition being small Dromaeosaurs and the Megaraptorid, Australovenator, while the even bigger African subspecies Allosaurus tendagurensis dominates the Eastern area, where it will occasionally share territory and hunting grounds with it's distant cousin Yangchuanosaurus while regularly competing with the large Dromaeosaur known as Utahraptor. Both Allosaur subspecies are also active on Isla Tacano, where they face competition from the three Tyrannosaur species Tarbosaurus, Daspletosaurus and Teratophoneus, the Megalosaur species Torvosaurus and Edmarka, and the rare carnosaur Tyrannotitan.
Carcharodontosaurus
(Shark-Toothed Lizard)
This North African predator from the Early Cretaceous period is one of the largest theropods that ever lived, rivaling the T-Rex in size and weight. As the second largest member of the Carnosaur family, Carcharodontosaurus is a truly fierce predator, reaching up to 45 feet in length. On Isla Sorna, these carnivores are highly elusive, usually staying within the deep jungles of the North, making it hard for the scientists to study and observe them. Compared to most theropods, Carcharodontosaurs are solitary predators who live and hunt alone. Aggressive by nature, Carcharodontosaurus will not tolerate other dinosaurs who trespass in it's territory, especially it's natural enemy, Spinosaurus. It will also willingly fight other carnosaurs like Giganotosaurus, though this is rarely seen because of their territories being so far apart. However, witnesses have reported seeing this carnivore surprisingly sharing it's territory with it's smaller Jurassic cousin, Veterupristisaurus, though the reason why is unknown. Carcharodontosaurus will hunt all prey items available to it, including some ceratopsians and heavily armored ankylosaurs. Despite being loners, males will often share their kills with females. Fights between Carcharodontosaurus and Tyrannosaurus are extremely rare and have yet to be reported. A more stable and active population of this carnosaur species is present on Isla Matanceros, where they compete with Dakotaraptor, Gorgosaurus and Megalosaurus for food and territory.
Giganotosaurus
(Giant Southern Lizard)
Out of all the carnosaurs that existed, Giganotosaurus was the most famous, stemming from the fact that it was bigger than T-Rex when first discovered in South America, where it lived during the Early Cretaceous. On the island, Giganotosaurs live in areas close to the plains, stalking herds of sauropods that gather to feed. Much like their ancestor, Allosaurus, Giganotosaurus will hunt in groups to subdue the targets of their choice. Ranking behind T-Rex as one of the most powerful carnivores, Giganotosaurus is feared among many dinosaurs, both herbivores and smaller carnivores alike. Despite mostly roaming on the plains, some individuals have been spotted wandering through woodlands and on beaches. Adults can grow up to 45.9 feet in length, surpassing even Carcharodontosaurus in size. Further sightings through observation show that they've been known to live in family groups. While preferring to hunt sauropods, Giganotosaurus may also tackle other prey species from time to time. Young juveniles will often venture out to hunt on their own for medium sized herbivores like Camptosaurus while the adults would sometimes attack more bigger targets like hadrosaurs. T-Rex and Giganotosaurus are almost never seen fighting for food due to their preferred hunting areas being in different places.
Ceratosaurus
(Horned Lizard)
Ceratosaurus was one of the earliest meat eaters in the Late Jurassic, having existed long before Allosaurus had arrived. For many years scientists had wondered what the horn on it's snout was used for, with some debating that it may have used it as a weapon to subdue small prey. However, clearly this wasn't the case as the nasal horn was possibly used only as a display. Following the appearance of Allosaurus and other large Jurassic theropods, Ceratosaurus was often ousted by the more advanced and deadly competition, being forced to scavenge for food when given the chance. On Isla Sorna, Ceratosaurus nasicornis is among the smallest of the medium sized carnivores, measuring up to 20 feet in length and 8 feet in height, though some have been seen at an exaggerated size of 30.5 feet long and 12 feet tall, most likely due to genetic tampering by the InGen geneticists who cloned them. They prefer to stay away from the bigger predators that lurk around the open areas, hiding away in the swamps for said reason. While usually diurnal hunters, Ceratosaurus will sometimes venture out at night in search of prey. Though they still scavenge for carrion, they immediately jump at the opportunity to hunt whatever herbivore will satisfy their diet, with a few exceptions. Though their main prey is Dryosaurus, they will enthusiastically hunt bigger herbivores like Camptosaurus, Kentrosaurus, Massospondylus, Anchisaurus, and when in groups, hadrosaurs and sauropods. A second species, Ceratosaurus dentisulcatus, is also present on Isla Sorna. This species is more bigger and highly aggressive, and can often be found chasing smaller carnivores away from carcasses, as well as challenging Allosaurus for territory. The two Ceratosaur species rarely ever meet, but on Isla Muerta, reports of crossbreeding have been filed.
Tyrannosaurus Rex
(Tyrant Lizard King)
The most famous carnivore of all history, Tyrannosaurus is regarded by paleontologists as the king of the dinosaurs. The most commonly talked about dinosaur, T-Rex, as it is regularly nicknamed, was the most likely subject of a constant debate about how it ate. Many suggested that T-Rex, given it's size, was merely a slow scavenger that would feed off of carrion, while others labeled it as a full fledged hunter that could kill any dinosaur it wanted. Further studies have shown that it was mostly a hunter who would only scavenge when live prey became scarce. On Isla Sorna, Tyrannosaurus is the most feared of all carnivores on the island. Being apex predators, they will aggressively challenge any other large theropod that dares to enter their territory, with even the more bigger Spinosaurus being considered a threat. Female tyrannosaurs appear to be larger than males and are easily distinguished by their brown skin color, while males have mottled green skin with yellow and black stripes, lacrimal ridges and a large throat pouch, giving them a bulky appearance. After mating, Tyrannosaurs stay together to raise their young and teach them how to hunt for themselves. Based on analysis, T-Rex has the world's strongest jaws of any land predator, with a bite so powerful it could crush through solid bone. They can be found almost anywhere in the Northern and Southern parts of the island, though they are more abundant in the North. Despite being big, T-Rex is capable of running at 15-25 miles per hour, enabling them to chase down their prey, but only for a short while as they cannot maintain long distance chases. While they still hunt dinosaurs like Triceratops, Edmontosaurus and Ankylosaurus, Tyrannosaurs will also go for other dinosaurs like Sauropods, other hadrosaurs and even Stegosaurs. Though mainly solitary hunters, scientists have reported seeing Tyrannosaurus hunting in groups, with said groups consisting entirely of adults and juveniles. The juvenile Tyrannosaurs would chase down the prey, separate it from the herd and drive it directly toward their parents, who would then finish the job from there. In addition, T-Rex is also quite smart for a large theropod, displaying intelligence rivaled only by Velociraptor and Deinonychus.
Spinosaurus
(Spined Lizard)
Perhaps the biggest theropod in all prehistoric history, Spinosaurus, named after the very sail which grew out of it's back, went unrivaled in size by all large theropods that existed before and after it, growing to 49 feet in length. As the largest of it's kind, Spinosaurus was truly an astonishing discovery to the paleontologists who uncovered it's bones in Africa. Studies have shown that Spinosaurus, unlike most theropods, had a diet which consisted mostly of eating fish. It's jaws were shaped almost like that of a crocodile, and it's teeth were conical and hollow, used primarily for gripping slippery fish. It's massive arms and sharp claws proved to be useful weapons, especially against other theropods like Carcharodontosaurus, which it would have competed with for food when fish became scarce. On Isla Sorna, Spinosaurus is still a fish eater, though recent sightings show that Spinosaurs have adapted to actively hunt herbivores that gather in areas where water is most plentiful. Being semi-aquatic, Spinosaurus is an excellent swimmer. It would casually wait quietly in the water, and when an unsuspecting herbivore comes down to the shore to drink, the theropod would lunge out and clamp it's jaws around the neck of it's prey, holding it long enough to slash into it with it's sharp claws, severely wounding it. It would then wait for it's prey to die, thus allowing it to feast. On land, Spinosaurus is the largest carnivore on the island. Small to medium sized carnivores like Raptors and Dilophosaurs would commonly avoid this giant predator, while other large theropods would stand and fight, thus risking the possibility of being injured or killed should they underestimate it. One such occurrence took place in the Northeastern region of the island during 2001 where a Spinosaurus killed a Tyrannosaurus by snapping it's neck. Feeling more at home near water, Spinosaurus can be found living in wetlands such as Marshes, where it's smaller cousin Baryonyx also lives, and, though seldomly seen, Mangroves. Spinosaurus is an aggressively solitary animal and does not live in groups. Males often challenge each other for territory to gain the best hunting grounds in the Marshes where fish are most abundant, with the loser being forced to inland scavenging. Despite being related, Spinosaurus and Baryonyx do not get along, as such they each live in specific locations of the Marshes. Baryonyx prefer to hunt for fish in the shallow waters of these wetlands, effectively staying away from their bigger cousins who hunt in the deeper and wide spread waters. But in the Mangroves, the Spinosaurus population is minimal, and though fish are not as plentiful, the Spinosaurs here compensate by hunting small sized Mosasaurs that swim in these areas.
Carnotaurus
(Meat-Eating Bull)
This famous abelisaurid was the top predator of it's time and location during the Late Cretaceous. It was one of many theropods who had arms that were even tinier than those of T-Rex and it's various relatives. Being the most unique member of the Abelisaur family, Carnotaurus is most known for it's short, deep skull and it's bull-like horns, traits which differentiate it from it's fellow relatives. Many studies led scientists to believe that Carnotaurus may have used it's horns to stun or paralyze small prey animals, while others assumed that the horns were used only in headbutting competitions between males for territory and mating rights. Given it's physical build and it's jawline, it was further established that Carnotaurus could have been a predator of medium and large sized prey, which it may have hunted through the use of ambush. In the wilds of Isla Sorna, Carnotaurs are one of the few big predators around the Northern region, being outclassed only by bigger carnivores like Tyrannosaurus. But regardless, they are still big time predators in their own right. They'll hunt just about any herbivore, ranging from small and medium sized dinosaurs to large sized and well armed dinosaurs. Carnotaurs commonly make their homes in the woods near grasslands. Carnotaurs are known to be highly aggressive, as they can be seen getting into fights with other theropods like Allosaurus, Megalosaurus and, if tempted enough, Tyrannosaurus. Fights between Carnotaurs and Allosaurs are more frequent when it comes to food, with the former usually trying to steal from the latter. On Isla Pena, Carnotaurus is one of the four large theropod predators around, the other three being Bahariasaurus, Metriacanthosaurus, and the highly feared Saurophaganax. While they still hunt dinosaurs, these Carnotaurs have become adapted to also hunting some of the large prehistoric mammals that live alongside them, like Toxodon, Chalicotherium, the hornless rhino Subhyracodon, and some others, while also dealing with competition from carnivorous mammals like Hyaenodon gigas, Andrewsarchus, Amphicyon ingens and Daeodon.
After doing some thinking, I decided on writing a side chapter which explains about some of the dinosaurs that I'm including in my Jurassic Park fan fic documentary series. Special thanks goes to DarkKnights for inspiring me with his Dino files.
But however, I won't be focused on just explaining about dinosaurs, I'll also talk about other prehistoric creatures which lived before, alongside, and even after dinosaurs.
Later everyone.
