The Prehistoric Park Animal Field Guide Volume 1

by WildExpert24

As a Prehistoric Park employee, you get the privilege to work with the likes of previously extinct animals. However, if you want to survive longer than five minutes, then you need to have knowledge of its inhabitants. From the world of Cartoon's Prehistoric Park, this Guide will give you info on behavior, diet, lifespan, and more. Welcome to the Ultimate Prehistoric Guidebook.

37. Brachychampsa

Brachychampsa

Scientific Classification

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Chordata

Class: Reptilia

Order: Crocodilia

Family: Alligatoridae

Subfamily: Caimaninae

Genus: Brachychampsa

Type Species: Brachychampsa montana meaning "Short Crocodile."

Described by Charles Whitney Gilmore, 1911

Species:

-Brachychampsa montana, Gilmore, 1911 (type).

-Brachychampsa perrugosus, Cope, 1875.

-Brachychampsa sealeyi (?), Williamson, 1996.

Current Park Population: (9; all adults; 5 male, 4 female)

Park Diet: Fish, thawed mice and rats, and pre-killed chicken and parts of pigs and sheep.

Natural Diet: Fish and small reptiles, turtles, amphibians, birds, mammals, young, and baby dinosaurs.

Lifespan: 80 years

Habitat: Wetlands, Swamps, rivers, streams, and ponds.

Native Ecosystem: North America, Laramadia, Hell Creek Formation, Menefee Formation, San Juan Basin, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Colorado, Wyoming, New Mexico, New Jersey, USA, North America, Saskatchewan, Canada, Darbasa Formation, Kazakhstan, Late Cretaceous, Maastrichtian to Early Paleocene, 72.1-66 Million Years Ago.

Breeding Season: April-July

Gestation Period: Three-Six Weeks

Eggs Laid: 20-50 eggs

Hatching Time: Three-Five Weeks

Danger Level: 5 out of 10.

Summary: Another Crocodilian of Hell Creek is the somewhat strange Brachychampsa. This ancient relative of modern alligators and caimans survived the massive extinction of 66 mya, much like the larger Borealosuchus. This crocodilian can be distinguished by its wide, rounded snout and bizarre blunt teeth which it utilizes to crush the hard shells of Hell Creek's abundant turtle population. This behavior gives Brachychampsa its own niche, avoiding direct competition with Borealosuchus.

Species/Fossil Finds: The type species of Brachychampsa is B. montana, first discovered in the Hell Creek Formation of Montana and described by Charles W. Gilmore in a paper in 1911. In that same paper, Gilmore recombined Bottosaurus perrugosus as a new species of Brachychampsa, called B. perrugosus. The holotype specimen of B. perrugosus went missing as the paper was being written, but it was later rediscovered and soon afterward designated as a nomen dubium due to a lack of diagnostic features that distinguish it from other alligatorids discovered since the paper was published. Another species from the Allison Member of the Menefee Formation of the San Juan Basin, B. sealeyi, was discovered in 1996 but was later argued to be synonymous with B. montana by interpreting it as an immature specimen of the latter species. However, other studies have shown that some of the variations seen between the two species, such as the orientation of the maxillary tooth row, are not ontogenetic, thus making B. sealeyi a valid taxon.

Specimens have been reported from New Mexico, Colorado, Wyoming, Montana, North and South Dakota, New Jersey, and Saskatchewan, though only those from Montana, Utah, and New Mexico are based on material sufficient to justify the referral. One specimen has been reported from the Darbasa Formation of Kazakhstan, although the species status is indeterminate for the fossil.

Description:

They resemble alligators and caimans in appearance. Individuals are covered in black-dark brown scales and pale underbelly.

Size: It was 2.5 meters (8.2 feet) to 3 meters (10 feet) long, the same size as an American alligator, and weighed 75 kilograms (165.375 Ibs).

Classification/Phylogeny: Brachychampsa's position within Alligatoroidea has undergone many revisions since it was first named. Originally it was placed within Alligatoridae and was later refined to the Alligatorinae in 1964, only to be placed outside both Alligatorinae and Alligatoridae (but still within Alligatoroidea) in 1994. Accordingly, studies have shown Brachychampsa as a basal member of Alligatoroidea, within the clade Globidonta, Alternatively, other phylogenetic studies have recovered Brachychampsa as an alligatorid, specifically as a stem-caiman.

Dentition and Diet: Brachychampsa is distinguished by an enlarged fourth maxillary tooth in the upper jaw. The teeth of Brachychampsa are not only conical and robust but have round pommel-like caps on the tips. These teeth are not for puncturing and holding flesh like the teeth of other crocodilians, but for breaking up the hard shells of invertebrates like crustaceans and the shells of turtles.

Interactions with other species: Brachychampsa preyed on the turtles like Axestemys and Basilemys as their teeth and jaws can crack through their shells.

"Filburt learned that the hard way when he got grabbed by one in the shell."-Rocko.

They are normally ignored by the large dinosaurs often getting out of their way, but could occasionally prey on small dinosaurs, Thescelosaurus, Leptoceratops, Trierarchuncus, Acheroraptor, Pectinodon, the pterosaur, Quetzalcoatlus lawsonii, and young dinosaurs from Pachycephalosaurus, Ornithomimus, Triceratops, Torosaurus, Edmontosaurus, Alamosaurus, Anzu, Ankylosaurus, and Tyrannosaurus. They occasionally prey on small animals like Dinilysia, Palaeobatrachus, and Didelphodon but would have to be constantly on guard due to predators that could easily injure or kill them.

The large adult herbivores would stomp and chase off the Crocodilian if it grabs their head by mistake. Groups of Dromaeosaurus, Pectinodon, Acheroraptor, and Quetzalcoatlus would mob the Crocodilian, and occasionally T. Rex would prey on the Crocodilian if given the chance.

Borealosuchus lived alongside other crocodilians like Thoracosaurus and the crocodile-like choristodere, Champsosaurus, they normally ignore one another as they have different niches and lifestyles as Brachychampsa prey on mostly turtles, and they can compete over nesting sites.

Extinction: The genus first appeared during the late Campanian stage of the Late Cretaceous (Judithian North American stage) and became extinct during the early Danian stage of the Paleocene (Puercan North American stage), a few million years after the Cretaceous–Paleogene extinction event.

Danger Tip: Like all Crocodiles, Borealosuchus should be avoided as if they get close to the water and are attracted to splashing they will grab you and drag you into the depths. To get out, punch it in the nostrils which it's most sensitive to and it will let go.

"You also have to be careful not to be grabbed by the shell of Brachychampsa, the cracks are still healing." -Filburt.

Significant Events: The Team encounters a float of Brachychampsa alongside floats of Thoracosaurus, Champsosaurus, Borealosuchus, Palaeobatrachus frogs, turtles, Axestemys, and Basilemys. On the third day of the First mission, in the slow-moving river alongside other crocodilians and reptiles. They were hidden in the water resembling logs until when the rescuing of the reptiles and frogs began they began to chase the Basilemys. When Filburt caught a straggler he was grabbed by the crocodilians. Soon Charlie grabbed his hands alongside Rocko, Heffer, Thomas, Dawn, Skips, and Amanda and engaged in a tug-o-war until the Brachychampsa let go. The crocodilians follow the straggler Basilemys to the portal. They now reside in the Hell Creek Forest Building.

Hell Creek Forest Building Crocodile Pit: It is a large pit in the very center of the building and has a bridge built over it for staff and future guests and there are glass underwater viewing windows. Within it was a large lake divided into four portions for the four rescued crocodilian floats of crocodilian including Champsosaurus, Borealosuchus, Thoracosaurus, and Brachychampsa. Brachychampsa live in a paddock that is a swamp to replicate the environment they live in with a sandy bank for them to bask and lay their eggs.

Conclusion: Brachychampsa is an example of how contemporaries of modern-day relatives live alongside prehistoric animals. Brachychampsa would be a snapping addition to Prehistoric Park.

The Field Guide might take a long time, like structuring and writing descriptions of the creatures, but also my time in college and spending time with my family. So you can suggest additional information quotes, descriptions, and natural or speculative behaviors for the prehistoric animals that I can edit and you send your suggestions either in reviews or Private Messages.

Examples: Inferring what the toons are doodling on the sketches or snarking quotes.

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