Murusraptor (SciiFii)

Murusraptor terrestris (name meaning "terrestrial wall theif"), also known as the southern grook, is a species of non-avian megaraptoran theropod dinosaur that originally lived from the Sierra Barrosa Formation, part of the Neuquén Group of Patagonia, in Argentina, South America as an extinct species, Murusraptor barrosaensis, and the genus itself was once extinct, but has since been brought back from extinction by SciiFii. It was originally going to be included in Cretaceous Park and the now-scrapped Cretaceous Park Argentina, but due to escapees from the transport cages, the escaped Murusraptor terrestris has established feral breeding populations throughout Argentina and the western United States, where they are, by all accounts, thriving. Murusraptor terrestris is a rather large theropod, growing on average of about 7.5 meters (24.6 feet) long and weighing around 2,267 kilograms (2.5 tons). As an apex predator, Murusraptor terrestris primarily feeds on any non-sapient animal smaller than itself as well as carrion of any animal species. Murusraptor terrestris is usually a solitary animal and prefers to live alone except during the breeding season or if it has a mate. Although true domestication remains the purview of sapient species such as humans, many scientists have recognized the relationship that Murusraptor terrestris have with some unenlagines, Neuquenraptor vulgaris, is more than common symbiosis. This relationship began as the ancestors of Neuquenraptor vulgaris fed on rodents and other pests near the nests that were too small for the Murusraptor terrestris to catch. Murusraptor terrestris noticed this benefit and sacrificed portions of their kills to keep the ancestors of Neuquenraptor vulgaris packs around. They also chased off or fed on the larger egg-eaters that Neuquenraptor vulgaris were themselves vulnerable to. Over time, Neuquenraptor vulgaris have evolved. It is to the point that a nesting megaraptoran without a few Neuquenraptor vulgaris is an outlier. Although Murusraptor terrestris occasionally develops a similar bond with Neuquenraptor vulgaris, it is not as close or established. This is likely due to the fact that the Murusraptor terrestris is social and demonstrates much longer parental care, thus negating the need to keep pet Neuquenraptor vulgaris around, as most parents have a few juveniles to keep pests away from the nest. Murusraptor terrestris form breeding pairs during the mid-spring months and they pair for life. Males construct a rough nest in a semi-sheltered hollow on the ground, using bark, grass, sticks and leaves to line it. The nest is almost always a flat surface rather than a segment of a sphere, although in cold conditions the nest is taller, up to 7 centimeters (2.8 inches) tall, and more spherical to provide some extra heat retention. The gestation period takes nearly 2 months for the females to lay eggs. Incubation takes 56 days, and the male stops incubating the eggs shortly before they hatch. Newly hatched chicks are active and can leave the nest within a few days of hatching. They have distinctive brown and cream stripes for camouflage, which fade after three months or so. The male guards the growing chicks for up to seven months, teaching them how to find food. Chicks grow very quickly and are fully grown in five to six months; they may remain with their family group for another six months or so before they split up to breed in their second season. During their early life, young Murusraptor terrestris are defended by their father, who adopts a belligerent stance towards other Murusraptor terrestris, including the mother. He does this by ruffling his feathers, emitting sharp grunts, and kicking his legs to drive off other animals. He can also bend his knees to crouch over smaller chicks to protect them. At night, he envelops his young with his feathers. As young Murusraptor terrestris cannot travel far, the parents must choose an area with plentiful food in which to breed. In captivity, Murusraptor terrestris can live for upwards of twenty-four years. The conservation status of Murusraptor terrestris is Least Concern due to successful conservation efforts and the animal's wide range.
Category:Animals
Category:Species
Category:SciiFii