Secodontosaurus (SciiFii)

Secodontosaurus amphibius (name meaning "amphibious cutting-tooth lizard") is a species of "pelycosaur" synapsids that originally lived from between about 285 to 272 million years ago during the Early Permian as an extinct species of Secodontosaurus and the genus itself was once extinct, but has since been brought back from extinction by SciiFii and now lives in Paleozoic Park located in Downey, California. Secodontosaurus amphibius walks on all four legs, it has a tall, elongated skull with teeth of different sizes set along the jaws, and an elongated tail with a cartilaginous fin at the end to help it paddle through the water. It is a predatory animal that primarily feeds on fish, amphibians, crustaceans, and molluscs, filling the similar ecological niche to crocodilians. Depending on an individual, Secodontosaurus amphibius can range from about 2 to 2.7 metres (7–9 feet) in length, weighing up to 110 kilograms (250 lb). It primarily bask on shore, but also climb into and perch on tree limbs to bask if no shoreline is available. The breeding season begins in the spring. On spring nights, Secodontosaurus amphibius gather for group courtship, in the aforementioned "water dances". The female builds a nest of vegetation, sticks, leaves, and mud in a sheltered spot in or near the water. After the female lays her 20 to 50 white eggs, about the size of a goose egg, she covers them with more vegetation, which heats as it decays, helping to keep the eggs warm. The female remains near the nest throughout the 65-day incubation period, protecting it from intruders. When the young begin to hatch — their "yelping" calls can sometimes even be heard just before hatching commences — the mother quickly digs them out and carries them to the water in her mouth. The young are tiny replicas of adults, with a series of brownish-orange blotches on their bodies, which serve as camouflage. Hatchlings gather into pods and are guarded by their mother and keep in contact with her through their "yelping" vocalizations. Young Secodontosaurus amphibius eat small fish, frogs, crayfish, and insects. Mother Secodontosaurus amphibius eventually become more aggressive towards their young, which encourages them to disperse. Young Secodontosaurus amphibius grow 3–8 inches (7.6–20.3 centimeters) a year and reach adulthood at 6 feet (1.8 meters).
Category:Animals
Category:Species
Category:SciiFii