Roach-eating goblin (SciiFii)

The roach-eating goblin (Microdromaeosaurus blattavora) is a species of non-avian dromaeosaurid theropod dinosaur that originally did not exist, but has since been created by SciiFii and introduced throughout the rainforests, wetlands, forests, open woodlands, grasslands, shrublands, scrublands, deserts, and mountainous regions across Eurasia and North America to help boost biodiversity. The roach-eating goblin is one of the smallest dromaeosaurs, growing to be no larger than a thrush and and weighs 50 to 107 grams (1+3⁄4 to 3+3⁄4 ounces) on average. As its name suggests, the roach-eating goblin is an insectivore and primarily feeds on roaches, beetles, and other insects, as well as carrion, although it is known to feed spiders, scorpions, and fish. Roach-eating goblins are known to burrow extensively, both in the wild and in captivity, if given access to a suitable substrate. Roach-eating goblins generally begin a new burrow adjacent to an object or structure, as this provides a sturdy "roof" for the section of the burrow nearest to the ground's surface. Burrows usually develop to eventually include multiple levels of tunnels, as well as a secondary entrance. Older male roach-eating goblins will generally not burrow, while young males and females will burrow vigorously. Burrows provide roach-eating goblins with shelter and food storage, as well as safe, thermo-regulated nest sites. Roach-eating goblins use their burrows to escape from perceived threats in the surrounding environment; for example, roach-eating goblins will retreat to their burrows following a sudden, loud noise or while fleeing an intruder. Burrowing can therefore be described as a "pre-encounter defensive behavior", as opposed to a "post-encounter defensive behavior", such as flight, freezing, or avoidance of a threatening stimulus. Roach-eating goblins commonly groom each other and sleep together. Roach-eating goblins are said to establish an order of hierarchy, so one roach-eating goblin will be dominant over another one. Groups of roach-eating goblins tend to "play fight", which can involve any combination of jumping, chasing, tumbling, and "boxing". Play fighting involves roach-eating goblins going for each other's necks, while serious fighting involves strikes at the others' back ends. If living space becomes limited, roach-eating goblins may turn to aggressive behavior, which may result in the death of some animals, reducing the burden over the living space. Roach-eating goblins also form family groups of a mother and her young. This applies to both groups of males and females. However, roach-eating goblins are territorial animals, meaning that they usually act aggressively or scared of strange roach-eating goblins. Roach-eating goblins will fluff up their feathers, hiss, shriek, and move their tails around when defending their territory. Roach-eating goblins will chase each other, groom each other, sleep in group nests, wrestle with each other, have dominance squabbles, communicate, and play in various other ways with each other. Huddling is an additional important part of roach-eating goblin socialization. Huddling is often supposed to have a heat-conserving function. Hatchlings roach-eating goblins especially depend on heat from their mother, since they cannot regulate their own temperature. Huddling is an extreme form of herding. Other forms of interaction include: crawling under, which is literally the act of crawling underneath one another; walking over, also explained in the name; allo-grooming, so-called to distinguish it from self-grooming; and nosing, where a roach-eating goblin gently pushes with its nose at another roach-eating goblin near the neck. Males can ejaculate multiple times in a row, and this increases the likelihood of pregnancy as well as decreases the number of unfertilized eggs. Multiple ejaculation also means that males can mate with multiple females, and they exhibit more ejaculatory series when there are several oestrous females present. Males also copulate at shorter intervals than females. In group mating, females often switch partners. Dominant males have higher mating success and also provide females with more ejaculate, and females are more likely to use the sperm of dominant males for fertilization. The roach-eating goblin can breed throughout the year if conditions are suitable, with a female producing up to five clutches of eggs a year. The gestation period is only 21 days, and clutches can number up to 14 eggs, although seven is common, and the eggs hatch around 1.3 weeks later. The eggs are tolerant to colder and hotter temperatures than most eggs of other dinosaurs (avian and non-avian), Unlike many reptile eggs, the temperature does not influence the genders for the hatchlings. They reach sexual maturity in about five weeks. Under ideal conditions, this means that the population of females could increase by a factor of three and a half (half a litter of 7) in 8 weeks (5 weeks for sexual maturity and 3 weeks of gestation), corresponding to a population growing by a factor of 10 in just 15 weeks. As a result, the population can grow from 2 to 15,000 in a year. The maximum life span is nine years, although most barely manage six. A yearly mortality rate of 95% is estimated, with predators and interspecies conflict as major causes. The conservation status of the roach-eating goblin is Least Concern due to successful conservation efforts, the roach-eating goblin's wide range and its tolerance to many of the human activities.
Category:Animals
Category:Species
Category:SciiFii