Madagascan dwarf mokele (SciiFii)

The Madagascan dwarf mokele (Mokelesaurus madagascariensis) is a species of non-avian titanosaurian sauropod dinosaur that originally did not exist, but has since been created by SciiFii and introduced throughout the rainforests and wetlands across Madagascar to help boost biodiversity. The Madagascan dwarf mokele can reach lengths of 5.5 meters (18 feet) and weights of 6 tonnes. Unlike most sauropods, the Madagascan dwarf mokele is adapted to an amphibious lifestyle, and actually somewhat resembles the popular outdated reconstructions of Jurassic sauropods. The Madagascan dwarf mokele has robust, barrel-shaped torsos and comparatively short limbs. Like the skeletons of many diving birds, their air sacs no longer invade the bones, keeping them solid and heavy and allowing the animals to stay underwater with little effort. The Madagascan dwarf mokele has eyes and nostrils positioned near the top of its skull, allowing the animal to breathe and survey its surroundings while remaining mostly submerged. As it is smaller than many other titanosaurs and often share the waterways with a variety of big predators, Madagascan dwarf mokeles have the most extensive armour protection of any sauropod. This armor consists of a combination of closely packed ossicles, rounded scutes and triangular spines. Madagascan dwarf mokeles feed on a wide variety of aquatic foliage ranging from riparine weeds to marine seagrasses. These sauropods live like hippos, walking along the riverbottom while placidly plucking at aquatic vegetation, sometimes using their necks to reach foliage growing on the riverbanks without leaving the water. They are often accompanied by swarms of fish that either snatch up small invertebrates in the kicked-up silt or graze on algae growing on the dinosaurs' scaly flanks. Formidable armour renders the adults effectively immune to attack from the large crocodiles that share their habitat. The Madagascan dwarf mokele is anatomically similar to the Nile mokele (Mokelesaurus mbembe) and is also mainly aquatic. The only notable difference with the Nile mokele is the flexibility of the neck, which allows the dwarf to feed from low-growing trees. They can be found in suitable freshwater habitats throughout the island. However, it is one of the largest animals living on Madagascar, surpassed only by Rapetosaurus. Brooding mothers lay their eggs in a simple, fiercely guarded pit on the riverbank. The hatchlings are 65 cm long and form creches among the reeds and sheltered pools. The conservation status of the Madagascan dwarf mokele is Least Concern due to successful conservation efforts and the Madagascan dwarf mokele's wide range.
Category:Animals
Category:Species
Category:SciiFii