Aquadactylus (SciiFii)

Aquadactylus marinus is a species of pterodactyloid pterosaur that originally did not exist, but has since been created by SciiFii. Aquadactylus marinus was originally planned to be featured in Cretaceous Park: Argentina, but the unidentified thieves stole all 21 eggs of Aquadactylus marinus, only for the eggs to hatch and for the criminals to unintentionally release them into the coastlines of Argentina. Ever since that event, Aquadactylus marinus populations had exploded from just 21 to more than 90,000 individuals in just half a century, spreading across the southern hemisphere. Aquadactylus marinus has air sacs, thicker solid bones, and a coat of fine, waterproof pycnofibers, which are adaptations for an aquatic lifestyle, similarly to penguins. Unlike the majority of the pterosaurs, Aquadactylus marinus is entirely flightless and is an amphibious animal that uses its elongated paddle-like flippers to swim through the water. Due to its speciation to its aquatic lifestyle, Aquadactylus marinus is unable to walk on all fours and only moves on the ground by crawling, similarly to sea turtles. As a carnivore, Aquadactylus marinus feeds primarily on fish, squid, krill, and worms. Aquadactylus marinus is a solitary animal, unlike most pterosaurs, spending its time alone throughout its life other than during the breeding season. In just 2 months after mating, Aquadactylus marinus lays around 30 and 50 soft-shelled eggs in sandy beaches, which resemble eggs of crocodilians. Aquadactylus marinus is able to breed very fast and frequently, which ensures the species' survival and adaptability to a wide range of coastal climates and habitats. Aquadactylus marinus eggs hatch around 3 months, and, unlike sea turtles, which abandon the eggs after reproducing, the hatchlings are cared for by their mothers for about 4-5 months until the young can fend for themselves. Aquadactylus marinus reaches sexual maturity at the age of 6 to 7 months, and has an average lifespan of between 40 and 50 years. The conservation status of Aquadactylus marinus is Least Concern due to successful conservation efforts and the animal's wide range.
Category:Animals
Category:Species
Category:SciiFii