Neuquensaurus (SciiFii)

Neuquensaurus major (name meaning "major Neuquén lizard") is a species of non-avian saltasaurid sauropod dinosaur that originally lived in the Late Cretaceous, about 80 million years ago, in Argentina and Uruguay in South America as two extinct species, Neuquensaurus australis and Neuquensaurus robustus, and the genus itself was once extinct, but has since been brought back from extinction by SciiFii and introduced throughout the modern wetlands, forests, open woodlands, grasslands, shrublands, and scrublands across South America to help boost biodiversity. Neuquensaurus major is sometimes known as a species of Saltasaurus called Saltasaurus major, which means "major Salta lizard". One of the smallest sauropods, Neuquensaurus major grows on average to a length of 7 metres (about 23 feet) and usually weigh approximately 10,000 kilograms (11 tons). Like other sauropods, Neuquensaurus major has a very long neck, a long tail, a small head, and four thick legs. It is a herbivorous animal that primarily feeds on fruits, conifers, gingkos, nuts, seeds, seed ferns, cycads, bennettitalean, ferns, mosses and horsetails. Like other saltasaurids, Neuquensaurus major possesses armor-like osteoderms for defense against potential predators such as big cats, macropredatory bears, terror birds, abelisaurs, megaraptorans, carcharodontosaurs, and among other carnivores. Like elephants, Neuquensaurus major lives in matriarchal herds consisting of primarily adult females, a single adult male, and young of both genders, while the majority of the adult males live in primarily solitary lifestyles except during the mating season during the spring. The bull males will attempt to try to attract the females, but other males will often challenge each other to duel: this involves low-pitched bellows, followed by necking (like giraffes) and headbutting. The winning bull get a right to mate with the females. After the mating season ends, the herd heads towards the nesting grounds where they were born. The nesting ground is a large flat river plain, often larger than 3 football fields. The females find their spot, build their nests, and lay between 15 and 70 eggs at a time. The females then head to the forest to collect bushy leaves to incubate their eggs. The nesting grounds are guarded by 2-7 females, known as "sentries" or "centuries", keeping some potential plunderers off the nests. Once the babies have hatched, they rush for the safety of the forested environments. Often times, the majority of the young are preyed on by many predators such as foxes, cats, notosuchians, small non-avian carnivorous theropods, and among others. However, the surviving young are protected by nearby adult Neuquensaurus major and the young travel along with the adult Neuquensaurus major herds. Neuquensaurus major reaches sexual maturity at the age of 12 to 15 years on average, and can live to be more than 100 years on average. The conservation status of Neuquensaurus major is Least Concern due to successful conservation efforts and the animal's wide range.
Category:Animals
Category:Species
Category:SciiFii