Austroraptor (NuGen)

The **tiamat goblin** (*Austroraptor ursinus*) is a species of dromaeosaur that originally lived during the Campanian and Maastrichtian ages of the Late Cretaceous period in what is now Argentina as an extinct species, *Austroraptor cabazai*, and the genus itself was once extinct, but has since been brought back from extinction by NuGen and intentionally introduced throughout the modern tropical, subtropical, and temperate rainforests, wetlands, and coastal regions of South America to help boost biodiversity. The tiamat goblin is a large, moderately-built, ground-dwelling, bipedal carnivore, with the average length of about 5 meters (16 feet) long and the longest specimens at 5–6 meters (20 feet) long, with the maximum shoulder height at 2 meters (6 feet 7 inches) tall, while the weight is between 91–227 kilograms (200.6–500.4 lbs), being comparable in mass to a lion. The tiamat goblin's plumage is brown with a yellowish-white tone. The upper side of its body, the area around its eyes, and its snout is brown, while its underside, eyebrows, the rest of its face, the edges of the wing-like feathers on its short arms, and the edges of its pygostyle (tail fan) are yellowish-white. Interestingly, its eyes are human-like in appearance, with large pupils. Some specimens, particularly those with a deeper shade of brown and slightly more robust builds, also have red patches below and behind their eyes; this is not a sign of sexual dimorphism, but a trait that is more likely to be seen on some (but not all) adults. Sub-adults still have their juvenile plumage, which comes in a lighter shade of brown with some yellowish-white specks. The skull is low and elongated, much more so than that of many other living and prehistoric dromaeosaurs, and measures 80 centimeters (31 inches). The tiamat goblin has conical, non-serrated teeth, which is sometimes compared to those of spinosaurids, based on how the enamel of the surface of its teeth is fluted. The tiamat goblin, much like other unelagiine dromaeosaurs, has a more gracile build and longer legs compared to more recognizable eudromaeosaurians like *Dromaeosaurus*. Its arms, being around 46% the length of its femur, are proportionally shorter than those of other dromaeosaurs (meaning that it does not use its arms to handle prey), as well as reduced sickle claws on its feet. Not only that, but the tiamat goblin also has a long, low, narrow snout filled with conical, non-serrated teeth much like those of a crocodile. While tiamat goblins are usually solitary hunters, they take advantage of the increase in fish numbers during summer and congregate around bodies of water to capitalize on this abundant food supply. However, this does not make them any more social. Not all fishing spots are equally fruitful, leading to competition among the tiamat goblins. The show depicts them as willing to engage in fights over these preferred fishing spots, emphasizing their competitive nature and the significance of securing the most advantageous hunting grounds. The adult tiamat goblins are known to indulge in wasteful eating habits when fish are abundant. They tend to consume only the most desirable portions of the fish, often tearing off and quickly devouring the back half while leaving the other half behind. This behavior results in a significant amount of leftover food on the ground. Young tiamat goblins, motivated by the need for sustenance, scavenge these remnants as it presents an opportunity to obtain a meal, even if what they obtain is nothing more but a few scraps. However, they are opportunistic and can take advantage of any situation that allows them to acquire more than just leftovers. The breeding season is year-round in the tropical regions, while the breeding season takes place during the late winter months of August and September in more temperate regions. The females construct nests made of various foliage, where she lays between 4 and 7 eggs at a time, although only half the eggs survive predation from egg-eating animals. The surviving hatchlings are immediately cared for by their mothers for up to 4 months until they are sexually mature, and the average lifespan is up to 30 years. The conservation status of the tiamat goblin is **Least Concern** due to successful conservation efforts and the species' wide range.