Anatops

**Anatops** (アヒルプス, *Ahirupusu*) is a Brute Wyvern that is known to wade in shallow muddy water. This monster was first introduced in **Monster Hunter: Ascension**.

## Physiology

Anatops is a blue bipedal hadrosaur-like Brute Wyvern with a wide, flat, cream-colored beak. Three gold pointed horns that form a trident-shaped crest are located on its head. Its forelimbs and hind legs are greenish-blue and it has cream-colored webbing on its hands and feet with three clawed digits each, with a single fourth claw on each heel. Its tail is long, broad, scaly, flattened, and dark blue in color.

## Behavior

Anatops are docile, sociable creatures. They often congregate and forms herds of five adults with juveniles varying in numbers. The male with the largest crest is deemed the leader of the herd. Anatops are semi-aquatic omnivores, often foraging for aquatic plants but will occasionally feed on fish.

## Ecological Information

### Placement on the food chain

These medium-sized herbivorous monsters despite their fearsome paralytic venom and muddy spit are low on the food chain. These wyverns are preyed upon by many predatory monsters.

### Behavior towards other monsters

These wyverns are docile until attacked and will usually allow other non-aggressive monsters to hang out around them while they are resting or foraging for food.

### Tracks

Hunters can utilize many tracks left behind from this monster to aid in tracking it down. Such tracks include "Webbed Print", which can be found on the ground, "Dried Mud", Which can be found on walls and trees, and "Overturned Sludge", which can be found in shallow water.

### Specific locale interactions

This monster does not have any specific locale interactions

### Special behaviors

This monster does not have any special behaviors.

## Abilities

A toxic chemical runs through the talons on Anatops's feet, so it launches devastating kicks that can both paralyse and disorient enemies. Its tail is primarily used for swimming but can be slammed on the ground with enough force to crush anything beneath it. Anatops are capable of spewing clumps of mud at attacker to trip prey and predators alike.

## Ecology

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### Taxonomy

* Order: Ornithischia
* Suborder: Ornithopoda
* Family: Hadrosauridae
* Subfamily: Saurolophinae
* Genus: Anatohadron
* Species: A. regalis

Anatops are an unusual member of the Brute Wyvern classification. They have a Deviant named Venomfoot Anatops.

### Habitat Range

Anatops have been found inhabiting the forested swamplands and mudflats of the Primeval Coastline and the tranquil grasslands of the Elysian Falls. Due to their semi-aquatic nature, they prefer to inhabit swamps, marshes, rivers and lakes.

### Ecological Niche

Anatops primarily feed on aquatic plants and animals such as water lilies, lotus plants, seaweed, fish, and crabs. They are wary of predators as many large carnivorous monsters can easily prey upon these Brute Wyverns. Predators include Zaronath, Lagiacrus, and Ferrumos as well as carnivorous Elder Dragons and other such powerful monsters.

### Biological Adaptations

Anatops has many unique adaptations that separate it from other Brute Wyverns. First, it sports a platypus or duck-like bill. Its salamander-like tail is large and flattened, serving as a paddle to help propel Anatops through the water in conjunction with its webbed feet. Anatops possesses large claws on its feet. Each claw has a small narrow cavity that delivers a venom when one of the claws penetrates an enemy's skin. Anatops has venom glands located in its legs that connect to its claws. Its blue skin serves as camouflage when it swims in search of food.

### Behavior

Anatops are docile, sociable creatures. They often congregate and forms herds of five adults with juveniles varying in numbers. The male with the largest crest is deemed the leader of the herd. Anatops are semi-aquatic omnivores, often foraging for aquatic plants but will occasionally feed on fish.

## Notes & Trivia

* Anatops is inspired by ducks, platypuses, and a family of dinosaurs known as *Hadrosaurids*.
* It was originally believed to be a Bird Wyvern like Velocidrome and Great Jaggi due to sharing similarities with them but later research revealed it to be a Brute Wyvern.
* Anatops's tail slaps can inflict Hunters with the Muddy status if they are close enough to its tail without being hit by it.
* Its tail and hind legs can be broken and its head can be broken twice.
* Anatops's roar requires Earplugs to block.