Brontosaurus excelsus

Length: 75 feet
Height: 15 feet
Weight: 30 tons

## **Coloration:**

*Adult (both sexes) -* A gray color with darker gray markings on the back.

*Juvenile (both sexes) -* Lighter gray body.

## **Preferred Habitat:**

Wide open spaces to accommodate its size.

## **Social Structure:**

Medium-sized groups close to hadrosaur herds and other sauropod species.

## **Description:**

Giant quadrupedal herbivore. A long-necked
sauropod, Brontosaurus is the third largest animal on the island. It is a
 heavily-built animal with forelimbs slightly longer than its hind
legs, a small head in comparison to its body-size, and jaws lined with
 chisel-like teeth. The whip-like tail is long and tapered at the end,
held clear off the ground. The long neck is relatively stiff and cannot
 be lifted much higher than shoulder height.

## **Behaviors:**

Brontosaurus' tail has multiple functions. Its
primary use is to counterbalance the animal’s long neck. Most famously,
 it is used as a weapon against predators. However, the tail is also
used as an important communication device between other Brontosaurus.
In a herd, members keep in constant contact with others in the group
with their long tails; occasionally whip-cracking and using the
resulting breaking of the sound barrier to communicate over long
distances. The tail also serves as a visual communicator; with
individuals constantly waving their tails in the air to remind others
of their location, thus helping to keep the herd together. In addition,
 Brontosaurus touch the backs of other individuals at close range with
their tail tips almost continuously, particularly youngsters, seemingly
 to reassure and comfort others with their presence.

The tails of male Brontosaurus are used as a device to attract
females. During the breeding season, males can be easily distinguished
by the ends of their tails, which develop red rings as they become
flushed with blood. Males will wave their tails around in front of a
receptive female, accompanied by deep-frequency bellows and stamping of
 their feet. Competing males will attempt to warn the other off using
this method as well, although in extreme circumstances fights may break
 out, involving each male standing side by side and attempting to use
their bulk to push and shove against one another in tests of strength.

Brontosaurus females lay their eggs en mass on the edges of forests.
The females will then quickly move away, being far too large to remain
without risking stepping on the vulnerable eggs and young. A few of
adults may remain nearby, discouraging predators from approaching.
Although hundreds or even thousands of eggs may be laid between the
three sauropod species, few survive to hatch and even fewer hatchlings
survive into reach their full size owing to the abundance of predators
on Sorna. Like baby turtles, the sauropodlets will instinctively make a
 beeline for the relative safety of the forests, remaining together in
mixed species crèches. Juveniles grow rapidly, and upon reaching
adolescence they will move out of the forests onto the open grasslands
in order to seek adult herds to join.

Even though the full-grown adults have little to fear against
predators due to their immense size, the younger individuals are
vulnerable to predators such as Allosaurus. The young remain in the
center of the herd while the much larger, older individuals remain on
the outside - providing a barrier to hide and protect the vulnerable
juveniles from predators. The adults may be preyed on by Giganotosaurus,
 and they protect themselves by lashing out with their whip-like tails,
 inflicting painful, discouraging blows.
 Brontosaurus produce distinctive bellowing and whinnying calls. Herds
 are often followed by packs of Allosaurus and Giganotosaurus.