Crichtonsaurus

* Evolution 2
* Database
* Evolution

* Evolution 2
* Evolution

***Crichtonsaurus*** is a genus of ankylosaurid dinosaur in the *Jurassic World Evolution* series. Named after *Jurassic Park* author Michael Crichton, Crichtonsaurus originated from Late Cretaceous Asia.

In *Evolution*, *Crichtonsaurus* is featured in the Deluxe Dinosaur Pack, and can be unlocked in the Campaign Mode by progressing through the Science Division on Isla Matanceros, and becomes available through the Research Centre.

## Characteristics

Named after the famous author Michael Crichton, *Crichtonsaurus* is a small species of herbivorous ankylosaurid dinosaur related to the larger *Ankylosaurus*, only much smaller – weighing around 450kg and measuring approximately seven meters in length. It is similar in appearance to its larger and more famous cousin, with large, thick osteoderms covering its back and a powerful club at the end of its tail that protects it from predators. However, the lack of unique traits in its holotype suggests that it might not be a distinct genus. The base genome of the *Crichtonsaurus* has a brown-grey colouration.

## Gameplay

### *Evolution*

#### Behaviour

*Crichtonsaurus* is one of the more social ankylosaurid dinosaurs, and can comfortably live in a social group of up to five other members of its kind, and in a mixed species exhibit of up to eight other dinosaurs of various species. *Crichtonsaurus* requires a relatively small exhibit, and is therefore quite easily contained. Like other armoured dinosaurs, *Crictonsaurus* will defend itself from medium and large carnivores, but can be housed peacefully with small predators.

With the addition of palaeobotany in the *Claire's Sanctuary* expansion pack, *Crictonsaurus* have a primary preference for Horsetails, a secondary preference for Paw Paw and Mosses, and will become harmed if they consume Tree Ferns, Conifers or Ginkgo.

#### Skins

 NULL

 ARID

 JUNGLE

 RAINFOREST

 VIVID

 WOODLAND

## Paleontology

The first *Crichtonsaurus* remains were discovered by Chinese paleontologist Dong Zhiming in 1999, when he found parts of a jawbone in the Sunjiawan Formation, Liaoning Province. Further related specimens were subsequently discovered nearby, although there is some disagreement over the exact classification of this genus. So far only partial skeletons have been recovered.

Although now regarded as a dubious genus, *Crichtonsaurus* was named to honour Michael Crichton, the author of *Jurassic Park* and its sequel, *The Lost World*. The fossils found so far are rather scant, consisting of a jaw and teeth, a skull and pieces of backbone and armour. There is little to tell from these remains and there has been much confusion due to two other species found in the same formation, the Sunjiawan Formation. All that can be said so far is that it is a primitive ankylosaurid. It is sometimes regarded as a synonym of the similar genus *Crichtonpelta*.

### Paleoecology

*Crichtonsaurus* lived in China during the Late Cretaceous period, around 95 million years ago. At a height of just over two meters, it fed on low-lying vegetation in forests and surrounding grasslands. It tended to stay away from other species of dinosaur, preferring to live in small herds. Other than this, little else is known of the ecology for this region, but it was likely to have been subtropical.