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Isla Sorna[]

Length: 40 feet

Amargasaurus

Illustration by Tomozaurus of JPLegacy


Height: 16 feet
Weight: 9 tons


Coloration:

Male: Orange-brown with red head with paler underside. Spines are gray, although both sexes are capable of flushing them with blood so they appear red. Spines are more prominent on the neck, which has two rows; and on the tail.
Female and juvenile: Light, reddish brown, darker brown head and paler underside.

Preferred Habitat: Grasslands and open plains, though are capable of moving through forest.

Diet: Grass, tree leaves, ferns, conifers.

Social Structure: Herds of adults and adolescents.


Amargasaurus is the smallest sauropod cloned by InGen. It has a relatively short neck compared to its relatives, and its tail long and whip-like. Its most noticeable feature are the 12 pairs of tall spines jutting out from the neck, forming a high ridge. These spines are mere stubs in the juvenile. Amargasaurus' weight is supported by its columnar legs, and the forelimbs shorter than hindlimbs.

Adult Amargasaurus are hunted by individual Acrocanthosaurus and Tyrannosaurus as well as packs of Allosaurus and Giganotosaurus, while the adolescents are harrassed by numerous other predators. To deter its predators, Amargasaurus will extend its spines and flush them with blood so they appear a vibrant red, similar to the method used by Stegosaurus. It can also defend itself by rearing up to appear even larger, lashing out with the claws on its thumbs. Alternately, it will begin lashing out with its whip-like tail. Living in herds is more advantageous than living alone in that the entire herd can help keep a look out for danger and when close together, as well as making it more difficult for predators to reach the more vulnerable individuals.

Amargasaurus herds are always on the move. During the breeding season males will flush their spines with color and compete for mating rights by standing side by side and shoving their bulk into one another until one backs down. Amargasaurus herds will use the same nesting spot year after year, and many predators have come to know just when and where the egg-laying will occur; patiently lying in wait even before the herd arrives. Eggs are laid in en-masse and buried in loose soil, sand, or leaf litter, and the herd will quickly move away, leaving the eggs and hatchlings to their fate. Although hundreds of eggs may be laid, few survive to hatch and even fewer hatchlings survive into adulthood due to the abundance of predators. Like baby turtles, hatchling Amargasaurus will instinctively make a beeline for the relative safety of the forests where their camouflage allows them to blend in better with the leaf litter, reducing the chance of them being spotted by a predator. Juveniles grow quickly, and upon reaching adolescence move out of the forests onto the open grasslands in order to seek out herds which they can join.

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