| Tartarusaurus | |
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 | |
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Name: |
Tartarusaurus saevus |
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Abilities and Weapons: |
strength, teeth, claws, senses, tail whip |
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Occupation: |
Ambush apex predator |
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Home: |
Skull Island |
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First Appearance: |
"The World of Kong: A Natural History of Skull Island" (from 2005) |
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Diet: |
Carnivore |
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Size: |
Length: 6-8.5 meters |
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Status: |
Unknown. Probably rescued by expeditions. |
Tartarusaurus saevus ("cruel hell lizard") is 20-28 feet long (6-8.5 meters) species of extremely large theropod dinosaur that is found on Skull Island. Whilst not as long as Carvers, Tartarusaurus is far more heavily built and are the second largest terrestrial predators of the entire island. The animal is described in the book "The World of Kong: A Natural History of Skull Island" (from 2005).
Facts[]
Tartarusauruses are heavy and bulky in build. A huge coastal predator, Tartarusaurus is found all along the northern side of Skull Island, where it preys on other coastal reptiles, such as Limusaurus (a form of amphibian), sea birds and seals. Like the smaller Arsarticaedes, Tartarusaurus has regressed back into a quadruped; possibly to offer better stability when running across the soft sandy beaches. Nomadic, Tartarusauruses follow the seal populations and will jealously defend whatever length of coast they have currently claimed as their own against any intruders, especially another Tartarusaurus.
The seasonal nature of many of their coastal food sources, such as fur seals, mean Tartarusauruses are nomadic. This brings them into frequent conflict with one another when individuals meet over kills. Large fat reserves accumulate in their tails, allowing the species to go without feeding for long periods. This stored energy grants smaller animals some reprieve in the battle to compete for survival when food is scarce.
Tartarusaurus has a thick, rhinoceros-like hide that protects it from harm. Males fight each other for resources and access to females. Armed with thick, curved claws on each forelimb, males battle upright, balancing on their sturdy hind legs while they raked each other with these scythe-like claws. Despite the ferocity of these matches, their thick skins and resilient scales usually protect them from serious injury.
Tartarusauruses prefer to try and creep close to a potential prey item before dashing out to attack. Tartarusaurus is a terror that the native foraging sorties pray they would never run into. Huge and hungry, with bone cracking jaws and powerful limbs that can propel the carnivore faster than any man could run for short distances, this brute can make short work of unwary villagers. Fortunately, its range is limited to the far side of the island, where it subsists on seals, coastal reptiles and Limusaurs. Tartarusaurus also take carrion when it can find it, possessing the strength to fight other meat eaters off their food. The carnivore's ability to stand on its hind limbs permits it to reach low cliff-nesting birds too, raiding their nests for eggs and chicks, little more than tiny snacks for the tank-like reptile. Think of it as the coastal equivalent of a Vastatosaurus rex, with no natural predators to pose a threat. It truly is the scourge of the coasts.
Gallery[]
Trivia[]
- Its ability to store fat in its tail is akin to the Gila Monster: a venomous lizard of the American southwest.
- Tartarusaurus possesses large thumb-claws similar to the spinosaurs like Baryonyx.
- Like Aciedactylus, Tartarusaurus is one of many theropod concept designs meant for King Kong that was eventually scrapped due to the large amount of similar looking theropod carnivores in the film. It would later be canonized in the The World of Kong book.
- Like all animals from Skull Island. It is unknown what they faced during the sinking of the island. Given the multiple expeditions, there may be a chance that a few surviving populations was saved off-land to a more stable enclosure.