Deinonychus

Their speed is almost unbelievable, had I not traveled to the Inuvaanah Savannah and seen the spotted cats chase down their prey. But the way these animals coordinate their hunting is almost indescribable. Think...think almost a flock of birds, the way they coordinate without seeming to converse. But instead of evading a predator, they were hunting down an animal twice their size. It was truly frightening to behold

— Professor Saytoria, in his Treatise On Foreign Carnivores

Basic Information

Anatomy

The deinonychus has been described as a mix between an eagle and lizard, but these dinosaurs are so much more than lizards or birds. With some specimens reaching lengths of 4.5 meters, their size alone is impressive. But what sets them apart from other carnivorous dinosaurs is the sickle claw, one on each hind leg. 13 centimetres (5 inches) in length, the claw is used to tear through the skin and organs of their prey. While no official speed had even been determined, they can run at least as fast as most racehorses, which is about 35 miles per hour, more than quick enough to keep up with the majority of their prey.

Genetics and Reproduction

Although they lay eggs, they care for the egg and the hatched young as well as any sentient being cares for their young child. Nesting grounds have been found all over Drow Lak-ek Neev, where the deinonychus mainly hunt, and younglings have been observed hunting smaller animals with an elder of their flock.

Growth Rate & Stages

While they do not possess the same lifespan length as the dragosaurs, they do go through similar life cycles. They reach their full length when about 7 years old, which all researchers agree is adulthood for them. They appear to not age visibly until around the age of 25. At this point, their coloration starts to dull, their tail droops slightly, and signs of old age have been observed in individuals known to be above this age. Arthritis is the most common ailment, but others observed include speed impairments, cataracts, and even (by some accounts) loss of cognitive function. This last one is highly contested amongst animal researchers, as there is no formally established way to determine an animal's intelligence.

Ecology and Habitats

Deinonychus hunt in the open grasslands of the Drow Lak-ek Neev. It was here Dunstan, Arch of Obscurum observed their hunting methods and determined them to be a good progenitor of a new species.

Additional Information

Social Structure

Their social structure is not well known. Correlations of various studies throughout the ages suggest a mating pair hierarchy, with a sort of "alpha" male and female leading the pack. The best choices of food are first offered to them, then any of their progeny. Other mating pairs appear to be allowed, but again there is this form of heirarchy. The lower on the ladder, the later on one gets their food. It is unknown how any individual is able to move up the ranks. Many individuals, especially those observed to eat the choicest parts of meats, have many scars on their body. This suggests the strongest move up in the ranks.
However, this does not appear to be the case for those deinonychus who appear to be elder. For those individuals observed to be ailing from some sort of old age induced physical imparment, they seem to enjoy rankings of about midling range. They do not get the choicest meats, but they are not served scraps of meals either. Whether this is an anomoly or the standard across the species is unknown, however, for this has only been observed twice.

Geographic Origin and Distribution

Only found in the Drow Lak-ek Neev on Sursum.

Average Intelligence

While there is no formal test for how smart an animal is compared to any of the sentient beings on Tilandrial, it is widely accepted that deinonychus are among the smartest. A few researchers even posit they are as smart as Goblins. This, however, is false, for while language is the most basic agreed upon necessity for true sentience, there is no record of any deinonychus language.

Perception and Sensory Capabilities

While no officials studies have been performed, observational studies suggest the dinosaurs can hunt just as well in daytime as in nighttime. A reclusive species, little is known about their preferred time to hunt, but all research forays have seen them hunt all times of day and night.

Genetic Descendants

• Dragosaur

Lifespan

30 years

Average Length

3.4 meters in length (11 feet)

Body Tint, Colouring and Marking

Most deinonychus are the dull yellows and browns of the grasses that inhabit the plains they live in. However, a few are born green, and there is one official recording of a pure white deinonychus sighting. It was small, too big to be a youngling but too small to be a full grown adult. It is from this sighting the idea of the "White Dragosaur" myth is theorized to come from.

Discovered by

Professor Phillipe Saytoria

You chase your prey with sharpened claws, Senses poised, you have no flaws...

— Beginning lines of Ode to the Land Raptors (author unknown)