Atrocisuchus alitus (Cruel crocodile from the coast) : A huge crocodile species known for a high tolerance for saltwater and a fondness of sea travel. It has usually thick, heavy jaws on its huge head, an adaptation for catching and killing adult dinosaurs. It moves freely between the Isle's freshwater rivers and the ocean, using the sea as neutral territory for mating rituals and nesting. The young of this species live on the coast until they are strong enough to find and claim an inland territory : 32 ft. in length

Avunguis cristatus (Crested bird claw) : A midsized ornithomimosaur native only to the isolated ecosystem of Defluos Isle. Its colorful plumed head boasts a tall crest of knobby flesh. It can be found living in either large family groups or smaller groups of the same sex that often fuse during the breeding season. It has an extremely complicated mating ritual in which the males perform specific movements and gather gifts to please the females, eventually constructing a garish nest of reflective objects and rancid meat. It is not a violent creature, but can defend itself readily with the long, daggerlike claws- reminiscent of the thick nails of an emu or cassowary- on its powerful legs : 11 ft. in length and 5 ft. at hip

Calcitrosaurus macropus (Kicking lizard kangaroo) : A surprisingly fierce iguanodont that grazes in the open fields and savannas of inland Defluos. Although it blends in well among the tall grasses and brush of the Isle's open terrain due to its molted coat of tawny brown, black, and yellow, it is unafraid of all but the very largest of predators. Without armor or any real loyalty to the other animals within the large, loose grazing group it travels in, it might seem susceptible to predation when it is in truth a killer of predators, able to strike down all hunters but the native T. vir and the invasive P. imperator. It is well armed with powerful hind legs and greatly developed grasping hands. Thumblike spikes jut from both its forelegs and feet. Not only can it puncture lunging predators with its spurred forelimbs, it is capable of rearing up and grappling with attackers. It has thick, highly prehensile digits that can wrap around the jaws or limbs of predators. These digits are protected by thick skin. Once an attacker is held within its grasp, it will lean back on its hefty tail and strike the predator with one or both legs, often killing in a single blow. It is not a strict herbivore, but an omnivore. It feeds on the carcasses of predators it kills, selectively consuming certain parts of the body. It strips away the skin and then uses its spiked hand to paw apart the rest of the body until it reaches the bone, which it cracks open to eat the marrow inside. It will also feed on carrion and even crush smaller animals under its feet when the opportunity arises. To support its mixed diet, it has an assortment of teeth. There are thin cutting incisors to cleave meat in the front of its jaws and hard molars in the back of its mouth to splinter bone. C. macropus can raise up and walk on its hind legs for short periods, using this bipedal stance like a bear- to intimidate threats and reach leaves on high branches. It also rears to look for the Isle's large hunters as well as groups of smaller predators. It cannot battle more than a few small hunters at once. Despite its violent tendencies towards attackers, C. macropus is a generally placid animal and does not mind the presence of other omnivores or herbivores : 19 ft. in length, 6 ft, at the hip, 13 ft. when reared on hind legs

Callidusaurus halei (Clever lizard of Hale) : A small, quick troodont species renowned for a primatelike intelligence and a broad range of birdlike vocalizations. It lives in large family groups that share parental duties and teach survival tactics to their young as the adults learn. They pass down knowledge directly in the manner that orcas or humans do. This species learns almost everything it knows from its parents, who have learned from their own parents as well as life experience. They are highly curious and catch on quickly to new tactics and life styles. This makes it a highly adaptive species, able to adjusting to stark change in their environment within a single generation. This species possesses long digits and a fully opposable thumb as well as a mild venom that acts as an anticoagulant and blood-thinner. Its feet are very dexterous and useful too, plucking objects from the ground for closer inspection. The sickle claw of its ancestors has evolved into a curled gripping digit lined by spiny friction ridges. These ridges are as unique to individual animals as are human fingerprints. C. halei is known to mimic noises with its parrotlike voice, a skill it uses to combat predators. When young or injured animals are threaten, healthy adults will emit the panic cries of wounded prey animal to draw them away. They can also imitate the cries of larger predators. The mimicked roars of this tiny creature can be shockingly loud, startling even packs of P. rufus.  All animals of this species possess a dark head and thin hairy coat. This pelt varies in color widely, showing almost every imaginable earth tone between dull red and near blonde : 5 ft. in length and 2 ft. at hip

Cervusarus tenuicrus australis (Southern slender legged deer lizard) : A small hypsilophodont that lives on the wide plains and beaches of southern Defluos. Its legs are thin and deer-like, making it an excellent runner and swimmer. It has thick, blunt claws that are very much like hooves. These round nails are also slightly webbed for kicking at water. It has a thin tail made for moving through streams and rivers as well. They never venture into the sea through, easy prey for predatory fish and marine reptiles. It moves in large groups that are quick to startle and flee from sudden noises. This animals is found in a variety of browns and tans that blend in well to its low laying environment. Darker stripes and splotches break up their slender outline : 12 ft. in length and 3 ft. at hip

Cervusaurus tenuicrus borealis (Northern slender legged deer lizard) : A small hypsilophodont species that lives in the forest and mountainous terrain of northern Defluos. Its legs are long and thin, its feet almost hoofed, very useful for moving through rough terrain and making tremendous leaps. It is one of the most agile animals found on the Isle. It can navigate sheer cliff faces and scale towering trees. A slightly firmer animal than its twin species, sometimes choosing to face down threats as a group rather than to flee. In large numbers, they can even fend off tenacious hunters like V. depilis and P. rufus, although larger predator are harder to deter. Their shaded green hides are marked by a mix of stripes and spots that makes them sink into dappled forest vegetation : 11 ft. in length and 4 ft. at hip  

Clavuscauda pugnator (Hammer tailed fighter) :  A large hadrosaur native only to the isolated ecosystem of Defluos Isle. Its heavy, knotted tail is a potent defensive adaptation, allowing it to cripple small attackers and injure large predators. It is a very standoffish creature that can only stand to live in very small groups, typically in threes or fours. In numbers any larger, the animals quickly dissolve into aggressive combat with their hammerlike tails. The main hue of C. pugnator is as plain as the creature itself- a pale, sunbleached tan- but its tail is significantly more decorated. The long, clublike appendage is often striped by dull brown or gray-black and the raised knots and knobs of the tail are ringed by a deep maroon color. Before it swats away tormentors or bats as rivals, it often raises the patterned length of hard flesh high and sways it back and forth as a warning. The elevated tail can stretch over twenty feet straight into the air, twice the creature's height : 30 ft. in length and 10 ft. at hip

Coraxosaurus whitmani (Raven lizard of Whitman) : A small pterosaur native only to the isolated ecosystem of Defluos Isle and neighboring islands. It is named for its dark color and small size, which make it resemble a raven or crow. It travels in large, aggressive mobs that dwell on the barrier between of forest and grassland environments of Defluos and will relentlessly harass other pterosaurs and small terrestrial predators for food. This species remains awake during daylight hours, alert and ready to descend upon chance meals as they crop up, but hunts actively at night, navigating the thick forests of Defluos with batlike echolocation and sharp eyes. They apparently sleep very little : 4 ft. wingspan

Cronatocephalalus stiatus (Striped crowned head) : A  midsized ceratopsian native only to the island ecosystem of Defluos Isle. Its frilled skull is striped and brilliantly colored, a sign of both strength and maturity to its own species and a warning to potential predators. The irritated flicking of its head is a thing to be feared by predators. A durable animal that will aggressively defend itself and other members of its species with four sharp horns and thick, spiky cranium, it is not to be trifled with by any creature. It is a herd animal, moving in large groups ruled by an alpha individual of either sex. The challenge of the alpha can be challenged openly, but must be proved in combat : 25 ft. in length and 8 ft. at the hip

Echinocaudasaurus rostralis (Spiny tailed lizard with a beak) : A small, bipedal ceratopsian species found only on the island ecosystem of Defluos Isle. Its arched tail is covered in thorny spines, a defense against bold or curious predators. These spines secrete a hallucinogenic fluid derived from a poisonous plant common in the diet of E. rostralis. It is completely immune to the effects of the yellowish liquid, but other animals will experience vivid visions and violent sick spells upon physical contact with it. Its curved tails reeks with the pungent scent of this toxin, an olfactory red flag for predators. Most hunters have learned to avoid this sickening odor. Scattered numbers of the poisonous bipeds are can be found trailing behind herds of C. stiatus, picking at the vegetative scrap left behind by the larger herbivores with their clever hands and mouth : 8 ft. in length and 3 ft. at the hip

Ensiodus gorgo (Fierce sword tooth) : A large predatory fish with broad played scales native to warm waters, especially those around Defluos Isle. It is a vicious predator that will devour any creature or object that fits in its fanged maw, but is also exceedingly stupid and prone to terminating itself in imaginative ways. It has wide red eyes that glow under moonlight. They are often mistaken for giant tarpon, disguising their presence in the world's oceans : 15 ft. in length

Haliomonstrum bradburyi (Sea monster of Bradbury) : A large pliosaur known to bask in shallow waters or float on the surface of the open sea, absorbing warmth with its broad black back. The species has a deep, rolling call- a long guttural groan that is strikingly similar to a boat horn. It is a surprisingly docile creature, content with simply circling ships and other foreign objects when they encroach on its territory. It is even somewhat playful, nudging and bumping things with its great snout and trying to entice other creatures to chase it. Sometimes seen frolicking with groups of porpoises : 30 ft. in length

Lonchodon argentatus (Silvery lance tooth) : A large, smoothskinned plesiosaur suspected to be the cause of many sea serpent sighting and lake monster reports. Unlike its ancient ancestors, it is lean and fast and flattened, similar to a shark or ray. But more like a dolphin, it relies on loud clicks and songs to find prey and communicate. It is a somewhat sociable creature, operating in large, loose pods that will sporadically disperse and reform as the animal travels and hunts. It has no scales, and tiny hairs can be found growing from its nostrils- suggesting it possesses at least a semblance to mammalian biology. The iconic neck of the animal is held straight in front of the creature's body, parallel to the rest of its bulk. It is incapable of being reared above the water, true to predictions about ancient plesiosaur species, but displays an impressive degree of lateral movement. It lashes its small head to lacerate fish with its jutting, needlelike teeth and then snaps up the stunned prey : 35 ft.  in length

Megalodectes haliotis (Great biter of the sea) : A large mosasaur that plays a major role in the unexplored nature of Defluos. It is an aggressive, solitary creature that patrols its territory unendingly and attacks any intruders without hesitation. It has wrecked countless ships in a huge ring around the Isle that boats have learned to avoid, securing the isolation of Defluos. It navigates the dark waters surrounding the Isle using crude echolocation and a series of pressure sensory organs in its jawline. It shows vulnerability to sonic inference from outside sources though, both of its major senses affected by loud noises and powerful notes. Its jaws are huge and incredible powerful, lined with large, serrated teeth capable of sheering small Atrocisuchus and Lonchodon in half. It is unknown how large they truly grow : 50 ft. in length or bigger

Melanopennatus volans (Black winged flyer) : A small, toothed seabird native only to the isolated ecosystem of Defluos Isle. It is located solely on the coastline of Deluos and its neighboring islands, a hostile, opportunistic bird that merciless takes advantage of even its own kind : 3 ft. wingspan

Microgigantus defluosensis (Little giant of Defluos) : A small sauropod native only to the isolated ecosystem of Defluos Isle. It moves in mated pairs or family groups of three to four individuals. It is built with an inclined stance, its front legs much longer than the rear. Microgigantus is a gentle creature that cannot defend itself in any way other than its size, incapable of aggressive actions. The most violence it can conjure are loud cracks of its tail, a display rather than a method of attack. It holds its neck high and curled, forming a tall S-shape, only lowering its head to drink or pick at low hanging leaves. This behavior keeps its neck- a huge vulnerability- from the reach of its only natural threat, V. vir. Because it is so huge, camouflage is useless to this species. Instead, it is colored very obviously- a dark gray body, black crest on its crown, silvery stripes running lateral down its back, tail tapering into increasingly dark tones- black at its very tip- and a distinctive white spot on its throat. By rolling its head to reveal either the black knob or white throat sac, it can communicate the safety or danger of an area with others of its kind from a great distance, as they have keen eyesight sensitive to color contrast. This is also how its spots predators hiding in grass or brush, able to distinguish the subtle outline of a disguised hunter. It arches its lined back to express distress or anger. The whiplike tail tip curls fitfully as well. Microgigantus is one of the rarest creatures on the Isle : 53 ft. in length and 17 ft. at hip

Natasaurus enimducorn (Swimming lizard with two horns) : A large hadrosaur native only to the isolated ecosystem of Defluos Isle. Two long, ornate crests jut from the back of its head and are used for ritualistic combat during the mating season, much like the short knobs possessed by giraffes. This animal is found intermixed with herds of Platysaurous. It is a sociable species, but not great enough in number to form independent herds. Although it is rarer than its smaller relative, it is far more capable of defend itself, its flattened paddlelike tail used as a powerful whip, repelling even large predators. Its muscular tail also makes it an adept swimmer. It can move at surprising speeds in the water, faster than even the crocodile-tailed P. imperator. It is sometimes known to venture into the ocean, either to graze on marine plants or migrate to the many islands neat Defuos when predation or competition puts too much pressure on its population. The movement of this species is key to maintaining the delicate ecological balance on the Isle. It is the most widespread terrestrial animal native to the Isle due to its ability to cross the ocean separating Defluos from its numerous sister isles, found on nearly every habitable land mass in the archipelago. It is a very colorful species, bright red head leading an olive green body and striped tail : 26 ft. long and 9 ft. at the hip

Pachyocorpucola argosi (Stout bodied dweller of the fields) : A midsized nodosaur native only to the isolated ecosystem of Defluos Isle. It has a heavily armored back and skull, its armor composed of hard overlapping plates and boney scutes. The tail of the animal is lined by broad, triangular spikes that can close like scissors when flexed. Its limbs are ringed by rows of blunt boney quills. It is a solitary beast rarely bothered by predators, although not for lack of trying. It moves carelessly through opens spaces and sparsely vegetated forests, unafraid of almost everything : 21 ft. in length and 5 ft. at hip

Pennaraptor rufus (Red feathered thief) : A large dromaeosuar named for its maroon coat of feathers. It is a heavily built, robust animal- made for navigating tight spaces and performing sharp turns instead of high speeds. It can traverse the thick, tangled forests of Defluos with ease. It even runs through the treetops, using low hanging, mossy branches as a sort of highway above the forest floor. It leaps down from these winding paths of wood onto prey, piercing the jugular or heart with its long talons. It has the iconic sickle claw of its ancestors on both its feet and forearms. Males of this species have a thin crest and black collar of feathers sprouting from their nape. This raised ring of soft feathers grows more voluminous based on the dominance of the individual. Males higher on the social scale of a pack will possess increasingly thicker, fuller bands of raven plumage. The alpha has the largest mane and most impressive crest. This jagged crown is a sign of complete dominance and is respected by all members of the pack under penalty of death or banishment. There is also a dark pattern on the curved snouts of all individuals that resembles a black grin. This 'smile' pattern is slightly different on each animal. It is an extremely smart species, employing a number of hunting formations and killing techniques, as well as actively engineering new ones during the hunt. Packs communicate between each other with high pitched cackles that echo indistinguishably through the dense forest. Prey and rivals are unable to locate the source of these muffled laughs. It is also a tactic to unnerve prey and make them more susceptible to making fatal mistakes. This small hunter has been known to work with the small prowls of V. venator on the Isle, driving prey from dense vegetation and into the open where the larger predators can make the kill. The two groups of theropods will then share the carcass. This species is natural enemies with V. depilis, battling with the sabertoothed hunters any time they meet. P. rufus possesses a fairly potent venom that acts as a strong anticoagulant, as well as causing intense pain and feverlike symptoms in its victims. The venom is unlikely to kill on its own, but greatly weakens affected prey. It is worth of noting that P. rufus is not a strictly carnivorous species. They can be found feeding readily on fruits grown from seeds that have drifted to Defluos from distant shores. They are particularly fond of jackfruit, their sharp teeth able to crunch through its thick skin. Nests and dens can be identified by the scattered remains of these large tropical fruits. During certain times of years, this merciless killer feed on nothing but ripened fruits : 10 ft. in length and 3 ft. at the hip

Phobosaurus imperator (Fear lizard emperor) : A very large theropod, an invasive species to Deflous migrated from a nearby archipelago. Its dull brown hide is studded by numerous hard pallets of bone. These knobby osteoderms line its back and limbs like armor. It is considered a highly aggressive, very violent creature that will kill for the purpose of threat displays rather than food. Its head is heavy and gnarled, a battering weapon just as much it is a biting tool. It can strike prey and rivals alike dead with swings of its humped skull. The older an individual, the more disfigured and scarred its skull will be. Besides its thick, triangular jaws, it is also armed with powerful grasping forearms and a hefty tail that sports an impressive range of rotation as well as hard scutes. This serrated, crocodilelike tail is not only a dangerous tool for defense against other predators, it also makes the animal a powerful swimmer. It wanders beaches for dead sea life and will cross short stretches of ocean when it smells carrion on a nearby shore. Mature males of this species display a tall band of stiff black hair that runs down much of their spine, exaggerating the height of an already jagged, raised dorsal ridge. Adult males also posses a creamy dewlap of silky fur. This jagged throat sac can swell to bulbous sizes when the creature is upset. It is the female, however, that is the larger animal and stronger gender. Females do not share the bristly band of the male, but do possess a thick black stripe that runs down their dorsal, splitting the uniform brown of their topside and contrasting the creamy tone of their bellies. Males do have a similar stripe, which shows on all animals in early youth, but it is thinner and often hidden by the adult crest as they mature. Animals of both gender have large owllike rings of soft gray flesh around small red eyes. This species almost always operates in life-mated pairs : 40 ft. in length and 13 ft. at hip

Platysaurus vorator (Broad lizard devourer) : Large hadrosaur native only to the isolated ecosystem of Defluos Isle. It has hundreds of flat teeth in its large bill that can chew though even the toughest of vines and roots, making its kind notable for a very broad, flexible diet of plant matter. It is one of the most numerous creatures on the Isle for its hardiness. Males boast a colorful bill and inflamed stripes on their broad heads, while the females remain dull and easy to lose among the tress and grass they wander through in constant search of food. They are very voracious eaters that spend twelve hours a day foraging and sleep or rest in the shade for the other twelve hours : 20 ft. in length, 8 ft. at the hip

Rectorsaurus verus (True ruler lizard) : A midsized pachycephalosaur notable for its bony crown of ivory spikes. It lives in small harems, a number of females dwelling under a single dominant male. The ruling male is decided through s series complex combat rituals. The females observe from nearby and drive lesser males away by force, butting them with their boney head domes. When the alpha individual is chosen, the other males must disperse from the territory or be descended upon by the females. As is sometimes seen with lions, younger males that have not yet won a territory or females can be found dwelling in small groups : 15 ft. in length and 5 ft. at hip  

Repandorhychos lineatus (Lined turned up bill) : A midsized pterosaur known to feed by straining microscopic animals from seawater with its bristled teeth and scoopshaped bill. It is a wholly oceanic species, nesting on rock outcroppings and tiny islands around Defluos, but never on the main coast. It is named for the brilliant stripes on its wingtops, beak, and hairy, hunched back : 13 ft. wingspan

Sauropteryx agilis (Agile lizard wing) : A large pterosaur native only to the isolated ecosystem of Defluos Isle and its neighboring islands. It is a powerful and fearless aerial predator, swooping down on fish and other small animals in broad daylight as it circled high overhead. It can fly at extreme altitudes. Like some open ocean sharks, it is warm-bodied and able to endure the low temperatures of high elevations. Not even young dinosaurs are safe from its plunging beak. The thick serrations of this long snapping spear can cut even thick hides and scales. There is nothing it will not take if it is capable of doing so. It has even been observed to cannibalize other pterosaurs, including young of its own species. It is merciless during the hunt, screeching down from hundreds of meters up and striking prey so hard that the initial impact alone often kills. It is known to communicate with others of its species using the large, bright spots on its wings. It is a somewhat aggressive animal that will openly attack invaders and perceived threats, lashing out with its taunt wings and crested bill : 30 ft. wingspan

Tyrannomimus vir (Tyrant mimic hero) : A large theropod suspected to have evolved from smaller carnivores to mimic the tyrannosaur family. It is unusually lean and lanky for a predator of its size, and shows great speed and agility for a creature of such a weight class. One of its most distinct features is the two separate rows of teeth in its top jaw. Another notable feature is the tail. The bones in its tail are dense and rigid, like a baseball bat. It is usually used as a defense against rivals of similar size, swatting lunging jaws or charging heads away. It is also useful for trapped prey that dodges out of the path of its open jaws, curling like a stiff lasso and redirecting its panicked quarry. The curved plate on its head is extremely hard, able to break bones in animals of equal or greater weight when lowered and rammed into rivals at speed. The expressive, catlike muzzle of this species is dotted by small olfactory orbs that catch and amplify the scents it takes in, giving it the greatest sense of smell in the world. It can detect possible prey or rivals from anywhere on Defluos, the master of the island, although it is threatened by the recent arrival of the larger, more aggressive P. imperator. It lives in close family units that engage in planned hunts, each family member taking up a role. Its pale gray hide captures shadows well and allows the animal to hide under cover in as it stalks prey. Mature males of this species will grow a dark mane of feathers to attract females and intimate rivals, although this black collar will eventually be lost with age : 35 ft. in length and 12 ft. at the hip

Velocisaurus ventaor (Swift lizard hunter) : A species of midsized theropod known to be extremely fast, although this impressive land speed comes in exchange for faltering agility. It is actually a rather clumsy creature even when moving at speed, unable to navigate tight spaces or avoid obstacles. It is prone to mighty tumbles during the hunt, although its neck and chest are heavily braced by thick muscles to damped the damage from these falls. To overcome its poor agility, it will work with P. rufus, using their greater size to take down prey driven from dense jungle vegetation by the smaller, far more maneuverable hunters. This swift predator's body is drab green with dark tiger stripes, its hide patterned to blend into forest shadows as it lays in wait. It will bolt from trees and tall grass to surprise prey. V. venator lives in small packs with an undefined social structure, the strongest individual simply taking the best meat and mates as it wishes. This species also possesses a weak venom, the mild toxin acting as an anticoagulant to slightly augment the fatigue in victims : 17 ft. in length and 5 ft. at hip

Vermilupus depilis (Hairless worm wolf) : A species of unique predatory mammal that mostly prowls the small islands adjacent to Defluos, but can be found on the main land mass as well. It is an animal designed for stealth and trickery, tools to combat the far larger predators it lives alongside. It can best be described at a mix between a rat, a wolf, and some form of polecat- an elongated, low slung creature that lives in small social troops. It stalks the rocky beaches and shrub forests that ring the western side of the Isle, slinking between the stones or below the brush. Its naked peppered coat blends in well to the dark soil it treads upon. Its camouflaged length is perfect for ambush attacks, padded feet making almost no sound and its slender body able to hunker down low-  ribcage actually collapsing- and wait hours for unwitting prey to happen by. Its long, narrow skull is armed with four short saberteeth that it slashes wildly at the throat and chest of its victims, inflicting a number of wounds. It kills with the sheer quantity of injuries it can deliver in a short time rather than the accuracy or depth of these cuts. V. depilis is a natural enemy of the large prowls of Pennaraptor that roam the thick forests of Defluos, bickering furiously with the dromeousaurs wherever their territories meet. They are significantly heavier than P. rufus, stronger and sturdier in body, but equally outmatched in tactical intellect and numbers. This animal is an efficient burrower- it excavates long, interconnecting tunnels to form the complex honeycomb of dens it lives in with up to a dozen others of its kind. It is not uncommon for a lone Vermilupus to scratch out a shallow, lower itself in, and burst from the burrow when a prey animal wanders too close. Despite its species name, its blotched hide is not completely bare. There are stiff, quilllike hairs on the back of its neck and between its shoulders : 6 ft. in length, 2 ft. at the hip