Group Limits

• Cobble
  • 2-4 Sub/Adult Anodontosaurus, usually consisting of one sub/adult male with up to three sub/adult females. The makeup of this group may sometimes be split evenly between males and females, resulting in shared leadership and frequent conflicts between the males. Males are equally as aggressive as females in a cobble. Often adopts young of any gender, but only while young are already present. Does not group with the adopted young. Unlimited offspring.
• Grout
  • 2-4 Sub/Adult male Anodontosaurus. A grout only appears during Scorching and Frosting season, as they are the only times that males are docile enough to benefit from the grouping. May occasionally adopt young of any gender. May group with the adopted young. Unlimited adoptees.
• Gravel
  • 2-4 Sub/Adult female Anodontosaurus. A gravel may appear during any season, but fights often break out between the females in the group during Scorching and Frosting season. They are much more aggressive and territorial than a grout may be. Adopts only female young during Scorching and Frosting season, but may adopt any gender young in Blooming and Wilting season. May group with the adopted young. Unlimited adoptees.

Nest Limits

• Blooming and Wilting Season: 5 eggs, 6-hour Interval
• +2 eggs when nesting in a preferred nesting zone. The whole group will nest at the same time in order to increase the survival chances of their young using the “safety in numbers” tactic.
• Scorching Season: 1 egg, 4-hour Interval
• Can only nest in preferred nesting zones during this season. Nesting at all during this time is rare and only happens between very experienced individuals who have reared at least 25 direct offspring to independence. Only the females have to be experienced.
• Frosting Season: 0 eggs

Sexual Dimorphism

• Males
  • Males display bright colours and markings year round.
• Females
  • Females are equally as vibrant as males during Frosting season, but will dull their colours during Blooming and Wilting season. Will also dull their colours during Scorching season only if they meet the nesting requirements.
• Other
  • Non-conforming individuals are considered to be problems during Blooming and Wilting seasons. Dull bulls are often mistaken as females, which may result in other bulls attempting to court them. The same goes for vibrant sows, with females attempting to court them as well. Pseudo-melanistic bulls are seen as incredibly valuable mates to sows, as the contrast between the pseudo-melanistic black markings and the bull’s usual vibrant colours is often more dazzling than the typical bull’s display. Melanistic bulls, however, are rarely chosen by sows as mates due to them being mistaken for other sows. Albino individuals may have difficulty finding suitable mates due to other Anodontosaurus being unable to tell whether they are bulls or sows, but tend to be seen as very valuable mates despite this due to their ruthless aggression.

Habitat

• Prefers: Dense Woodland, Sparse Woodland, Desert, Valleys
• Neutral to: Mesa, Hills, Beach
• Dislikes: Mountainous, Marshlands

Activity

• Diurnal
  • Inactive Hours: Sunset to Midnight
  • Will sleep in a safe location for 5 minutes starting at Sunset and will take naps throughout the day when things are calm.

Diet

• General Herbivore
  • Will eat anything it can find.
  • Prefers berry bushes and tiger nuts. Loves melons.
• Grazes throughout the day when not guarding a claimed food source.
  • Forager diet is encouraged but not required.

Growing Behaviours

• Hatchling
  • Small and squishy, the baby Anodontosaurus will stick close to their group and huddle with their siblings for added protection. These small, potato-shaped babies are prime targets for hungry tiny - small carnivores.
  • Pebblets this young are often shy and wary of their surroundings. They don’t make a lot of noise and are easily frightened by the strange sounds around them. Though they come into the world ready to travel, they are hesitant to do so, and it may take some encouragement to get them going on their first journey.


• Juvenile
  • Once these pebble-like infants reach Juvenile, they tend to begin play-fighting with their siblings, having gained the courage needed to “come out of their shells.” They spend the majority of this stage testing their tails and learning to defend themselves, two key things to master before adulthood. They will continue to huddle with other young Anodontosaurus in the group during travel and during times of inactivity.
  • Juvenile pebblets are calm and curious. They still don’t make much noise, but they are confident enough to enjoy the typical antics one might expect from any juvenile creature. They enjoy inspecting the many interesting things around them, though they do so from their place among their group. Pebblets may venture nearer to an interesting item or creature alongside an older member of their group if given the opportunity.


• Adolescent
  • Now adolescent, the young Anodontosaurus are becoming much more confident and careless. They spend much more time venturing away from the protective huddle they’ve been using since their birth, and begin to explore the world around them. They don’t stray too far from their group during this time, and will often form a “buddy system” with one or two other young Anodontosaurus as they explore. This stage is the noisiest one they will have in life, as they will mellow out again before reaching adulthood.
  • Around this time, the young Anodontosaurus will fight with their siblings more frequently, and will occasionally attempt to spar with elder group members. Sub/adult Anodontosaurus may accept these invites and spar with the young ones, though the mother of the instigator may strike the older combatant if she feels that they’re being too rough. However, Anodontosaurus parents will not attempt to separate a spar between two adolescent young, no matter how low either combatant is. Deaths may occasionally occur, though the combatants often avoid it to the best of their ability.


• Sub/Adult
  • Nearly adult, the young rocks are on their way to becoming boulders. They separate from their parent group at this time, often splitting into smaller groups with the members they had formed a “buddy system” with in adolescence. Anodontosaurus may leave these groups to join or create unrelated mating groups when given the opportunity.
  • The young bulls and sows are often much more relaxed by this point, having already grown out of the rowdy and curious nature they had when they were younger. They take the time they have before adulthood continuing to gain their confidence and battle experience, frequently challenging groupmates or strangers to spars. Unlike adult Anodontosaurus, they may occasionally attempt to spar with non-Ano dinosaurs, which often causes some confusion for the other party as they tend to see the spar invite as aggression instead of play.
  • Once they’ve reached adulthood, Anodontosaurus are typically well-versed in combat, having had plenty of time to practice amongst their groups.They are bold and generally unbothered by predators, confident in their ability to survive. They rarely back down from confrontation, and fights with adult Anodontosaurus are often only ended through death unless the opposing party were to flee.
  • Adult Anodontosaurus are generally unpleasant encounters, as they see most other creatures as an opponent. Though they will not initiate battles with other herbivores without provocation of some kind, they are known to try to intimidate them into fleeing if they come closer than the Ano’s liking, using broadcasts (1-call), threat calls (3-call), and tail slams in an attempt to scare them away. There’s few creatures that an adult Anodontosaurus would not attempt to intimidate or battle with, and they make no exceptions for young.

Orphan Behaviours

• Orphaned pebblets are often the most quiet pebblets, and usually grow into exceptionally quiet boulders. These lonely little skipping stones will often be found hiding amongst dense shrubbery or finding themselves a cozy little hole to hide away in. If they’re lucky enough to find themselves a mothering sow or a particularly friendly Grout or Gravel, they will follow the group as closely as they can, blending themselves in with any young present or trying to attach themselves to any friendly-seeming adult.
• Any orphans who manage to be adopted will ultimately grow up the same as any other young pebblet would. Those who don’t, however, often grow into timid and reserved adults, staying quiet when others would be noisy and avoiding most social interaction. They generally avoid conflict, not feeling confident in themselves due to a lack of practice in their younger life stages, and may be less willing to instigate fights with predators or defend their food sources. Boulders who have failed to socialize as young often become outcasts in adulthood.

Social Behaviours

• Anodontosaurus isn’t typically social. Bonds between adults are rare, and bonds between parents and their children end the moment the offspring is old enough to fend for itself. Groups are made purely for survival benefits or for mating.
• Anodontosaurus may occasionally adopt offspring that aren’t their own, and will only adopt young Anodontosaurus that are hatchling or juvenile age. Adopted Anodontosaurus infants will be treated the same as the direct offspring are, but will not be claimed by any adult and will not get any protection benefits that come with being direct offspring.
• Sparring in groups is common between all genders and helps the Anodontosaurus hone their fighting skills, as well as determine which bull would be the best mate and father. These fights never result in death.
• When two Anodontosaurus, of any gender, encounter one another for the first time, there may be a fight between the two. This battle may begin for many reasons, whether it be an attempt to shoo the other away from a certain area, or to simply test the opponent’s skills. The purpose of the fight may become clear in the way they prepare for it. The preparation begins with a call of warning from the initiator, an aggressive grumble and snort, which will be returned by the opponent shortly after. Once the call is returned, the two participants will circle one another, keeping a distance of about two body lengths between one another. It’s during this phase that the intentions will become clear.
  • These fights will only be 1v1s, unless it is a contest for food or a nesting spot. In these cases, Anodontosaurus will have either 1v1s or 2v2s if enough members are available on both sides. Nesting spots can only be contested if the initiating group has at least 1 male and 1 female.
• There’s three types of unique contest “dances” that Anodontosaurus performs. You’ll find each in their respective positions:
  • “Grouping/Courting Intent” can be found under “Courtship.”
  • “Experimental Intent” can be found in this section, below this text.
  • “Aggressive Intent” can be found under “Territorial Behaviours.”

Experimental Intent

• “Experimental Intent” is a case in which the initiator intends only to have a friendly spar. This will not result in death for either participant, and will end once one party hits 50% health or forfeits using a 4 call ( ! ).
• To show Experimental Intent, the initiator will use the shake emote during the circling stage and no friendly call. The fight will only begin once the opponent returns the shake, at which point both combatants will stand and face each other from 2 body lengths away to start the fight.
  • Experimental Intent may extend to non-Ano dinosaurs during the sub-adult stage!

Interspecies Behaviours

• A lone Anodontosaurus may choose to trail herds of Iguanodon or stick close to an already full cobble, attempting to ward off potential predators with the presence of the nearby group. They will not herd with other species (excluding all sentry herbivores) under any circumstances.
• Does not allow grouped sentry dinos to eat from claimed food sources until all other group members are fed first. Doing so anyway may result in death, as the Anodontosaurus sees it as both an insult to them and a total disregard of their “generosity,” and they do not tolerate disrespect.
• Generally docile toward Styracosaurus and Iguanodon, but will treat them like any other creature if they enter their personal space. Completely docile toward Stegosaurus, unless actively guarding a food source. May occasionally allow Stegosaurus to sunbathe or travel with them, not caring whether or not they enter their personal space, but will never group together.

Territorial Behaviours

• Anodontosaurus claim no land.
  • Tend to be sedentary, only migrating when in search of food and water or a nesting spot.
• During Blooming and Wilting season, Anodontosaurus are tolerant of Styracosaurus and Iguanodon hatchlings and juveniles, allowing them to eat from claimed food sources. The only time this is not true is when offspring, juvenile or younger, are present in the cobble. Will not share with any herbivores who are not Styracosaurus or Iguanodon and not juvenile or younger. Any herbivore not fitting both criteria will be chased off. Will attempt to fight off up to Apex herbivores.
• During Scorching and Frosting season, Anodontosaurus are very territorial of food and will not tolerate any herbivores eating from their claimed food source. They are extra aggressive over food and will fight other herbivores in order to claim their food sources if the Anodontosaurus has none. Anodontosaurus may even attempt to challenge Titan-sized herbivores during this time, but this rarely goes further than just yelling at them, as even this stubborn ankylosaurid knows better than to pick such a fight.

Aggressive Intent

• “Aggressive Intent” is a case in which the initiator is attempting to make the opponent flee the area. While Anodontosaurus are not territorial, they may chase off other Anodontosaurus from their preferred areas, whether it be for a nesting spot or to preserve a food source that they wish to claim or already have claim to. This may count as a contest for food if the opponent has claimed the desired food source. This will only result in death for a participant if neither party forfeits before or during the battle.
• To show Aggressive Intent, the initiator will use the broadcast call and slam their tail against the ground during the circling stage. The fight will only begin once the opponent returns the broadcast and tail slam, at which point both combatants will stand and face each other from 2 body lengths away to start the fight. If this fight is forfeited or the opponent retreats before the battle begins, then the opponent must leave the area. If an individual is particularly confident about this fight, they may decide to broadcast before the battle begins, announcing the fight to surrounding dinosaurs in hopes of gaining an audience.

Hunted Behaviour

• Generally unbothered by carnivores, unless there are young present. Will make a show of bravery to carnivores who get too near, whether young are present or not.
• When carnivores size Medium or smaller are spotted,
  • groups with no young do not stress until the carnivore has started to show signs of hostility, is circling, or appears to be hunting. They will aggro call and broadcast to make themselves appear larger and more threatening, as well as to show their confidence.
  • groups with young will use their armoured bodies to create a barrier between the carnivore and their young, aggro calling to ward predators off and to warn that they will attack if they get closer. They will not circle their young and will not protect offspring that aren’t their own.
  • ungrouped individuals without young will always behave aggressively if a carnivore above size Small or groups of 6+ Small dinosaurs gets near, unless trailing a cobble.
• Does not tolerate Large+ carnivores and will act aggressively when spotted, often slamming their heavy tails on the ground and huffing as a warning. They will continue this behaviour until the carnivore leaves to a safe distance away or charges at the group.
• When sub/adult Anodontosaurus get into a fight with an enemy while outside of a 3 body length radius of a group member, they will be on their own in the fight, even if they enter the radius of another group member after the fight has begun. Adopted young Anodontosaurus will not be protected by any sub/adults in the group, as they are not directly related.
• Anodontosaurus will only defend other group members if they are within 2 body lengths of the attacked group member. Mates are only counted as other group members, and do not get special protection.
  • Parents do not defend offspring unless the offspring runs to them for protection or were attacked within 2 adult body lengths of the parent. They do not typically chase the attacker(s), but will act as an obstacle between the attacker and the offspring, causing fractures and severe damage with their tail to slow them and give the young Anodontosaurus more time to escape. Anodontosaurus parents may follow their offspring to safety to keep the attacker’s path blocked.
  • Males can only defend the young they fathered. They won’t defend the offspring of another bull.

Engagement Limits

• Limited only by their group size.

Courtship

• Males are more aggressive in Blooming and Wilting season, sparring and competing for the attention of sows when in a cobble.
• Anodontosaurus rarely bond with their mate, and will typically have a new mate each season.
• Same-sex pairings are seen occasionally, but are not common due to lacking many benefits since Anodontosaurus are not usually very sentimental creatures.
• Females choose their partners based on the performance of the bulls, often collectively choosing the best fighter to father the future pebblets. Sows may decide to stray and choose a different bull from the rest of the group.
  • If the courting is happening with members outside of the group, and there are no males or no females within a group, then please refer to the Grouping/Courting Intent rules.

Courting Intent

• “Grouping/Courting Intent” is a case in which the initiator is intending to test the opponent with the purpose of judging their skill level, using it to decide whether or not they would like to take the opponent as a mate or group member. This will not result in death for either participant, and will end once one party hits 50% health or forfeits using a 4 call ( ! ).
  • To show Grouping/Courting Intent, the initiator will use the friendly call during the circling stage. If the initiator intends to court the opponent rather than simply group, then they will follow the call with a shake. The fight will only begin once the opponent returns the initiator’s call and/or shake, at which point both combatants will stand and face each other from 2 body lengths away to start the fight.
• If the intent was grouping, then the result depends on who forfeits or loses. If the ungrouped member forfeited, they will not be joining the group. If the ungrouped member loses, then any group members of their opponent has will decide whether or not to allow the opponent in anyway. If the opponent forfeits or loses, then the ungrouped member will join the group.
• If the intent was courting, then the result depends on the preference of the individuals. If both individuals are solo, then they may decide whether or not they consider the other participant to be a worthwhile mate, and will communicate their decision to the other, using a friendly call to show their acceptance of the other participant, or a shake to show their displeasure.
  • If one of the participants in the fight has a group, and all members are female, then the group will collectively decide whether or not they wish to accept the potential mate. In this case, majority rules. The lone participant may decide whether or not they wish to join and accept the willing members as their mate(s), using the same communication strategy as listed above.
  • If both of the participants in the fight have a group, and there are not enough spaces in either group to accommodate all willing and accepted mates, then the mates will create their own group together, including all already existing mates of the male suitor that is splitting. Any mated sows with offspring will not join the splitting bull.

Notes

• Albino Anodontosaurus are easily startled and hyper-aggressive. They *do not* mellow out as they enter sub/adult growth stages, and may choose to be aggressive toward *anything,* using their usual methods of intimidation to chase off anything they deem any bit of a threat. They are aggressive toward ALL carnivores, regardless of size. Albino Anodontosaurus tend to make surprisingly good parents, as their high aggression and alertness helps deter threats and improves the survival chances of young in their group. They never forgive any perceived disrespect.
• Pseudo-melanistic Anodontosaurus are confident and show-offish. They like to flaunt their colours and make big shows in battle, often trying to fight the strongest targets they see as a show of strength and valor. More aggressive toward carnivores sized Large and above than any other size. They rarely forgive any perceived disrespect.
  • PSEUDO-MELANISM IS CURRENTLY UNAVAILABLE UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE
• Melanistic Anodontosaurus are confident and calm. They aren’t as aggressive as most other Anodontosaurus are and prefer to laze around rather than get into fights all the time. This doesn’t mean they’ll back down from a challenge, though, and they’re often more ruthless in battle than others may be. They aren’t afraid to take cheap shots at an opponent to win the fight, even if it means crushing an opponent’s curious baby under their tail for getting too close. Outside of battle they are surprisingly pleasant company, and often allow other herbivores of similar size or smaller to sunbathe with them. They are more likely to forgive any perceived disrespect.
• Sub/adult Anodontosaurus will only form “circles” when defending one another. They will not circle when defending young, acting instead as an obstacle. Parent Anodontosaurus will not attempt to defend their offspring through chasing/following the threatened individual if the parent deems it too risky for themselves. In this case, the young may be better off running in circles around the parent to keep the parent between themselves and the threat. Parent Anodontosaurus may decide not to defend offspring if they feel that the young are unlikely to survive. Anodontosaurus parents may also decide to exile their young at any age if they prove themselves unfit for the group (doesn’t listen or follow directions, works against the group in survival situations, is a threat to other group members, etc.).

Terms

• Bull = Sub/Adult Male Anodontosaurus
• Sow = Sub/Adult Female Anodontosaurus
• Buck = Adolescent Male Anodontosaurus
• Doe = Adolescent Female Anodontosaurus
• Pebblet = Infant Anodontosaurus (Juvenile and below), gender-neutral
• Rock = Adolescent and Sub-Adult Anodontosaurus, gender-neutral
• Boulder = Adult Anodontosaurus, gender-neutral

Stat Changes

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