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Martiitram β€” Paleoavitherium

Published: 2015-04-13 17:41:37 +0000 UTC; Views: 1497; Favourites: 41; Downloads: 7
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Description

This is a request I did for my friendΒ syphonodon.deviantart.com/ .



Paleoavitherium (ancient bird beast) was a genus of tapejarid-derived pterosaur that existed on the island continent of Austranesia from the Coniacian stage of the Cretaceous to the middle Eocene epoch.
It was a small creature, only being around 30 centimeters in length (a quarter of which was its head) and 3 kg on average. Unlike their beachcombing ancestors, Paleoavitherium was a stocky pterosaur, with an almost chevrotain-like body shape, and four slender legs which ended in partially webbed paws, and its forelimbs sported small, brightly colored wing fingers, which were used in displays. It had a rather short but flexible neck, which terminated in a large, almost comically large head, not unlike that of the large anseriformes of our timeline, like Gastornis and Dromornis. Like many other forest animals that it coexisted with, Paleoavitherium sported cryptic coloration and patterning, which was usually a coat of short brownish-black pcynofibres, with cream-colored spots near the underside. Males were usually larger than females, and during the breeding season, males would grow small blue wattles on the underside of their beaks. Surprisingly enough, Paleoavitherium did not have a large crest on its head. This would have been cost-effective, as this would get them killed easily by predators. As a result, Paleoavitherium had a small atop its head, which would turn bright scarlet during the breeding season.

Like modern day pterrestrials, Paleoavitherium laid their eggs in communal egg mounds, where the males would take shifts guarding them before they hatched. After the flaplings hatched, the guarding males incorporated the young into their resident herd, where they would be taken care of until they got large enough to found their own herds. In common with its semiaquatic ancestors, Paleavitherium still took to the water when threatened. If a predator, like a large mammal, theropod, or crocodylomorph appeared, they would scatter and jump into the water until the danger was gone. When moving in a heard, Paleoavitherium kept in touch with each other through rapid chirping and crowing sounds. When danger loomed, a repeating screeching noise was usually the signal for the herd to seek shelter.

Paleoavitherium was an omnivore leaning toward herbivory, eating mainly fruits, succulent grass-like plants, and leaves, although it wouldn’t be above chasing down and eating small lizards and sphenodonts. Paleoavitherium is believed to be a partial ectotherm, and this is what helped it to survive until the middle Eocene epoch.



Description by Syphonodon.

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Comments: 7

bhut [2015-04-13 19:45:02 +0000 UTC]

This could work, I suppose.

πŸ‘: 0 ⏩: 1

Martiitram In reply to bhut [2015-04-13 20:37:08 +0000 UTC]

Thanks...? Why wouldn't it?

πŸ‘: 0 ⏩: 2

bhut In reply to Martiitram [2015-04-13 23:23:53 +0000 UTC]

Oh, I was just making a generalized statement, sorry if it gotten confusing.Β 

πŸ‘: 0 ⏩: 0

Syphonodon In reply to Martiitram [2015-04-13 22:17:00 +0000 UTC]

The world may never know.

πŸ‘: 0 ⏩: 1

Martiitram In reply to Syphonodon [2015-04-13 23:13:29 +0000 UTC]

Most likely.

πŸ‘: 0 ⏩: 0

tamir985 [2015-04-13 19:03:00 +0000 UTC]

is soo cute!!!

πŸ‘: 0 ⏩: 1

Martiitram In reply to tamir985 [2015-04-13 19:22:53 +0000 UTC]

Thanks!

πŸ‘: 0 ⏩: 0