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Description
Struthiotyrannus
Struthiotyrannus
Meaning: Ostrich Tyrant
Description: Midsize tyrannosaur with very long legs
Species: S. crocketti, S. amplexus, S. asiaticus
Family: Tyrannosauridae, Albertosaurinae
Length: 20-23 feet
Lifestyle: Hunter
Range: North and South America, Africa, Eurasia

Distinguishing Features: The second fastest theropod on the planet (the first being Gongburaptor) the Struthiotyrannus is the racer of the grasslands. A very handsome theropod, it has red, blue, or green crests depending on the species and there can be interspecies breeding, and a pelt of feathers that is yellow with back spots that help to break up its outline in the grass. Adults pair for life leading a nomadic existence with no defined territory. This allows them to follow their ornithomimid prey freely. This is the only tyrannosaur that gives birth to live young. Only four to seven young are born and they are precocial at birth, which allows them to follow their parents as soon as they are born. The young leave the safety of their families at five years of age. Adults are sexually dimorphic with the somewhat smaller males having more vibrant and elaborate head crests and wattles. These come in handy during the mating season, when males display in leks to impress females. The male with the most brilliant crests wins a female. Fights between males are often violent and uncoordinated and often result in death for one or the other. Many males have scars on their flanks, necks, and faces from attacks like this.

Habits and Habitat: Struthiotyrannus is found primarily on grasslands, sparse forest or plains where there speed gives them an edge over their preferred prey; fast moving ornithomimid and hypsilophodont dinosaurs. The tyrannosaurs are faster than the ornithomimids, but cannot keep up for as long. This is why they ambush their prey. They will stalk prey for days and hide where there is cover. Then, when their prey comes close enough, they will attack with a burst of speed of up to 55 miles an hour to gain on their victim, snatching at their prey’s back legs and tail to send it tumbling. The victim is dispatched with a bite to the skull. Sadly, the diet of the Struthiotyrannus makes its body overspecialized, meaning it is vulnerable to bullying by other predators, climate change, or scarcity in prey. Thus, this animal’s existence is one that is on the edge of a knife.

The cheetah of the tyrannosaurs. Capable of speeds up to 60 mph, it is one of the most formidable high speed predators to evolve. I was inspired primarily by Alioramus for this creature, but ironically, it is closer to Gorgosaurus.

Description
Struthiotyrannus
Struthiotyrannus
Meaning: Ostrich Tyrant
Description: Midsize tyrannosaur with very long legs
Species: S. crocketti, S. amplexus, S. asiaticus
Family: Tyrannosauridae, Albertosaurinae
Length: 20-23 feet
Lifestyle: Hunter
Range: North and South America, Africa, Eurasia

Distinguishing Features: The second fastest theropod on the planet (the first being Gongburaptor) the Struthiotyrannus is the racer of the grasslands. A very handsome theropod, it has red, blue, or green crests depending on the species and there can be interspecies breeding, and a pelt of feathers that is yellow with back spots that help to break up its outline in the grass. Adults pair for life leading a nomadic existence with no defined territory. This allows them to follow their ornithomimid prey freely. This is the only tyrannosaur that gives birth to live young. Only four to seven young are born and they are precocial at birth, which allows them to follow their parents as soon as they are born. The young leave the safety of their families at five years of age. Adults are sexually dimorphic with the somewhat smaller males having more vibrant and elaborate head crests and wattles. These come in handy during the mating season, when males display in leks to impress females. The male with the most brilliant crests wins a female. Fights between males are often violent and uncoordinated and often result in death for one or the other. Many males have scars on their flanks, necks, and faces from attacks like this.

Habits and Habitat: Struthiotyrannus is found primarily on grasslands, sparse forest or plains where there speed gives them an edge over their preferred prey; fast moving ornithomimid and hypsilophodont dinosaurs. The tyrannosaurs are faster than the ornithomimids, but cannot keep up for as long. This is why they ambush their prey. They will stalk prey for days and hide where there is cover. Then, when their prey comes close enough, they will attack with a burst of speed of up to 55 miles an hour to gain on their victim, snatching at their prey’s back legs and tail to send it tumbling. The victim is dispatched with a bite to the skull. Sadly, the diet of the Struthiotyrannus makes its body overspecialized, meaning it is vulnerable to bullying by other predators, climate change, or scarcity in prey. Thus, this animal’s existence is one that is on the edge of a knife.

The cheetah of the tyrannosaurs. Capable of speeds up to 60 mph, it is one of the most formidable high speed predators to evolve. I was inspired primarily by Alioramus for this creature, but ironically, it is closer to Gorgosaurus.