B I O L O G Y
I N T R O D U C T I O N
Alladontosaur [al-lah-don-toe-saur], often informally shortened to Alladon or simply Don, means "Different Toothed Lizard". They aquired this name after researchers noted the unusual placement of their canines compared to other modern day animals.
They are a hardy, fast adapting species and believed to be the last remaining member of the therapsida order.
There are three recognised breeds within the alladon genus, and all same practically the same biology (aside some rather striking physical differences). This document will cover the basis for all three unless specifically aimed at one breed in particular.
E L I T E
A N A T O M Y & P H Y S I O L O G Y
All alladons are quadrubipedal- they're able to effectively stand on both their hint legs and all fours, although their natural state is quadrupedalism. Domestic alladons will generally favour the way of their hosts and it doesn't take long for them to adapt their behaviour as such.
Whilst walking, an alladon will hold it's tail above the ground to act as a counterwight to it's bulky topheavy mass. Whilst on hint legs, the tail will usually be held either to the ground as an anchour, or at a right angle from the lower spine. Each alladon has it's own ways of balancing- some domestics/defectives/hybrids will use their wings as counter weights or walk with splayed legs and a hunched back due to never learning how to correctly balance. An alladon without a full length tail will find it extremely hard to move and may resort to a slower, more reptillian way of moving just to prevent it's self from toppling over.
Killing claws will be held differently by different dons, however generally they will be held at a 70° angle to the ground and will curl with the toe's movements. More dominant alladons will hold their claws more on show, whilst submissives will usually hold them as low as possible without hindering movement.
Alladons sport relatively short wingspan compared to
other aerial vertebrate animals. With males sporting a 14ft
wingspan (females with slightly shorter at 11ft) from tip to tip,
however shorter isn't uncommon. Alladons are power fliers,
generally only using their powerful wings for short distance travel to to better strategically place themselves when hunting. They are physically unable to make long journeys by flight and will often use wind as an aide to lift.
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They have a unique attack known as a 'Death Kick', where they will drop out of the sky during a hunt [see Behaviour for more].
Wild living alladons require 8000cal a day to absolutely thrive to peak fitness. A pack well fed will usually produce the highest number of strong, high scoring offspring. However, an overfed alladon that then goes into hibernation or a low-mobility state can survive up to 7 months without another meal before starvation ensues- however this type of fasting must be conditioned into them. They are extremely well adapted to make the most of bountiful times and barren times.
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Male alladons can weigh anywhere between 15 and 26 stone (95kg - 165kg) completely dependant on their genes and their environment.
Females usually weigh in at around 10 and 19 stone (63kg - 120kg) again, dependant on factors.
Alladons have a highly developed vocal system that allows to accurately mimic sounds from their environment should they need to. Generally, females and smaller males are better at this than larger males. This process does take time to learn. An alladon will learn quicker when in an adapt state (known as Adjustment) (example: a bird call that would take a month to learn normally can be mastered within a fortnight). Their natural sounds consist of a range of clicks chuffs and grunts, as well as an ear piercingly loud scream that alerts any alladon within an 8km radius.
Males will stand around 5'1" whilst on all fours, and anywhere between 6'3" - 7'10" on their hint legs.
Females will normally stand shorter than this at around 4'9" on fours and 5'10" - 7'2" on hints. However height variables are very common.
Alladons can live for up to 120 years- reports of some even
lasting as long as 136. But age will take it's toll the older they get. Health problems will usually take domestics
at around 95, and ferals at around 78.
C L A S S I F I C A T I O N
> Kingdom: Animalia
> Phylum: Chordata
> Superclass: Tertapoda ("Four Feet")
> Clade: Reptilomorpha
> Clade: Amniota ("Membrane Surrounding the Fetus")
> Order: Therapsida
> Suborder: Kleidaradontia ("Lock Tooth", reffering to the overlapping- oversized canines.)
Q U I C K A N A T O M Y
Alladons are extremely, visibally muscular creatures sporting both mammallian and reptillian traits (they would become the only other order to evolve feathers other than early-reptiles and birds). They're the only documented vertebrate species to have evolved a third pair of practical appendages even though these do seem to labour the animals sometimes. Both males and females have two short- yet sturdy- horns that are fused to the alladon's skull. Unlike deer or other mammalian species, alladons do not shed their horns. They have very strong back legs, large didactyl feet and a smaller, elevated toe on the outside of their feet. The have strong arms, five digits with posable thumbs and hard, keratin like 'claws' on the end of their fingers (these are usually the same colour at the alladon's skin- they do not have 'claws' like reptiles and mammals). They're built for enduring long distance runs to travel across rough terrain or to chase down prey.
Alladons do not have scales- rather, a rough skin that is thicker in certain areas that gives off a 'cracked' look (similar to large African mammals). Unlike other kleidaradons, alladons originate from freezing unforgiving peaks of Scotland. Due to this, the species has evolved a layer of adipose tissue- up to 2cm thick- underneath the skin to help insulate from bitter winds and extremely low temperatures at night. It's because of this, alladons do not generally do too well in hotter climates and overheat quickly. It's usually the larger males that suffer the most. Unlike mammals and reptiles, Alladons can actually sweat- but most internal heat is expelled through panting. Dons do have a small patch of primative fur on their bellies (with the exception of darkdons). It's believed this evolved to help females incubate the premature pouchlings as they grew and was never lost in males (even though they do not posess the pouch). Females have a specific kind of wavey, silk like fur inside the pouch that helps regulate the young's temperature and to help cushion bumps should the female be knocked in any way (a similar function to bubble wrap).
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An alladon's head is predominantly shaped by it's thick, prehistoric structured skull. The thick width of the muzzle supports the relatively large, wide teeth that are set in the skull. Alladons have enlarged canines that are fused into the skull- this will happen around sexual maturity and can lead to mild/extreme teething pains. Males canines are larger than the females and will petrude out from the mouth. In some cases of malnutrition growing up, the canines will not grow to the natural size and will stay within the lips of the male. As the name suggests, alladons have 'different teeth' to most mammal and reptiles. Even prehistoric fossil records of other therapsids have demonstrated the usual 'lower canines first' jawset. It's been speculated that alladons evolved this way as to allow room for their sabre-like teeth to grow.
The skull also has a large opening to accommodate the large, bulbous nose of the don. Alladons have around 45 million olfactory receptors (microscopic proteins that allow the detection of odour), thats around 9x stronger than a humans sense of smell. As well as this, they are able to see relatively well in low light.
They have around 520 million rod cells in their retinas, which help them determine movement against a stationary ground in the pitch of darkness. As well as this, an alladon's 6-7 million cone cells help them depict colour, distance in higher resolution and high-light seeing. Despite having fairly poor vision compared to other aerial predators, don's rather unique ability to see in any kind of lighting has helped them survive for so long in barren wastelands with minimal food. Alladons also struggle to see high vibrancy in certain colours: except red. Very bright pinks, greens and blues will disorientate them mildly as their eyes will struggle to focus on the colours. The tapetum lucidum (a small shield in the eye to help reflect light onto the retina) in alladons is slightly more reflective than other species, and so the pupil never truly appears black. This also makes don eyeshine when put under a spotlight glearingly bright.
An alladon's hearing is relatively similar to a humans, around 20 Hz to 20 kHz. Deafness is a common ailment in elderly alladons.
A D R E N A L I N E & M O R I
Unique to kleidaradons is an exceptionally well evolved adrenaline system that acts as both a blessing and a curse to the animal. Alladons are the only known creature to have adapted to a toxic chemical produced in their body known as the 'mori' hormone.
Like with other living animals, the sympathetic nervous system (SNS) and adrenocorticoptropin hormone (ACTH) kick off the synthesis of adrenaline. A large amount of anything released into the bloodstream can spread throughout the body in a matter of seconds because of blood circulation. The reason the effect is felt quickly is because there are adrenaline receptors all over the body that are ready to bind to that adrenaline. Once binding takes place, they produce responses such as vasoconstriction, increased heart rate, bronchodilation, to name a few effects.
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In alladons, it's formed in adrenal glads like all vertebrates. SNS and ACTH begin to synthesize adrenaline, however a unique gland called the putredine gland also releases another chemical known as the mori hormone. This acts as an amplifier to the adrenaline receptors all over the alladons body, which prolongs the effects of the adrenaline. Mori hormones further boosts the supply of oxygen and glucose to the brain and the muscles. Alongside the adrenaline, it acts as a steadier release from the hightening effects and can last for as long as three times longer than most normal vertebrates. In alladons, this is simply reffered to as a 'rush'.
Mori hormones can also act very aggressively towards the creature's body if not correctly worked off- steadily. If exercise was to immediately cease after a rush, the mori are allowed to stagnate in the blood vessels and will begin to trigger an effect that can be seen in the early stages of decomosition in alladons. During organ failure, the body will go into a type of shock which will trigger the adrenal system to attempt to save it. Sometimes, this will keep the heart beating for longer than it should do which can result in multiple organ shut-downs whilst the alladon is still visibly alive (this is usually observed if they are shot multiple times or have had internal organs ripped out/open). The visible effects can lead to a zombie like reflex from anything between 5 seconds to a minuet; with stunted walking, fitting, snapping, screaming, gliding- all dependant on which parts of the body fail and how much of the adrenaline is still in the system. Over time, this will ware off and the alladon will finally fall.
If the heart ceases to pump blood around the body, the stagnent mori hormones in the blood vessels will begin to trigger a type of extreme muscular atrophy, which in the latter stages attacks the skeletal system too. It's been observed that the enzyme MuRF1 plays a part of this process. The degredation starts with softer tissues, such as blood vessels, tendons, ligaments and fats. As time goes on, the remnants of the dismantled tissues will begin to turn a putrid red-brown colour. When the pulp has begun to turn, it amplifies the effects of the mori hormones as if begins to work on the harder tissues in the body. Eventually, working down to the bones. Coupled with the additional side effects of decomposition, the remains of an alladon are almost non-existent once decomposition has completed naturally. The only time the effects of mori haven't been successful has been when the subject has been completely frozen over the course of seconds (elite. A1J6 - Scotland 1973).
S E N S E O F S M E L L / F A C I A L
Alladons sense of smell is probably their weakest sense, however this by all means doesn’t mean it’s useless. Alladons have around 10 million olfactory receptors in their nose (a human has 6 mill.), which means they can detect smells on the wind, or identify certain tracks if particularly strong or bloody, but they cannot track with scents alone. The part of the brain dedicated to analysing the information given by the nose, whilst not particularly powerful, is extremely good at linking emotions or memories with those smells. So it isn’t uncommon for alladons to link certain memories with certain smells, which can cause mild to large emotional responses.
Certain dons have adapted a very unique method of hunting in poor vision however. They make use of primordial, tiny sensory buds around the front of their maws that link with extremely sensitive skin around their noses and lips. When pressed against the ground, the alladon can identify the definitive vibrations from moving prey, what kind of prey they’re from, how far away they are and how many. This is a very specific method that certain bloodlines have perfected and isn’t used by all packs. Some dons have more sensitive facial sensory buds than others, however this does naturally make a lot of alladons sensitive to being bumped on the front of their face. It’s also believed dons haven’t evolved these features out due to the very intricate and delicate process of pouching, where a poucher will be able to feel and interpret tiny motions from their mother which can prepare them for a feed, keep them quiet when appropriate or other kinds of gestures.
Another theory says that these sensory buds help alladons detect wind currents in flight and can give them the direction to a necessary lift faster than allowing the body to detect lift it’s self.
These features are remnants of an age where prehistoric alladons were more waterbound than terrestrial, and would use these senses to detect thrashing prey in the water.
S E X U A L R E P R O D U C T I O N
An alladon is fully developed and reaches sexual maturity at the age of 12. It's believed this evolved to tie in with the alladon's natural heat cycle of 4 years. Despite this, it is frowned upon in a pack culture for one so young to breed, as the founding structure for alladons successful survival is the utmost care for it's young. So, males and females are only allowed to consider breeding at the age of 16, having spent the 4 mature years being schooled on the care of their future offspring.
Female alladons are uncommonly known as Fhearrs, males as Deanamhs. These are sometimes shortened to fhears and deans, but the more commonly used term for sexual differentiation is the standard female and male identifications. These terms are both correct, but are more commonly used when referring to breeding pairs.
Once copulation has been successful, a dean’s sperm can survive inside a fhear for up to a week before losing it’s potency. During which time he is at risk of competing with potential other suitor for the fhear. Although fertilisation is almost assured if the pair are the only two in the relationship, and copulation was concluded fully and successfully- particularly if they mate more than once in her season- just one competitor at any point will risk the male loosing the child rights for that season. Due to this, it is most males instinct to become overbearingly protective of their fhears once they have mated- even when it isn’t season. Most won’t leave her side until she begins showing the early signs of pregnancy- or when out of season, it’ll wear off over a few hours-days.
Once fertilised, a female can delay her pregnancy for around 10 months if dire situations befall her. A female can only delay her pregnancy when the ebryo is between 2-8 weeks of development- if the body tries any later than this it risks termination. It is usually body temperature or starvation that will trigger the delayed implantation, however the female can voluntarily choose to do this if she is under stress (which is very common for young fhears of lower ranks who are trying to hide their pregnancies from higher ranking dons). However, broods will not last any longer than a year, as yearlings are expected to be walking and strong enough to defend themselves against small predators by this age, and the fhear is expected to be back serving the pack. Birthing at this stage can be dangerous for both fhear and pouchling.
Deans are usually very active fathers. They will tend to a fhears every need, usually against her will. Being independent, most fhears want to continue to provide for the pack as usual, but being a doting soon to be parent, the dean’s usually beg to differ. It is extremely common that females will become their own ‘pack in a pack’ when with child, with elder or more experienced females aiding the younger fhears with any issues or pains they may have. This collection of fhears with child is known as a Brood. In most packs, when baring pregnant females, the hierarchy will become Alpha Female, Baring fhears, pouchers, Alpha male, Betas (…and then so on) with most of the males and non-baring females acting as guardians for the brood.
Hang in there!
This part is a work in progress!