Andrewsarchus
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Andrewsarchus mongoliensis (pronounced ANN-drew-SARK-us), was a basal, heavily-built, wolf-like, hoofed mammal that lived during the Eocene epoch, roughly between 45 and 36 million years ago. It walked on four short legs and had a long body, a long tail, and feet with hoofed toes. It had a long snout with large, sharp teeth and flat cheek teeth that may have been used to crush bones. Because Andrewsarchus is only known from a skull and a few bones found, whether it was an active predator or merely a large scavenger is open to debate, as is its exact time range.
Andrewsarchus is named for the famous explorer and fossil hunter Roy Chapman Andrews. It was discovered in June 1923 by Kan Chuen Pao, a member of Andrews' expedition, on a site in the Gobi Desert in Mongolia known as Irdin Mahna [variants: Erdeni-Mandal and Erdenemandal ('jeweled mandala')] on the third Asiatic expedition that was led by Andrews and sponsored by the American Museum of Natural History. The American Museum of Natural History is where the skull section of the fossil is now on display: the lower jaw was not found. It is classified in the Order Mesonychia due to the similarity in structure between its teeth and skull with those of other mesonychid species known from complete skeletons. As such, it is assumed that it had hoofed toes similar to those of Mesonyx or Sinonyx, and is regarded as a relative of artiodactyl ungulates.
Roleplaying
Originally Posted by
Shade of the En World forums.
| Andrewsarchus | |
| Large Animal | |
| Hit Dice | 9d8+45 (85 hp) |
| Initiative | +1 |
| Speed | 40 ft. (8 squares) |
| Armor Class | 14 (–1 size, +1 Dex, +4 natural), touch 10, flat-footed 13 |
| Base Attack/Grapple | +6/+18 |
| Attack | Bite +13 melee (2d6+12) |
| Full Attack | Bite +13 melee (2d6+12) |
| Space/Reach | 10 ft./5 ft. |
| Special Attacks | - |
| Special Qualities | Low-light vision, scent |
| Saves | Fort +11, Ref +7, Will +4 |
| Abilities | Str 27, Dex 13, Con 20, Int 2, Wis 12, Cha 6 |
| Skills | Hide +1, Listen +7, Spot +7 |
| Feats | Alertness, Endurance, Improved Natural Attack (bite), Run, Track[b] |
| Environment | Temperate plains |
| Organization | Solitary or pair |
| Challenge Rating | 5 |
| Treasure | None |
| Alignment | Always neutral |
| Advancement | 10–18 HD (Large); 19-27 HD (Huge) |
| Level Adjustment | - |
This animal looks somewhat like a wolf, but it is bigger than a bear and possesses hoof-like nails instead of claws. Its short fur has similar coloration to that of a lion, except in darker patches along the top of its neck and back, surrounding its eyes, and tipping its tail and feet.
Andrewsarchus (and-rooz-ARK-us) is a mammalian carnivore that resembles a wolf, but is larger than a rhinoceros. These predators tend to hunt and scavenge along riverbanks and shorelines of other bodies of water.
A typical andrewsarchus stands 6 feet tall at the shoulder and is over 15 feet in length. Its skull is nearly 3 feet long and 2 feet wide. It weighs about 3,300 pounds.
COMBAT
An andrewsarchus prefers to hunt other large mammals, tearing through flesh and bone with its enormous jaws and strong teeth.
Originally found in Dragon #167, "Back To the Age of Mammals", David
Howery, 1991.
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