Lystrosaurus georgi 2007(2007) dmitrchel@mail.ru

Roleplaying

Originally Posted by

Shade of the En World forums.

On this Thread

This creature resembles a melding of pig and lizard, with a thick, barrel-like body and splayed legs. Its forelimbs look particularly strong. Its head is large but short, with high-set eyes and a hooked beak with two fangs situated directly behind it.

Lystrosaurus is a dicynodont, an herbivorous therapsid (“mammal-like reptile”). Dicynodonts are characterized by their parrot-like beaks, two tusks in the upper jaw, and barrel-shaped bodies with splayed legs. Lystrosaurus is a common, widespread representative of the dicynodont lineage.

Lystrosaurus is one of the few dicynodonts with near-worldwide distribution. They sleep in simple burrows during the day. Around sundown, lystrosauruses emerge from their burrows, congregating in large groups to protect their young from predators. At dawn, the herds disperse and individuals return to their burrows. When food becomes scarce, lystrosauruses dig for roots and ground water using their powerful forelimbs.

Lystrosaurus is heavy for its size, being about 3 feet long and weighing around 200 pounds.

COMBAT

Adult lystrosauruses have few natural predators due to their size (they are large for dicynodonts), though Small predators such as the cynognathus may take young lystrosauruses. Adults ignore Small or smaller creatures unless attacked by one, retaliating by biting. If a lone lystrosaurus is threatened by a Medium or larger creature, however, it will flee back to its burrow, but will bite as a last resort.

Originally appeared as "dicynodont" in Dragon Magazine #112 (1986).