Restoration of Early Jurassic environment preserved at the SGDS, with the theropod Dilophosaurus wetherilli in bird-like resting pose, demonstrating the manufacture of SGDS.18.T1 resting trace. 2009. Heather Kyoht Luterman
The weak skulll of this monster prevents strong jaw muscle attachments, so it uses its taloned hind feet, especially its spurs, to inflict horrible wounds on its prey while its snakey neck darts into inflict smaller bite damage.
Roleplaying
Originally Posted by
Shade of the En World forums.
Dinosaur, Dilophosaurus
Large Animal
Hit Dice: 7d8+14 (45 hp)
Initiative: +6
Speed: 50 ft. (10 squares)
Armor Class: 16 (-1 size, +2 Dex, +5 natural), touch 11, flat-footed 14
Base Attack/Grapple: +5/+14
Attacks: Talons +10 melee (2d6+5)
Full Attack: Talons +10 melee (2d6+5) and bite +8 melee (1d4+2 plus poison)
Space/Reach: 10 ft./5 ft.
Special Attacks: Poison, pounce
Special Qualities: Low-light vision, scent
Saves: Fort +7, Ref +7, Will +4
Abilities: Str 20, Dex 15, Con 14, Int 2, Wis 15, Cha 11
Skills: Listen +11, Spot +11, Survival +6
Feats: Ability Focus (poison), Multiattack (B), Run, Track
Environment: Warm forest, plains and desert
Organization: Solitary or pair
Challenge Rating: 5
Treasure: None
Alignment: Always neutral
Advancement: 8-14 HD (Large), 15-21 HD (Huge)
Level Adjustment: -
This slender biped has a long neck, powerful rear legs and a long darting tail. Its most noticeable feature are its two bony frills running the length of its skull.
Dilophosaurus are large carnivorous dinosaurs that have evolved several unusual hunting strategies.
A dilophosaurus stands about 5 feet high at the shoulder, and is nearly 20 feet long, although much of this is tail. It weighs about 1,000 pounds. Its head is its most unusual feature; the lower jaw is unusually thin and weak for a creature of its size, and the upper jaw has a distinctive kink near the tip of the snout, where the creature’s venom glands are located. Two bone plates run along the length of the head. Dilophosaurs are an intermediate species between ceratosaurs and coelophysises.
COMBAT
Dilophosaurus are not particularly stealthy hunters, but they do not need to be. They rely on their speed to chase down potential prey, and rake at it with their strong hind legs. On particularly large and strong prey, they deliver a venomous bite and retreat, waiting for the poison to take its effect before finishing off the wounded animal.
Poison (Ex): Bite, Fortitude DC 17, initial damage 1d6 Str plus permanent blindness, secondary damage 1d6 Str. The save DC is Constitution-based.
Pounce (Ex): If a dilophosaurus charges a foe, it can make a full attack.
Spitting Dilophosaurus
A variant dilophosaurus has a retractable neck frill and is capable of spitting its venom once every 3 rounds as a ranged touch attack with a maximum range of 10 feet.
Originally appeared in Monster Manual II (1983).