Necrorex

The Necrorex (Necrorex fatalis) are a species of sapient, genetically modified, thyreophoran dinosaurs created by the Progenitors around 10,000 years ago.

History

The Necrorex were first created around 10,000 years ago by the Progenitors, for use as beasts of burden, laborers and gladiators.

Eventually, the Necrorex rebelled against their creators killing many of them as a part of the Saurian Revolution where they began to live freely and etch out their own place it the ecosystem.

Biology and Anatomy

Necrorexes were created by modifying the Progenitors’ own DNA, and so their anatomy and body structure are very similar, only modified slightly to accommodate their colossal size, with the average Necrorex is 25 to 30 feet in length and can weigh up to 5.5 tons. Several other smaller differences from the Progenitors include; their head crest being flat and shield-like akin to a ceratopsian as opposed to the thin blade-like crest of Zetheilerius, multiple prongs on their nasal horn and a much more pronounced and keratinized beak, and a heavy, clubbed thagomizer at the end of their tails rather than sharp, blade-like spines.

When young, Necrorexes appear like bulkier Zetheilerius and much like their genetic ancestors are exceptional climbers. Additionally, young Necrorexes are primarily bipedal and have dexterous hands allowing them to finely manipulate objects. Though, as they mature and become larger, their increased weight forces them to support the additional weight with their forelimbs giving the species a quadrupedal, ape-like posture, walking on their knuckles like gorillas or anteaters.

Because a Necrorex’s hands bear the most weight they are thickened and are greatly reduced in dexterity compared to a Zetheilian or even a young Necrorex. Only really capable of basically manipulating and holding objects.

Thankfully for the Necrorex their hands are not necessary for performing fine motor functions, and their eight-tipped prehensile tongue is able to perform any matter of task just as sophisticatedly as any human or saurian hands. The tongue-tips can be moved independently by using a heavily modified hyoid bone and ribs to ‘puppeteer’ the tentacle-like appendages with extreme precision. Though much like the rest of the Necrorex’s anatomy this too has been modified for combat. A Necrorex’s tongue is covered in thousands of retractable spines, barbs and hooks that can be used to hook onto prey to prevent escape, inflict hundreds of small cuts onto prey and enemies or even to aid in grip when holding difficult items,

Though their large size prevents them from climbing, a Necrorex’s powerful arms and robust hands make them excellent diggers.

Behavior, Society and Culture

The Necrorex are a tribal people living in small family groups out on the steppes of Southern Moshkho and the Necrorex Islands. A Necrorex village or warren is comprised of several burrows

One of the most noticeable aspects of a Necrorex is the pungent stench they seemingly emit. This scent is a combination of the oils naturally produced by their skin as well as from rotten meat that Necrorex will roll around in to accent the oil’s natural smell.

Necrorex mothers lay their eggs together in a large communal nest, where they are incubated beneath large piles of rotting vegetation. Upon hatching the young Necrorexes are ravenously hungry and if left unsupervised will kill and eat their siblings and cousins, if left for too long some may even gorge themselves to death.

Once separated and fed the children are raised by a tightly knit unit of females often comprising of many generations of mothers, daughters and sisters who all work together to raise the young as best they can. The fathers of the offspring are largely absent in their children’s lives either being chased off by the females or being responsible for hunting in order to feed the family.

The young are raised for 8 years, then the females are invited to join the community and the males chased off.

Males form small, but very close bands of brothers and/or cousins, setting out to find a community of females, fight other males and hunt mid-to-large sized game on the plains.

Known Representatives

Tethys
Rheic