Edmontosaurus Regalis

Tier: 4
Type: Terrestrial herbivore
Passive growth time: 2 hrs 59 min

Band size: 4 sub adults/adults, 1-8 juveniles/adolescents
Hierarchy: Matriarchal

Mating bond: Polygyny
Nest size: 1-2 offspring per pair

Diet tags: Herbivore & forager
Preferred food: Berry bushes, pinecones, roots & occasionally kelp/shellfish if accessible

Behavior

The smaller of the Edmontosaurus species, the Regalis has adapted its way of life to wide open grasslands where they thrive in great numbers. In large contrast to their bigger relatives, they very frequently intermingle with other hadrosaur species for protection and by extension are relatively docile to other herbivores as well. Their flexible sleeping habits allow them to adjust to just about any band or herd and makes them valued members of the group, as they are able to stand guard against predators throughout the entire course of a day. Females make up the majority of the herd of the species, bulls are often eventually pushed out by the matriarch of the herd. Males are nomadic in nature, and when not sharing the company of cows, will often form separate bachelor groups of their own with no real pecking order to speak of. Older and less hot-headed bulls may however occupy more permanent positions in a herd.

Recommended behaviors

╸Regalis are excellent runners and will almost always choose flight over fight when feeling threatened.
╸Compared to other hadrosaurs, Regalis are very active and socialize during the night.
╸With the guidance of the oldest female of the herd, the band moves to other pastures to avoid unwanted attention from potential threats.
╸Regalis often hang around other hadrosaurids like Lambeosaurus, Iguanadon, Parasaurolophus and Barsboldias.

Mating

The mating season is initiated by the calls of clear resonant tones of males attempting to attract females. The commotion often attracts competition from other bulls who will challenge for the exclusive mating rights of a herd of cows. This will often culminate to a mock fight between bulls that will size up each other and flaunt their bizarre crests adorned on their skulls. These fights rarely ever end violently, with bulls often calling out each other's bluffs rather than engaging in physical combat. Bulls are especially aggressive during this period, and are welcome in a herd of cows for a much shorter time, and so will roam from one herd of cows to another until the mating season is over.

Nesting & offspring

Females preparing to nest will migrate to marshy and wet areas where food is more plentiful, and is where their range will overlap directly with that of their relatives, the Annectens, who are tolerant and welcoming of their company and offer extra protection. Although bulls may accompany the herd, they play no role in in the care of the offspring, and are only primarily concerned with protecting their females from other males. Newborn offspring will rely exclusively on their mother as their primary caretaker, and mothers will steer their babies clear of males as their unpredictable nature can often lead to the accidental deaths of the juveniles. Female offspring will remain with the herd for the rest of their lives, whereas males will eventually leave when reaching early adulthood.