Iguanodon

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

Band size: 5 sub adults/adults, 1-9 juveniles/adolescents
Hierarchy: Bonded pair

Mating bond: Monogamous
Nest size: 1-3 offspring per pair

Diet tags: Herbivore & forager
Preferred food: Berry bushes, acorns, roots, pinecones & flowers. Licks salt rocks for extra salt in diet

Behavior

Iguanodons are highly social creatures, tolerating other herds with little to no complaint, even offering affectionate sounds and relaxed dispositions. A herd is always made up of one mated pair and another of either gender, or sibling groups. Together they form a tight bond, showing acceptance, trust, and affection. Naturally not aggressive, Iguanodons prefer roaming from place to place and are rather curious. Their love for the water leaves them often basking by the water, napping, or splashing about, and the majority of their migration routes follow riverbeds and lakeshores.

Recommended behaviors

╸They enjoy migrating, never staying in one location for long.
╸Iguanodons living near big water sources like lakes and wide rivers also tend to use those as a fighting tactic or even an escape route.
╸Iguanodons often herd with and hang around other hadrosaurids like Lambeosaurus, Parasaurolophus and Barsboldias. Sometimes even big herds can be spotted moving around the island's plains.
╸They love to hoard objects they find interesting, so they can keep them for themselves.

Mating

Once a male is interested in a female he will follow her around, calling to her, lightly rubbing against her flanks, and nipping. Males are very persistent and stubborn, but so are females, and often will leave a male with the cold shoulder for seasons. A female will pick a male based on how bright and colorful his scales are, as well as his eagerness to pursue her despite the presence of other suitors and bachelorettes. Rarely do males fight over females, instead they woo the female separately trying to win her over.

Nesting & offspring

The bonded herd will find a suitable place to raise their calves, with females often leaving her eggs behind if an area turns out to be unsuitable. As skittish creatures, Iguanodons will leave their offspring behind if there is a threat, the hatchling’s only hope is to remain extremely still within any nearby shrubbery, to await a parent's return once the danger is gone. Parents only begin to actively defend their young once they can keep up with the parents, and by that time the young calves can pack a punch as well. Young Iguanodons are typically very selfish with food, and tend to eat as much of a bush so their siblings may not have it. This hoarding behavior can also be seen with their favorite snacks, pinecones and melons. They tend to follow their parents herd well into adulthood, though are not defended by them once they reach young adulthood.