Family of the Week: The Terasols
The family Terrosaltidae is made up of rather large, slender animals. The family is a descendant of the mongooses. Most species are quadrupeds, but Piscatoris hunts, standing bipedally for long periods in water, though on land, it is a quadruped. The head is long, with a long, pointy muzzle. The ears of these animals are small and round. The tail is long, usually as long as the head and body. The neck is long and slender. The fur is rather dense and harsh. They have sharp teeth and retractable claws. Though in Piscatoris, the claws are not retractable, and are much larger than they are in other species in this family. These animals are not really runners, but stalkers. They prey on almost anything they can overpower. Most species in this family are solitary hunters that prefer to hunt at night or in the late evenings. They rely mostly on sight when hunting, but they also use their relatively weak, but effective, sense of smell. Most species are relatively uniform in size.
The lightest species in this family belong in Cursotheria. Unlike the other species, this genus run more when in persuit of prey. As a result, they are better hunters than other species, which scavenge as much as they hunt. Much like today's cheetah, these animals start their hunt with a short stalk, and then a short, sprinting chase, which can last for the length of 3 football fields. The legs of these animals are long and slender, the feet are very streamlined, almost hoof-like. They are specially designed to hunt such animals as antelope and deer.
Piscatoris is the only semi-bipedal animal in this family. But they only walk on 2 legs when they are wading in the water. Their diet consists mostly of fish, but also some large river crabs, and large salamanders are consumed as well. The forepaws are designed like hands, with long, curved, sharp claws. They also have fleshy, ball-shaped pads on the tips of their fingers, which is bare, and harsh like sand paper. This allows them to grab fish without the fish having a chance to slip away. These curved claws are not really present on the rear feet. The rear feet in fact, are webbed. These animals are really slender, and when standing bipedally, they can tower over 6 feet tall. Their tail is long and stiff, unlike other species in this family. The brows over their eyes jut out further than in most other mammals, which acts like sunglasses, and makes it easier for them to see the fish they are trying to grasp. Despite their fisherman habits, these animals are only average swimmers.
The largest in this family is Imperator, which is about 12 feet long from nose to tail. This genus also scavenges more than other species. The size of this animal is enough to scare off most smaller scavengers. Though not all are intimidated by these creatures. Though like a whole pack of lions, this animal also hunts. But they hunt by stalking, not really running. They prefer to hunt the larger deer and antelope, as well as any other smaller animals they can capture.
These animals are good hunters, but are not immune to being hunted themselves. Deinognathids often hunt these species. Though these animals can very well defend themselves, using their sharp claws and teeth. But larger animals like the big Deinognathids, are undeterred by the weapons of these animals. The young are also vulnerable to attacks by predatory bats, large snakes and even others of their own kind. Females raise their cubs by themselves, and males that come in contact with the cubs will kill and eat them.
The lightest species in this family belong in Cursotheria. Unlike the other species, this genus run more when in persuit of prey. As a result, they are better hunters than other species, which scavenge as much as they hunt. Much like today's cheetah, these animals start their hunt with a short stalk, and then a short, sprinting chase, which can last for the length of 3 football fields. The legs of these animals are long and slender, the feet are very streamlined, almost hoof-like. They are specially designed to hunt such animals as antelope and deer.
Piscatoris is the only semi-bipedal animal in this family. But they only walk on 2 legs when they are wading in the water. Their diet consists mostly of fish, but also some large river crabs, and large salamanders are consumed as well. The forepaws are designed like hands, with long, curved, sharp claws. They also have fleshy, ball-shaped pads on the tips of their fingers, which is bare, and harsh like sand paper. This allows them to grab fish without the fish having a chance to slip away. These curved claws are not really present on the rear feet. The rear feet in fact, are webbed. These animals are really slender, and when standing bipedally, they can tower over 6 feet tall. Their tail is long and stiff, unlike other species in this family. The brows over their eyes jut out further than in most other mammals, which acts like sunglasses, and makes it easier for them to see the fish they are trying to grasp. Despite their fisherman habits, these animals are only average swimmers.
The largest in this family is Imperator, which is about 12 feet long from nose to tail. This genus also scavenges more than other species. The size of this animal is enough to scare off most smaller scavengers. Though not all are intimidated by these creatures. Though like a whole pack of lions, this animal also hunts. But they hunt by stalking, not really running. They prefer to hunt the larger deer and antelope, as well as any other smaller animals they can capture.
These animals are good hunters, but are not immune to being hunted themselves. Deinognathids often hunt these species. Though these animals can very well defend themselves, using their sharp claws and teeth. But larger animals like the big Deinognathids, are undeterred by the weapons of these animals. The young are also vulnerable to attacks by predatory bats, large snakes and even others of their own kind. Females raise their cubs by themselves, and males that come in contact with the cubs will kill and eat them.
Comments
Post a Comment