Dinosauria
Dinosaurs are most certainly the most iconic and most memorable of all prehistoric life, and certainly the favourite of the public eye. Opininion on whether this is deserved differs, but they certainly captured the imagination of the world. It was rather disappointing then, that the Different World contained the results of the lack of the Triassic-Jurassic extinction, rather than the Creataceous-Tertiary impact.
However, dinosaurs are present on DW, in a rather similar capacity to their presence on Home Earth.
Birds. They are birds. Many booed and hissed when this announcement of the presence of dinosaurs was made, only to reveal they meant birds instead. However, these birds are far closer to the public imagination of dinosaurs than any of our world.
Birds of DW, perhaps because Notabats and Basilbrushes are mammalian rulers of the air, alongside reptilian Ribwings and Windsurfers are often more basal than ours. Many possess long tails, teeth in their beaks, or even claws and small stiff fingers projecting from their wings. Because of such adaptations, they often hold different niches to those on our world.
There are, however, two species of non-avian dinosaurs left in the Different World. Sauropods, the last of their kind, isolated in Malaysia by the Ice Ages
Class: Aves, Subclass: Enantiornithes
Order: Dontaraptoridae
Genus: Orcovultur
Helltures are one of the larger genuses of quasi-birds present in DW. Analoguous to HE's vultures, they happily coexist alongside other species that also fill this niche, such as the Coelurosauravid Griffons, mostly by adapting into unique relationships with them or by scavenging and hunting different foods. All have teeth and one wing claw, though their tails are very short, especially when compared to other similarly sized birds, such as Stymphs.
Savannah Hellture (Orcovultur savanna)
The largest and most common species of Hellture, the Savannah Hellture is found across the entirety of non-rainforest sub-Saharan Africa. One of many scavengers that dwell on the plains to feast the windfalls that come with living in the region. Whether it be death from age, sickness or predation, the savannah is a buffet for scavengers. The Hellture is one of these. Occasionally preying on small mammals and reptiles, they mostly scavenge the corpses of smaller terrestrial animals, though they will not pass up the chance of larger fare. However, despite possessing a powerful hooked beak, and four large cutting teeth, they are rarely able to open these carcasses. In order to pass this incovenience, they tend to lead other scavengers, such as Griffons to cadavers they cannot break into. The sharp claws and powerful jaws of their 'employees', however can. Both benefit from this relationship.
Shambling Eagle (Orcovultur europa)
One of the smaller species of Hellture, Shambling Eagles are by far the most northerly ranging. Found across most of northern Europe, even as far north as Scotland and Denmark, and reaching as far east as what is now Moscow, they are certainly a successful species. They are certainly well adapted for scavenging and hunting in these cold climes. For a bird, they have an exceptionally high biteforce, about on par with a wolf of our timeline. The hooked beak and thick peg-like teeth mean they suffer little problems tearing into frozen corpses. Even if they cannot open a corpse, they tease other inhabitants of the region, such as Barghests or Ornlus, into following them to the frozen cadaver, where the more powerful creatures can rip it open and feast as well.
Vulgypt (Orcovultur aegpyta)
Found across North Africa, there are two subspecies of Vulgypt, Dwarf and Greater. The Dwarf Vulgypt is mostly found in more arid ranges, such as the north of the Sahara, or in other places where food is relatively scarce, like mountain ranges, where they feast upon carrion, but also take live prey such as small mammals and reptiles, and occasionally bird eggs. Greater Vulgypts tend to be found in less arid regions, and are particularly numerous in the Nile Delta and on the Mediterranean coastline, where the forests provide a wide variety of food, both living and dead, as well as several predators capable of opening carcasses for it. Both subspecies practice brood parasitism, which is quite a feat for the Greater Vulgypt, considering how it is much larger than most of the birds in its area. There are some reports of them parasitising Coelurosauravid nests.
Order: Quasavidae
Suborder: Priminventa
'Burds' as they are known, were among the first creatures to be discovered by the initial Hungarian expedition. This is the blame for their often rather unimaginative titles. Whilst often holding niches similar to our passeriformes, Burds are renowned for their aggressive tendencies, and have frequently attacked Diff. explorers. Fortunately, most of them are little bigger than a Starling, and so are incapable of causing anything other than annoyance, especially compared to some of their larger cousins. Burds are often found near the larger Rhynchosaurs in a similar manner to oxpeckers, and also frequent the backs of some of the more gregarious Trilophosaurs. Found only in the Old World
Zöldburds, Genus: Chlorornis
Greater-Billed Zöldburd (Chlorornis magnarostrum)
The largest of the Zöldburds, the Greater-Billed Zöldburd is, like all Chlorornids, far closer in ecological function to piciformes such as toucans and frugivorous psitacciformes such as macaws. Found purely within the great expanses of the Congo basin, the Greater-Billed Zöldburd
Gregarious Kékburd (Kyanornis grex)
Common Vörösburd (Erythrornis vulgaris)
Screaming Sárgaburd (Knekornis knayeros)
Ballistic Feketeburd (Aithanodornis nobetos)
Disgusting Fehérburd (Aryennornis horridus)
Greater Karmosin Burd (Foinikokrokornis magnificens)
Order: Leipsanosauropoda (Relic Lizard Feet)
Family: Leipsanosauropodae (Relic Lizard Feet)
Containing two genuses, the Leipsanosauropods seem to be the remainders of a kind of Sauropod that never evolved in our timeline. Possessing traits similar to both Prosauropods and Titanosaurs, Leipsanosauropods flourished during the Mesozoic, but were greatly damaged by the K-T extinction. They managed slight regrowth in Asia during the Paleozoic, but species diversity declined with every Ice Age. The remaining two species seem to be thriving relatively well.
Genus: Kropionosaurus
Hooktail (Kropionosaurus uloias)
The smaller of the two remaining species of sauropod, the Hooktail is still an impressive animal, bull males being capable of reaching seven metres in length, and are easily the largest land animals on Sumatra. Very few predators can touch a healthy adult; even the largest Raiusuchids of the island will leave them well alone. Apart from sheer bulk, their main form of defence is their reason for their name; an impressive hooked spike extends from the end of the tail. Pointing downwards, Hooktails are capable of twisting their tails to some degree, as well as swinging it with worrying force. The hook is designed to snag a target's skin, either ripping it open, or getting caught in it, effectively allowing the Hooktail to throw smaller victims about. Bull Hooktails can be distinguished by their red colouring and impressive dorsal spines, while cows tend to have larger dewlaps. Living in small family groups, these giants are constantly on the move, browsing on anything in their path, and pushing smaller trees out the way. Insectivores and smaller herbivores follow in their wake to reap the windfall.
Genus: Asiaotitan
Green Jungle Titan (Asiaotitan mirificus)
Relics from a bygone age, these ten metre long herbivores are relatively common on the islands of the Phillipines. Their thick scaly hides are relatively unarmoured and they are usually a uniform green, though yellow individuals have been observed. Having no predators as adults, they live in small herds to protect their young, though occasionally they will come together in massive gatherings when food is plentiful, or to mate. They happily feed on most plant matter, but for the most part, they are obligate browsers, using their powerful peg like teeth to shred branches of their leaves. They are commonly associated with large numbers of birds, that congregate to pick parasites from their skin. Bulls will compete for females whenever one becomes receptive, bellowing and smacking each other with their heavy necks and tails. Eggs are laid and guarded in open areas, and young stay withh the family group until they are old enough to leave.
However, dinosaurs are present on DW, in a rather similar capacity to their presence on Home Earth.
Birds. They are birds. Many booed and hissed when this announcement of the presence of dinosaurs was made, only to reveal they meant birds instead. However, these birds are far closer to the public imagination of dinosaurs than any of our world.
Birds of DW, perhaps because Notabats and Basilbrushes are mammalian rulers of the air, alongside reptilian Ribwings and Windsurfers are often more basal than ours. Many possess long tails, teeth in their beaks, or even claws and small stiff fingers projecting from their wings. Because of such adaptations, they often hold different niches to those on our world.
There are, however, two species of non-avian dinosaurs left in the Different World. Sauropods, the last of their kind, isolated in Malaysia by the Ice Ages
Class: Aves, Subclass: Enantiornithes
Order: Dontaraptoridae
Genus: Orcovultur
Helltures are one of the larger genuses of quasi-birds present in DW. Analoguous to HE's vultures, they happily coexist alongside other species that also fill this niche, such as the Coelurosauravid Griffons, mostly by adapting into unique relationships with them or by scavenging and hunting different foods. All have teeth and one wing claw, though their tails are very short, especially when compared to other similarly sized birds, such as Stymphs.
Savannah Hellture (Orcovultur savanna)
The largest and most common species of Hellture, the Savannah Hellture is found across the entirety of non-rainforest sub-Saharan Africa. One of many scavengers that dwell on the plains to feast the windfalls that come with living in the region. Whether it be death from age, sickness or predation, the savannah is a buffet for scavengers. The Hellture is one of these. Occasionally preying on small mammals and reptiles, they mostly scavenge the corpses of smaller terrestrial animals, though they will not pass up the chance of larger fare. However, despite possessing a powerful hooked beak, and four large cutting teeth, they are rarely able to open these carcasses. In order to pass this incovenience, they tend to lead other scavengers, such as Griffons to cadavers they cannot break into. The sharp claws and powerful jaws of their 'employees', however can. Both benefit from this relationship.
Shambling Eagle (Orcovultur europa)
One of the smaller species of Hellture, Shambling Eagles are by far the most northerly ranging. Found across most of northern Europe, even as far north as Scotland and Denmark, and reaching as far east as what is now Moscow, they are certainly a successful species. They are certainly well adapted for scavenging and hunting in these cold climes. For a bird, they have an exceptionally high biteforce, about on par with a wolf of our timeline. The hooked beak and thick peg-like teeth mean they suffer little problems tearing into frozen corpses. Even if they cannot open a corpse, they tease other inhabitants of the region, such as Barghests or Ornlus, into following them to the frozen cadaver, where the more powerful creatures can rip it open and feast as well.
Vulgypt (Orcovultur aegpyta)
Found across North Africa, there are two subspecies of Vulgypt, Dwarf and Greater. The Dwarf Vulgypt is mostly found in more arid ranges, such as the north of the Sahara, or in other places where food is relatively scarce, like mountain ranges, where they feast upon carrion, but also take live prey such as small mammals and reptiles, and occasionally bird eggs. Greater Vulgypts tend to be found in less arid regions, and are particularly numerous in the Nile Delta and on the Mediterranean coastline, where the forests provide a wide variety of food, both living and dead, as well as several predators capable of opening carcasses for it. Both subspecies practice brood parasitism, which is quite a feat for the Greater Vulgypt, considering how it is much larger than most of the birds in its area. There are some reports of them parasitising Coelurosauravid nests.
Order: Quasavidae
Suborder: Priminventa
'Burds' as they are known, were among the first creatures to be discovered by the initial Hungarian expedition. This is the blame for their often rather unimaginative titles. Whilst often holding niches similar to our passeriformes, Burds are renowned for their aggressive tendencies, and have frequently attacked Diff. explorers. Fortunately, most of them are little bigger than a Starling, and so are incapable of causing anything other than annoyance, especially compared to some of their larger cousins. Burds are often found near the larger Rhynchosaurs in a similar manner to oxpeckers, and also frequent the backs of some of the more gregarious Trilophosaurs. Found only in the Old World
Zöldburds, Genus: Chlorornis
Greater-Billed Zöldburd (Chlorornis magnarostrum)
The largest of the Zöldburds, the Greater-Billed Zöldburd is, like all Chlorornids, far closer in ecological function to piciformes such as toucans and frugivorous psitacciformes such as macaws. Found purely within the great expanses of the Congo basin, the Greater-Billed Zöldburd
Gregarious Kékburd (Kyanornis grex)
Common Vörösburd (Erythrornis vulgaris)
Screaming Sárgaburd (Knekornis knayeros)
Ballistic Feketeburd (Aithanodornis nobetos)
Disgusting Fehérburd (Aryennornis horridus)
Greater Karmosin Burd (Foinikokrokornis magnificens)
Order: Leipsanosauropoda (Relic Lizard Feet)
Family: Leipsanosauropodae (Relic Lizard Feet)
Containing two genuses, the Leipsanosauropods seem to be the remainders of a kind of Sauropod that never evolved in our timeline. Possessing traits similar to both Prosauropods and Titanosaurs, Leipsanosauropods flourished during the Mesozoic, but were greatly damaged by the K-T extinction. They managed slight regrowth in Asia during the Paleozoic, but species diversity declined with every Ice Age. The remaining two species seem to be thriving relatively well.
Genus: Kropionosaurus
Hooktail (Kropionosaurus uloias)
The smaller of the two remaining species of sauropod, the Hooktail is still an impressive animal, bull males being capable of reaching seven metres in length, and are easily the largest land animals on Sumatra. Very few predators can touch a healthy adult; even the largest Raiusuchids of the island will leave them well alone. Apart from sheer bulk, their main form of defence is their reason for their name; an impressive hooked spike extends from the end of the tail. Pointing downwards, Hooktails are capable of twisting their tails to some degree, as well as swinging it with worrying force. The hook is designed to snag a target's skin, either ripping it open, or getting caught in it, effectively allowing the Hooktail to throw smaller victims about. Bull Hooktails can be distinguished by their red colouring and impressive dorsal spines, while cows tend to have larger dewlaps. Living in small family groups, these giants are constantly on the move, browsing on anything in their path, and pushing smaller trees out the way. Insectivores and smaller herbivores follow in their wake to reap the windfall.
Genus: Asiaotitan
Green Jungle Titan (Asiaotitan mirificus)
Relics from a bygone age, these ten metre long herbivores are relatively common on the islands of the Phillipines. Their thick scaly hides are relatively unarmoured and they are usually a uniform green, though yellow individuals have been observed. Having no predators as adults, they live in small herds to protect their young, though occasionally they will come together in massive gatherings when food is plentiful, or to mate. They happily feed on most plant matter, but for the most part, they are obligate browsers, using their powerful peg like teeth to shred branches of their leaves. They are commonly associated with large numbers of birds, that congregate to pick parasites from their skin. Bulls will compete for females whenever one becomes receptive, bellowing and smacking each other with their heavy necks and tails. Eggs are laid and guarded in open areas, and young stay withh the family group until they are old enough to leave.