Coelurus fragilis

   The following is only a science-fiction guide based on scientific research, speculations, and behaviors of both extinct & non-extinct animals. Therefore, none of the information included in these species' profiles should be considered valid under any circumstances. Please do not take some of the sentences I have written seriously.

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Coelurus fragilis

"Fragile Hollow Tail"

Length:2.62 m(8.59ft) Height:0.7 m(2.29ft) at the hip Weight:16.5kg (36.5lbs ) Lifespan:10-20 years

Brief Information & Description: Coelurus is a genus of coelurosaurian theropod that paleontologists had historically misunderstood. In 1879, American paleontologist and naturalist Othniel Charles Marsh discovered a partial skeleton that included vertebrae fossils from the back and tail; Marsh was impressed with the hollow interiors of the thin-walled vertebrae that named the fossil  Coelurus fragilis, thinking  his new genus as an "animal about as large as a wolf, and probably carnivorous." These fossils would prove that Coelurus was the first named small theropod discovered within the Morrison Formation despite Marsh initially uncertain that it was a dinosaur until he returned to the area two years later to illustrate some bones and both the new order Coeluria and family Coeluridae. The dinosaur's story becomes more complex from its initial discovery as its skeleton was scattered throughout the quarry, with paleontologists recovering the remains from September 1879 to September 1880, leading to a confusing taxonomic history as several species were named and later transferred to other genera or abandoned. Paleontologists still recognize Coelurus fragilis as the only valid species of this genus today. Although the number of Coelurus fossils discovered isn't well-documented, the Primal Incorporation extracted DNA from the first fossil thirty years later to bring this small theropod back to life. The cloned theropod has filamentous protofeathers covering most of its body. Both sexes have similar colored plumage, with jet-black feathers on their head, neck, back, chest, and in between the tail. Its rump, belly, base, and tail tip are grayish orange, changing sharply from black to white between the stomach and chest. Its black feathered forelimbs have small grayish-orange shoulder patches and a light grayish-green stripe on the tip of the feathered forelimbs. Despite both sexes having grayish-orange beaks and bright orange limbs, males Coelurus have red skin instead of the bright orange coloration seen in females. They have dark gray claws and brown eyes.

Geographic Range & Habitat: Coelurus once lived in the Morrison Formation of Late Jurassic Utah and Wyoming between 155 and 152 million years ago. On Primus, these small coelurosaurians now thrive within Ojibwe's Mediterranean, semi-arid, tropical, and subtropical areas. Coelurus primarily live in forested areas near wetlands and coastal shorelines. However, they avoid open areas and deserts during the day to stay clear of large carnivores, only venturing out in the open at night when the coast is clear. This coelurosaurian roams from the forests of Iosheka to the Meditterenian regions of Hahgwehdiyu.

Behavior & Reproduction: Coelurus is a species that stands out for its unique social behaviors. They are among the most docile, affectionate, playful, and curious animals in Ojibwe. They tend to live in family groups of a mated pair and their offspring but generally forage alone. When they are together, they spend most of their time grooming each other, playing, and communicating with various sounds. Their activity levels fluctuate based on the seasons and habitat. They are more diurnal around forested areas or during the wet season while becoming nocturnal during the dry season or passing through open spaces. The home range size of a Coelurus is between 1 and 3.39 square kilometers, marking their territories with urine and feces. Despite their home ranges overlapping somewhat with neighboring individuals, these coelurosaurians are naturally territorial and regularly patrol their territory to ensure no trespassers and to re-mark boundaries or produce various sounds to warn intruders. The defending Coelurus will engage in physical confrontations to drive the intruder away from their territory. These fights can be pretty aggressive, often including growls and snarls while arching their back, baring their teeth, and raising their hackles to appear more threatening, which will then lead to both individuals biting and scratching each other until the defending Coelurus chasing out the intruder to establish dominance. Males will also fight for mating rights between October and December. During the mating season, lone male and female Coelurus produce various sounds to let each other know they are ready to mate and their location. Both individuals have found one another and engage in multiple displays to attract each other. These displays include mutual grooming, playful chasing, and vocalizations. Males will also present food to the female during the courtship ritual. If both individuals accept each other's displays, they form long-term pair bonds due to being generally monogamous, staying together and copulating until the females are ready to lay eggs. Mating pairs search for a den within their territories to build a nest out of vegetation and sticks. These dens include ground holes, hollow trees, rock piles, and shrubs. Each female lays up to five eggs within the nest as the pair take turns incubating the nest for sixty-three days until the eggs hatch. Coelurus hatchlings are born with white or pale gray soft, fluffy down feathers and are vulnerable, relying on their parents to care for them within the nest during the first seven to nine weeks. Hatchlings emerge from the dens and forage for food with their parents around March and May. As they grow into juveniles, Coelurus lose their down feather for the brownish, mottled protofeathers to help them blend into their environment and avoid predators. They remain with their parents throughout the summer but become more independent, leaving them in September at around four and six months old. However, young Coelurus usually stays in the den area before completely separating. At the same time, the parents disperse, with their older offspring often taking on "babysitting" roles within their family groups, known as alloparental care. They help care for the younger hatchlings by guarding the den, grooming, and even playing. This behavior helps the parents by providing additional protection and allows the older siblings to learn essential parenting skills. Sub-adult Coelurus feathers gradually molt into the more distinctive adult plumage as they leave their parents entirely once they reach sexual maturity of five to seven. However, these coelurosaurians do not mate until they establish a territory until they reach physical maturity at eight to ten.

Diet: Coelurus are small carnivorous theropods that primarily feed on small prey. Their diets include insects, lizards, small mammals, frogs, small pterosaurs, smaller dinosaurs, dinosaur hatchlings, birds, and carrion. Coelurus use multiple hunting methods. They mainly locate their prey by using their sense of smell and hearing, stalking their chosen target silently, or waiting for prey to come within striking distance before pouncing on the victim and delivering a quick, lethal bite, usually targeting the neck or head of smaller animals to ensure a swift kill. These coelurosaurians will also bite and shake easily manageable prey to further immobilize it. Coelurus are also fast predators, relying on their speed to pursue any prey they fail to catch through the ambush. They will occasionally use their hind limbs to dig into the ground to uncover insects and small mammals that burrow while using their narrow necks to enter the burrow to catch their target.

Predation|Competition: Coelurus often compete with various predators of similar size over food and territory. They rely on their speed, agility, clawed forelimbs, and teeth to defend themselves against Ornitholestes, Atrociraptor, Bonapartenykus, and Harpactognathus. Fukuivenator rarely competes with the coelurosaurian due to its omnivorous diet. In contrast, Coelurus immediately flees from three to five-meter predators using its speed and agility or hiding in its dens. Family groups also provide these coelurosaurians with mutual protection from potential threats. They will use vocalizations to warn each other and coordinate their escape when threatened. Giant carnivores primarily ignore these carnivores due to their size and speed, but juveniles will hunt Coelurus when the opportunity presents itself. At the same time, these coelurosaurians will also try hunting giant carnivores' hatchlings when they see a chance.

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Reconstruction based on