Tyrunt Line
Morphs [Oak Catalogue #]
- Tyrunt [# 696]
- Tyrantrum [# 697]
Physical Description
Tyrunt and Tyrantrum (Tyrannus regali) are both tyrannosaurid theropod Pokemon with rocky skin interspersed with feathers, serrated teeth, and large heads.
Tyrunt is around a meter tall at the shoulder, and has a solid brown hide with a ruff of white feathers around its neck. It has plated knees, large feet, small, stubby arms, and a proportionally large head. Its upper teeth, in contrast to its lower teeth, seem to be extensions of the jaw. It has large, black eyes, two orange horns on its head, and a matching spike on its tail.
Tyrantrum is around two and a half meters tall at the shoulder, with reddish hide and orange markings. Its body is covered in armor plates (an early form of protective Draconic hide), and its neck feathers are longer and more prominent, for display. It has a feather “beard” on its jaw, as well, also for display. Its claws are larger, both on its forelimbs and legs, and obsidian black. Its teeth are more numerous, and it now has spikes resembling a crown over its eyes, as well as additional spikes on its tail forming a thagomizer.
Rare alternate colorations exist, with the hide being blue and the horns and tail spikes being silver. They are highly sought after by Trainers and Breeders, but scientists are still deciphering the cause.
Notable Biology
Tyrunt line members are typically seen using either attacks that involve rocks - such as avalanches and pointed stones, as well as their own rock-like heads- and energy akin to that used by other Dragons, usually infusing their claws or tail. They can also infuse their bites with dark energy, charm opponents, cause seismic tremors, use their head crest as a drill, charge their claws with Aura for quick blows, perform acrobatic maneuvers, and fire pulses of dark energy.
When bred with other Pokemon, Tyrunt line members can also infuse their teeth with fire, ice, and lightning, as well as venom, due to a primitive omnisac being more developed in such individuals. They can also inherit a sort of dance that helps draw out internal power by flexing certain muscles, as well as a similar motion that increases power and resilience but slows movement.
There are two strains to this line. The more common one has thicker, more powerful jaw muscles, increasing the power of the Pokemon’s bites. The second, rarer strain has reinforced skulls instead, allowing for powerful strikes without recoil.
Tyrunt line members have incredible hearing, sight, and smell. A Tyrantrum can see objects up to 6 kilometers away, surpassing most modern Pokemon. The sense of smell is similarly powerful, and helps this line find carcasses or wounded prey. Hearing is best in the low-frequency range, and most communication between these Pokemon occurs in said range.
Members of this line are also known for their jaw strength, especially those of the jaw-reinforced strain. Scientists studying such individuals calculated a bite force of around 183000 to 235000 newtons or 18.3 to 23.5 metric tons, AKA enough force to break through ten layers of Lairon hide.
Tyrantrum’s feathers have multiple uses- As well as being status symbols, the “beard” feathers are also used as whiskers, and females shed feathers to line their nests. The condition of the feathers increases with age.
Tyrunt is unusual for only evolving during the day; this is due to UV radiation triggering the production of an amino acid vital for the evolutionary process.
Habitat
In prehistory, Tyrunt line members ranged expansively and in a variety of habitats, from swamps to deserts. Modern members of this line are similarly adaptable, but don’t like cold and need to be kept away from sources of modern diseases (see Hazards).
Notably, the Tyrunt line was thought to be a keystone species in the habitats in which it lived. As apex predators, they kept populations of herbivores in check, allowing for healthier plant growth and herbivore populations. They may have kept smaller predators in check as well.
Diet
These Pokemon are for the most part, obligate carnivores, and are decidedly not picky about the sorts of meat they like to eat. In prehistoric times they preyed on other dinosaur Pokemon as well as anything else they could catch. Resurrected individuals will attempt to eat anything that moves, including humans (see Hazards), but excluding potential mates among both their own species and others. Cannibalism of Tyrunt by Tyrantrum that aren’t their parents is not unknown, however.
Before fossil resurrection became possible it was heavily debated whether this line was predatory or subsisted on scavenging. However when live specimens were obtained they showed distinctly predatory behavior, debunking the scavenger theory. These Pokemon are not ones to pass up free meat, however, and will scavenge when they get the chance.
While meat of any sort is consumed readily and easily, pretty much any other sort of food leads to severe indigestion, due to the digestive systems of these Pokemon not being adapted to most modern foods. However, this improves with interbreeding with other Pokemon, to the point where they will readily eat Berries and Pokepuffs.
Hazards
This line of Pokemon is widely recognized as extremely dangerous, to a point where most Leagues require a permit to own them. Tyrantrum’s banana-sized teeth and massive jaws can easily bite a person in half, and the Pokemon can easily trample or claw when it can’t bite. Resurrected Tyrantrum are pretty much impossible to train due to their predatory, aggressive nature and willingness to attack humans and other Pokemon, and are exclusively kept in reserves. Resurrected Tyrunt are more tameable, but still have a habit of attempting to taste anything that moves, and thus must be muzzled until they are trained out of this behavior. Captive-bred Tyrunt have more docile temperaments and are safer to train, though nipping and teething must be corrected early on to avoid more dangerous habits. Tyrantrum in general react violently to having their feathery parts touched, due to said parts being status symbols (See Courting And Childrearing and Social Structure).
Tyrunt line members themselves are vulnerable to modern diseases. While viral infections have yet to take a foothold due to the species-specific nature of viruses, fungal and bacterial infections are even more crippling than normal to this line due to their immune systems not being adapted to modern diseases, and can easily be fatal if not treated. This, like dietary flexibility and temperament, improves dramatically with interbreeding with other Pokemon, at the cost of a slightly slower maturation rate.
Courting and Childrearing
Tyrunt are typically too immature to actually mate.
Tyrantrum “beards” and crests are status symbols; they signify an individual’s health and suitability as a mate. Males and females find members of the opposite sex with similarly healthy feathers; after a simple mating dance and test biting, they mate.
Females lay clutches of 10-15 eggs, which hatch a few days after. The female maintains the nest for the young Tyrunt, keeps them warm, provides them with food, and protects them from other predators. The male assists with the latter two activities. Once the Tyrunt mature sufficiently they set off on their own, and the parents provide no further assistance.
Social Structure
Tyrunt typically live in packs, both for ease of finding and taking down food and defense against predators.
Tyrantrum are typically solitary except for mated pairs. Clashes over territory are common, though usually settled by displays of feathery areas in a test of who's healthier. However, Tyrantrum are known to work together to take down large, tough prey, as observed with individuals in a preserve attacking a Steelix.
In Human Culture
This line is by far the most iconic dinosaur Pokemon in history, surpassing even Aerodactyl and Archeops. Countless toys, theme park attractions, books, and works of art have been created dedicated to this species, and even before fossil resurrection was possible it was praised as one of the most powerful predators ever. Since their revival they are a popular attraction at reserves and some zoos, though most install protective fencing to keep Tyrantrum away from patrons.It has appeared countless times in cinema, from being an enemy to giant Electivire, to being a toy, to being an example of the dangers of genetic engeneering, to being an antagonist in its own right. Appearances in television include friendly purple versions and various documentaries, as well as the design of various digital monsters. They also feature in video games, including one about hunting dinosaurs, and comics, including as the subject of a young boy’s imagination as well as one of the main characters of a webcomic about dinosaurs.
Written by Umbramatic, with help from Garrus01. If you have any questions/revision ideas, consult the thread.
