| We know this animal's primary habitat was the ancient primordial forests that once covered this planet. It's called Dryosaurus. Before our research, there was no information on adult specimens of this dinosaur. We only had the fossilized record of juveniles. But now, that's all changed. |
Dryosaurus is a genus of ornithopod dinosaur in the Jurassic World Evolution series. Originating from Late Jurassic North America, it is a bipedal herbivore distantly related to Iguanodon and known for its speed and strong, stiff tail.
In Evolution, Dryosaurus is included in the Herbivore Dinosaur Pack and can be unlocked by progressing through the Science Division on Isla Sorna, where its fossils can be excavated from the Morrison Formation.
Dryosaurus then returned in the base game of Evolution 2 and Evolution 3.
Characteristics
Dryosaurus is a genus of ornithopod dinosaur that lived during the Late Jurassic period, around 155–140 million years ago. Weighing around 80–90 kg and measuring up to five meters in length, Dryosaurus is a small and agile herbivore with an elongated neck, slender but powerful legs for running at speed, and a long stiff tail for a retaining counterbalance whilst running – both key attributes for relying on their speed and dexterity for escaping predators. The name "Dryosaurus" is derived from the Greek word "Drys" meaning "Tree" or "Oak" and translates to "Tree Lizard", referring to the preference of the forested habitats these dinosaurs likely inhabited. This small and agile herbivore is likely dependent on its ability to evade carnivores in order to survive, being unable to defend itself by other means. The base genome of the Dryosaurus is green, with yellowish stripes across its body, similar to Herrerasaurus.
Gameplay
Evolution
Behaviour
Dryosaurus is a shy herbivore that needs dense areas of forest to feel comfortable. They can live alone or in large groups and make a great companion to larger herbivores. However they are defenseless against most carnivores. Just like its distant relative the Iguanodon, Dryosaurus receive paleobotany benefits from Rotten Wood and Conifers.
Available genomes
| Fossil icon | Dig site | Quality | Number available |
|---|---|---|---|
 |
Morrison Formation | ★ ★★ ★★★ ★★★★ |
2 6 12 8 |
Skins
Evolution 2
Behaviour
Available genomes
Skins
Evolution 3
Behaviour
Available genomes
Skins
Paleontology
A group of Dryosaurus.
Dryosaurus was one of the most common herbivores in the Morrison Formation during the Late Jurassic and as such is an extensively studied animal. While often thought of as a small dinosaur, the maximum size of Dryosaurus has never been recorded, as no fully grown Dryosaurus has ever been found. While discovered specimens averaged around 2.4 – 3 m (7 – 10 ft) long and weighed 80 kg (170 lb), the closest are near mature individuals which measured around 4.3 m (14 ft) in length and weighed around 100 kg (220 lb).
Dryosaurus was first discovered in 1876 by American paleontologist Samuel Wendell Williston in Wyoming, USA, although it wasn't until 1894 that is was classified as a new genus of dinosaur. Many more Dryosaurus fossils were unearthed during the 20th Century, providing examples of the genus at various ages. Dryosaurus was originally classified as a hypsilophodont, due to similarities in size and shape to dinosaurs such as Hypsilophodon itself as well as Orodromeus and Parksosaurus. Subsequent studies have rejected this classification, based on anatomical differences: the number of toes differs, as does the hip and dental structure. The Tanzanian Dysalotosaurus is another dinosaur so similar in appearance to Dryosaurus that some paleontologists have claimed the two are synonymous. This synonymy has been cited as evidence for a land route between Africa and North America during the late Jurassic. Geographical maps do not indicate the existence of a such a land route, however, and a 1981 study by Peter Malcolm Galton identified several differences between the two animals. Without the existence of a land route during the late Jurassic, these similarities could be simply a case of the two genera having relatively recently diverged.
Dryosaurus had a horned beak, densely packed molars and cheek pouches to prevent the loss of food while chewing. It had long, slender yet strong legs and a stiffened tail, as its main defense was to run from predators. It also had large eyes and near all round vision, indicating that it had good eyesight. This would have been useful in detecting predators and herds of Dryosaurus may have had a few individuals acting as lookouts, much in the same way as modern meerkats do today.
Dryosaurus was one of the first dinosaurs to have its growth studied. Young Dryosaurus grew up quickly and could walk and run in the first few hours after hatching. They continued growing throughout their lifetime, indicating that they were warm-blooded.
Paleoecology
Dryosaurus lived in the Morrison Formation in the western United States during the Late Jurassic period, around 156 to 145 million years ago, in a semiarid environment with distinct wet and dry seasons. Co-existing with various dinosaurs, the main predators of Dryosaurus were small and medium carnivores such as Ornitholestes and Ceratosaurus, though larger predators such as Allosaurus would have also been threats. As well as their sight and speed, Dryosaurus may have mingled with larger herbivores such as Apatosaurus, Brachiosaurus, Camarasaurus, Diplodocus, and Stegosaurus for protection. It had an herbivorous diet, feeding on ground-level plants and shrubs. True to its name, Dryosaurus likely inhabited vast floodplains, river-lining forests and savannahs of the region. The flora of the time included fungi, mosses, and conifers.
Gallery
External links
- Dryosaurus on Wikipedia
