There are so many creatures that once roamed planet Earth, our own little oasis in the vast expanse of the desert we call the cosmos. But what were these creatures like? What would their everyday lives have been like?
Well I'm here to answer those q...
To prevent water from entering their nostrils when feeding in such a manner, Struthiocephaluses have evolved special, fleshy valves able to close off the liquid's access to their airway. Of course this can only last for so long, eventually the animals will have to open them to breathe, hence why they prefer to stay on the shore.
Although the Struthiocephaluses are able to take advantage of a food supply that is inaccessible to most of the other herbivores, that doesn't mean that they have the lake all to themselves.
As Pick-horn looks up from his meal, he's met with the face of a Styracocephalus platyrhynchus.
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Standing at around 1.8 to 2.1 meters long, these strange looking creatures are smaller than most of their relatives, including Struthiocephalus. However, what they lack in size, they make up with one of the most elaborate head ornaments of the time. With two large, fan-shaped crests flanking each side of their head, and a tall bulge at the top of their skulls, it's very easy for both Styracocephaluses, and other species to recognize them.
Although both sexes have these crests, those supported by the males are significantly larger and more colorful than the ones of their female counterpart. The more noticeable headwear of the males are used in mating displays - the bigger and brighter the crest, the better the chances are that they'll be selected by a female. This is because the size, shape, and color of the individuals' head ornaments advertises their health and genes.
Despite being larger than the Styracocephalus standing in front of him, Pick-horn backs away from it. The side fans may be too fragile to be used as weapons, but he knows that these small creatures are armed with canine teeth able to deliver a nasty bite when threatened.
As he walks away, the smaller Tapinocephalidae opens its mouth and grabs the base of the horsetails. It then jerks its head up, causing its canines to hook onto the roots and rip the plants from the ground. It then uses its crushing teeth to grind up the vegetation. They may be herbivorous unlike their ancestors, but their fangs are still used for feeding.
Pick-horn wanders up to the edge of the water and bends down to quench his thirst, though his peaceful drink is soon interrupted as he's joined by Bumper-head. The younger and more excitable male accidentally bumps against the old bull, causing him to respond with a shove.
Bumper-head stumbles to the side, surprised by Pick-horn's sudden outburst. The younger of the two quickly gets back on his feet and waddles away, not wanting to be on the receiving end of Pick-horn's bulge.
As male Struthiocephaluses begin to reach sexual maturity, a thick crest made from keratin will start to form over their bulge. Just like the Styracocephaluses, these head ornaments are used to advertise their health, but unlike their smaller relatives, their newly formed, cone-shaped bosses double as battering rams in flank butting contests between males. When hitting each other, the crests narrow down the point of impact to a single part of the skull, making it more painful for the opposition.
