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Dino Dossier Common Name: Megalania Species: Megalania Muruspede Time: Late Holocene Diet: Carnivore Temperament: Aggressive Wild Megalania Muruspede is among the largest creatures found throughout the island’s complicated cave networks. Reaching up to three meters long, it can traverse vertically up the cave walls with little difficulty, using its claws as iron-strength grips. Fortunately, Megalania’s size means it is unlikely to sneak up on anyone. Unfortunately for spelunkers, it is an aggressive and dangerous creature nonetheless. Like other Varanidae, Megalania is a venomous creature.. Its poison is slow-acting, but will drain the victim’s effective strength and health until death unless cured by a rare antidote. That said, the Megalania’s prey are usually ripped apart well before they succumb to the poison’s long-term effects. Domesticated The extremely rare ability of Megalania to effortlessly climb walls makes it a highly sought after mount. While it is by no means the fastest, strongest, or toughest mount -- the way it can effortlessly climb in the caves and scale mountains means it will always have a place in any advanced tribe’s stables.

Common Name: Thylacoleo Species: Thylacoleo Furtimorsus Time: Late Pliocene - Late Pleistocene Diet: Carnivore Temperament: Aggressive Wild Thylacoleo Furtimorsus is a large, powerful marsupial that can often be found hunting around trees. Its long claws and semi-opposable digits make it an apt climber, a quality that Thylacoleo uses to its advantage while hunting. It clambers up trees and waits to ambush passing prey by pouncing upon them. When something that large jumps onto a target, it becomes stunned and doesn’t stand much chance. Thylacoleo’s most notable fighting quality is its powerful jaws. Once it bites its prey, it locks its jaw in an iron-strength grip that can hold most smaller creatures in place. Thylacoleo then goes on to savage its prey with its sharp claws. If it needs to escape a fight, Thylacoleo uses its muscular hind legs to jump back to safety among the trees. Domesticated Thylacoleo is a moderately strong mount, and its ability to climb trees and jump long distances makes it useful for traversal such that developing tribes often tame it. Small raiding parties particularly favor Thylacoleo, as it is well suited to ambushes and unfair fights.

Common Name: Equus Species: Equus Magnus Time: Pleistocene Diet: Herbivore Temperament: Loyal Wild Equus Magnus appears to be an ancestor of the modern horse. Based on its stripes, it may be the African Variant of Equus Giganteus, which appeared in North America during the Ice Age, but that is pure conjecture. Its behaviour in the wild is similar to that of other wild members of the Equus genus - it sustains itself by grazing, while keeping safe from predators by living in herds and outrunning its attackers via superior speed and stamina. Domesticated Horse and man have long been partners in survival, and this remains true on the Island. In Equus, survivors will find a trusty steed or pack animal that can carry them swiftly across the land. In fact, Equus’ reliability has led some survivors to construct special saddles for them. I even encountered a man who added extra saddle-pouches that doubled as mobile crafting stations for chemical supplies, foodstuffs, and other items. Although not as robust as what you might find within a village, this utility helped him live a nomadic, solitary lifestyle. Some survivors employ Equus to herd other creature with extra-long whips, or wrangle using a specialized lasso. These tools are sometimes effective for self-defense as well, as Equus is limited in battle on its own… at least compared to aggressive prehistoric carnivores.