A large slow armoured animal covered in sharp spines. Polacanthus move in herds eating all plants in sight, including narcoberries and Stimberries, rare flowers and mushrooms are akin to candy for these beasts. They are not only immune to these berries but have developed a use for the chemicals they contain.
Storing the narchotic toxins in glands either side of their head they utilise this as part of their defences, spitting the toxins at predators to disorientate and slow them. The stimulants however can be expelled from the base of its spines to wake nearby creaters that may be sleeping and to boost their run speed for a short time, this includes the Polacanthus itself.
While typically ignoring all other creatures around them, they are driven into a rage by the presence of other creatures utilising toxins as part of their arsenal, swinging tails at the larger beats while trampling the smaller. This can make a herd easy to track by simply following trails of crushed Pulmoniscorpius and Dilophosaurs.
To befriend a Polacantus one needs to appreach slowly with their favorite foods. Once fed it will enter a playful state, nudging and chasing whoever is carrying the foods. They appear to be entirely unaware of how much harm this can cause, with Ankylosaurs and Doedicuris oddly immune from the spikes.
When tamed their rage against toxin weilding creatures is calmed though will surface when anything in the tribe is under threat from such a creature. until such time as threats emerge these beasts are content to haul large loads amonge their spines.
Yes its a living tranq gun, but not as effective. Applies less torpor and damage than a crossbow would. through its melee can increase this.
Should a tribe member or creature be knocked out it can release the stimulant cloud to wake them in a quarter of the normal time and provide a torpor resistance for a short time. The speed boost from the cloud lasts longer than that of other creatures but does not boost speed as much (50% as strong for twice the time) It also cannot stack with other speed boosts, the faster boost will override the Polacathus boost.
It can be used for haulage giving a 50% reduction in the carry weight of basic resources like stone, thatch and wood. Refined resources such as ingots, polymer and gasoline. (But no reduction for metal, crystal or obsidian) And has a 25% reduction in the weight of crafted goods.
The taming game for this is to feed it rare flowers or mushrooms then have it chase an anky or Doed. There'll be a window in whcih to give it another bit of food, shown by a green glow around its head. Missing this will have the glow turn red and the Polacanthus becoming hostile for a short time.