Pachycephalosaurus
"A Pachy- A Pachy uh, oh hell, the fat head with the bald spot, Friar Tuck!"
~Roland Tembo
Species:
Pachycephalosaurus wyomingensis
Common Name:
None
Family:
Pachycephalosauridae
Seen in:
• The Lost World: Jurassic Park (1997)
• Jurassic World (2015)
Vocalizations:
Description:
Known for its characteristic domed-skull, short temper, and impulsive behavior, the Pachycephalosaurus is the type taxon of the Pachycephalosauridae family. These hard-headed dinosaurs inhabited North America during the Cretaceous Period. It is native to the Hell Creek Formation, living alongside dinosaurs like Tyannosaurus and Triceratops.
Pachycephalosaurus was first cloned by InGen on Isla Sorna in the 80s or 90s. These clones feature vivid blue patterns on a rotund caramel beige body. A blue stripe drips down from its striking burnt umber hued eyes. Its keratinous dome is a light bone color while its beak and surrounding knobby spikes are brown. While Pachycephalosaurus has five digits, its fifth digit is not an opposable thumb.
These stocky herbivores are known for ramming perceived threats with their domed skulls. Their necks attach at the bottom of their skulls so that when they lower their heads their necks line up directly with their back bones, perfect for absorbing impact. They are capable of denting reinforced metal with their domes made up of up to 10 inches of solid bone.
Due to their unique ramming behavior, Pachycephalosaurus was given their own attraction at Jurassic World aptly named the Pachy Arena. Here visitors could watch Pachycephalosaurus square off and ram targets under the supervision of park handlers. They often short out their implants when they butt heads, allowing them to frequently bypass Jurassic World’s invisible fencing system.
Size Estimates:
1.95m Tall
4m Long
Did you know?
For a brief scene in Jurassic World (2015), Velociraptor Echo’s CGI model was used as the basis for the sedated Pachycephalosaurus seen in the control room.
Habitat & Geographical Ranging:
After Hurricane Clarissa swept the island, Pachycephalosaurus populated Northeastern Isla Sorna. Their territory primarily extends to the temperate regions of the Island. The region itself consists of extensive conifer tree forests, redwoods, and grass plains where the Pachycephalosaur can be seen alongside other herbivorous dinosaurs like Gallimimus, Parasaurolophus, Mamenchisaurus, and more.
InGen's infrared satellite data suggests that a second population of Pachycephalosaurus exists in the southwestern portion of Isla Sorna. This region is known to more humid, predominately formed by dense rainforests and mountains. Despite this, such a population has never been shown in the movies and it's unclear if they are still present in this uncharted portion of Sorna.
Pachycephalosaurus was eventually transported to or cloned on Isla Nublar by Masrani Global for exhibition at Jurassic World. They were known to be kept in the Pachy Arena in center of the island and the Gyrosphere Valley in northwest plains of the Island.
These distinctive herbivores have not been seen since the fall of Jurassic World in late 2015. It is unclear if Pachycephalosaurus populations fell to extinction or were ever transported off the islands.
Individual Variation:
Pachycephalosaurus individuals can greatly vary in size. Certain specimens seen on the game trail on Isla Sorna and in Isla Nublar’s Jurassic World are considerably sized, reaching heights taller than a human. It is unknown whether these differences represent sexual dimorphism or age.
One especially large individual present on Isla Nublar features a more mottled blue pattern that extends farther down the legs. It is unknown if all Pachycephalosaurus individuals in Jurassic World feature this same body and color morph.