Tropical Parasaurolophus
"My God, I’d forgotten.”
~Dr. Alan Grant
Species:
Parasaurolophus sp./walkeri?
Common Name:
Tropical Parasaurolophus
Family:
Hadrosauridae
Seen in:
• Jurassic Park III (2001)
Vocalizations:
Description:
Parasaurolophus, meaning "near crested lizard," is a genus of hadrosaur native to North America during the Late Cretaceous. It coexisted with dinosaurs such as Styracosaurus and Euoplocephalus in the Dinosaur Park Formation. This stunning herbivore is known for its distinctive tube-like crest utilized for sound amplification. Parasaurolophus is perhaps the dinosaur with the most genetic strains currently documented.
This particular breed is the Tropical Parasaurolophus, one of two breeds known to inhabit Isla Sorna during the 90s alongside the Coniferous Parasaurolophus. The distinction between those two are subtle yet considerable. We believe that they may be the two most genetically closely related strains of Parasaurolophus cloned by Ingen, with main characteristics differing those two being their habitats and color morphs.
With that being said, the Tropical Parasaurolophus receives its name for being found in the western side of Isla Sorna, a region known for its large mountain ranges and lush tropical rainforests of which the Hadrosaur thrives on. It can also be found in tropical plains, living alongside other groups of Dinosaurs such as Corythosaurus, Brachiosaurus, Stegosaurus and Triceratops. The Tropical Parasaurolophus is perhaps one of the most abundant Dinosaur strains on Isla Sorna, with dozens of individuals forming herds in vast plains.
Sporting a tone of emerald green over their bodies, these Hadrosaurs are very similar looking to the Coniferous Parasaurolophus, sporting the same dual horizontal stripes along their backs, those of which are black instead of brown for the Tropical strain. The back of their head retains the red band, but it is not part of sexual dimorphism. While their underside is covered in light cream, with a shade of light green over their backs.
Size Estimates:
4.5m Tall
6.4m Long
Did you know?
It is possible that after Ingen abandoned the island, the green body colors of the Tropical Parasaurolophus led their populations to stick to the jungles of Sorna, using it to blend into the environment.
Habitat & Geographical Ranging:
As its name suggests, the Tropical Parasaurolophus is found in tropical environments of Isla Sorna, the breed is possibly endemic to the Island, with no signs of it existence anywhere else since the early 2000s.
There are two populations three populations known to exist, the first can be seen in great numbers at the “FlyBy Grasslands”, a landmark western of Isla Sorna with vast tropical plains. The second population is found nearby the old Embryonics Complex, living alongside Corythosaurus in a gallery forest. The third and last population is found over the western river, where a second tropical plain resides. There, they live in smaller numbers and closer to other herbivorous Dinosaurs like Ankylosaurus, Brachiosaurus and Stegosaurus.
Individual Variation:
Although subtle, the Tropical Parasaurolophus sports a soft variation in tone of their back stripes. Certain individuals can be seen without the light green tone along the black horizontal stripes. It is unclear if that’s a sign of merely variation among individuals, or if it could be a case of sexual dimorphism, as there is no evidence leading to either.