Stark reference sheet -2023-

UPDATE 21.09: decided to redraw the skull and the paw close-ups as i wasnt happy with them

ALL PREVIOUS REFERENCES

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Bio:
Name: Stark
Genus: Megaloplosaura ("big armored lizard")
Species: Megaloplosaura medevari
Age: Adult
Sex: Male
Height: 3.4m (including head and neck)
Length: 14m (head to tail)
Wingspan: 22m
Diet: Piscivore

Parents: Unnamed mother | Unnamed father
Siblings: Mitan (brother)
-size comparison-

Backstory:
Being the only surviving hatchling from his nest, Stark was adopted and raised by a nearby village. His peaceful nature made the entire process much easier, and he soon became quite liked among its inhabitants. Unfortunately, this wasn't meant to last, as the village was attacked by wild dragons while Stark was still young. Because of this, he wasn't able to be much of help, especially after he sustained a deep injury in his right leg. Somehow he managed to limp away from the battle and hide in the nearby forest. The village was consequently destroyed with no remaining survivors. With nothing left to come back to, Stark remained in the forest, finding a new home in the swamps hidden deep within the trees. However, his injury, as well as the newly gained fear of wild dragons, meant that he remained in solitude, avoiding much contact with the outside world and living off the swamp wildlife, mostly consisting of fish.

Behavior:
Being raised in captivity, Stark has lost some of the aggression often found in his species. Moreover, being an intelligent animal surrounded by a humanoid species, he took after them behaviour wise. For example, he shows signs of empathy, which is uncommon for his kind, as well as some interesting problem solving skills. However, as a result of an attack on his village by wild dragons, he became wary of them, choosing to live in solitude. After settling down in a swamp near the now ruins of the village, he became quite territorial of the whole area, posing a danger to any trespassers. Despite this, once he opens up to someone, he becomes notably curious and friendly, displaying some interesting behaviours such as sharing food, cuddling and even risking his own safety for the sake of others.

Characteristics:
Megaloplosaura medevari is a species described as huge, heavily armored dragons, usually reaching around 15 meteres in length, though females of this species can reach higher sizes. The head resembles that of a Carcharodontosaurus, although with some piscivore adaptations, such as specialized teeth and nostrils positioned slightly higher on the snout. This allows it to stay submerged in water, while still being able to breathe. A pair of large horns in present, which are often used to tell the animal's age - the older the creature is, the longer the horns are. Additionally, in adult specimens, the tips of the horns bend upward. The horns on females are smaller and lack the bent tips.
The body of the animal is wide and covered in thick, but flexible scales and plates, similar to the armor of a crocodilian. The tail is stiff and armed with long scutes, built to propel the creature forward while swimming, while also serving as a powerful weapon.
The front legs are short and slightly splayed to the sides, with palms facing inward. The hind legs are more theropod-like. Flexible tissue connects the stubby toes, allowing the creature to swim efficiently.
Huge, rounded membrane stretches between the four elongated wing fingers. This helps the creature fly for prolonged periods of time, as well as hunt using what's called canopy feeding technique. Essentially, the dragon creates a shadow with its huge wings, attracting fish.
Male specimens of this species have bright colouring, ranging from reds to oranges. Females are usually more dull, usually brown or gray. The bright colouring on males is used for mating, as the more vibrant the dragon is, the better are his chances of finding a partner. Adding to that, males sport a long mohawk-like mane on the back of their necks, which once again, is less exaggerated on females.
Their faces usually sport mask like patterns, which varies between each individual.
The eyes of the creature have a distinct colouration. The irises are blue, and the bright yellow pupil is surrounded by an orange ring. The eyes appear to be glowing at night, but in reality, they reflect the light, thanks to the tapetum lucidum layer.

All of those characteristics apply to Stark. His body colouration ranges from dark brown to red and yellow, although the tones are slightly more muted than most male specimens his age. One major detail is in his injury. His right front leg was seriously wounded in a fight, which damaged his muscles and left him with scars. Because of this, he visibly limps, especially while running. Additionally, he's notably small for his species. Whereas males of his kind are usually around 4 meters tall, he only reaches 3.4 meters. This could be due to his piscivore only diet and his small, forested environment. However, the most likely scenario is that this anomaly is simply a genetic trait or a mutation.