Species: G.parkpinorum
Animal Class: Small
Standard Containment Procedures:
G.parkpinorum individuals are to be contained within pens that have a minimum floor area of six hundred and twenty five (625) square meters with fencing to be of ‘low’ classification with exceptions for net and chainlink fencing. Fences of these containment areas are to be checked weekly for damage or wear with any found repaired immediately to prevent containment breaches.
Containment areas for G.parkpinorum are to be lightly foliated at ground level with the terrain to consist mostly of rocky substrates and large piles of rocks; alongside this the containment area should feature enough trees to create a continuous canopy over most of the containment area. Containment areas for G.parkpinorum are to also feature a running stream with at least one (1) wider and deeper area for the individuals to wallow in if they so choose. G.parkpinorum individuals are to be provided with at least () kilograms of plant matter a day to facilitate their diet and to ensure minimal destruction of flora within the exhibit due to browsing and grazing behaviours.
Recall procedures for G.parkpinorum individuals follow standard Class C Thyreophoran Recall Procedures. Usage of lethal force can be authorised by the owning parks board of directors should G.parkpinorum individuals become aggressive, usage of tranquilizer rifles is however preferred as G.parkpinorum individuals typically do not breach containment to attack other animals, park staff or park patrons.
History & Description:
As one of the earliest Ankylsaoruians available on the open market, G.parkpinorum holds a spot as one of the smaller members of its group standing at an average of four (4) meters in length and weighing in at 600 (six hundred) kilograms. In terms of appearance G.parkpinorum is fairly standard as far as the Polacanthine body plan goes with large plate-like armour pieces coming out from the animal sides along the neck, body and tail and mark a boundary between the armoured top of the animal and the unarmoured underbelly and legs. The rest of the animals armour consists of somewhat flat osteoderms spread about in even rows going down the animal with them becoming smaller and smaller the closer they are to the spinal column of G.parkpinorum. In terms of colouration G.parkpinorum is again fairly standard for its group featuring a reddish-brown upper half with a contrasting colour beneath it, with black being that colour in the case of G.parkpinorum. The main area in which it differs from its fellow Polacanthines is in its patterning, featuring a very faint striping that comes in from the edges of the upper part of the animal and congregates towards the animals spinal column while the animals underside features the reddish brown from the top coming down into the darker areas, something that leads to full and thin bands at some points on the animals tail.
G.parkpinorum is a relatively solitary animal like the majority of Ankylsoaurs and much like other Ankylosaurs it can be kept with a wide variety of other herbivores and even some smaller carnivores such as O.hermanni. Despite its overall solitary nature however G.parkpinorum can and will tolerate up to two other individuals of its species in its containment area, provided that it is large enough and all individuals were introduced at roughly the same time. For the majority of the day G.parkpinorum individuals can be found sleeping, eating or standing around near water sources and eating aquatic plants, when not engaged in these activities G.parkpinorum will often wallow in shallow pools of water or mud, it is thus advised that, as mentioned in the containment procedures, G.parkpinorum is provided with a shallow pool large enough to satisfy this need.
As a private animal G.parkpinorum has minimal interest to both collectors and those who have smaller Dinosaurs as pets, this combined with its diminutive size and relative standard looks and behaviours for a Polacanthine has often earned it as spot as an almost ignored 1 star animal in the majority of parks and few collections that feature it. However despite this parks continue to display this animal as an important landmark in the evolution of Ankylosaurs as one of their first known appearances.
You can't never have enough spiny bois!!