Terminology Velocity

One thing you quickly learn when performing even a cursory review of Dinosaurs in general is that they are possessed of a great variety of long, complicated sounding names. Now, obviously we need to call them SOMETHING, and using latin or pseudo-latin sounding terms allows us to apply some measure of appropriate description so that everybody knows what we're talking about. Even if we're not always sure exactly how to pronounce it.

Of course, one of the other functions of such nomenclature is that it all sounds very clever and official. Which is just as well really. Because if we were to actually set the TARDIS telepathic circuits to translate right down to the root meanings of terms and try to have a conversation about Dinosaurs we would sound, in all honesty, utterly retarded, if only for the number of times you end up saying lizard in a single sentence.

So that's what I'm going to do. Enjoy.

So, what's your favourite Terror Lizard? I think that mine is probably Meat Bull.

Moo.

Meat Bull is a Beast Foot from the Lizard Hip order of Terror Lizards (the same lineage from which modern Birds eventually evolved). It looks a lot like a Tyrant Lizard, but actually belongs to a related family of Horned Lizards, specifically Abel's Lizards. Smaller than the Tyrant Lizards these Terror Lizards were characterized by their rather ornamental head bones, such as the unusual crests of King Of Lizards, or the horns of Meat Bull. Indeed, Meat Bull stands unique amongst meat eating Terror Lizards as it is the only one with horns.

Meat Bull was nowhere near as strong as a Tyrant Lizard King, being smaller, but was still quite fearsome and fast. It had an unusual bone structure that allowed for a particularly large Tailthighbone Muscle, which could make Meat Bull one of the fastest Beast Foot Terror Lizards ever. Some studies state that it fed mainly on smaller prey, relying on speed over bite strength, but others have suggested that it may have hunted larger Terror Lizards. Possibly even huge Lizard Foots by using it's teeth to inflict slashing wounds and weaken the prey. It's not clear if the horns were used in hunting or not.

One of the things that makes Meat Bull particularly interesting to me is the fact that it's known only from a single specimen, yet that specimen was remarkably well preserved. The skeleton was connected and almost complete including the skull. In addition to all that there were also skin impressions preserved with the bones, a rare occurrence. It's this fact of such an unlikely discovery that really cements Meat Bull as a favourite for me. Roof Lizard, Three Horn Face or Swift Thief may be more famous. Spine Lizard & Double Beam may be much bigger. And all have their individual charms. To be sure if there's one thing I've learned it's that there's something remarkable and interesting about every Terror Lizard. But if forced to pick just one, I have to go with the original Slanderer Terror Lizard.