Pachycephalosaurus is definitely a mouthful, but they are more commonly known as “Skull Crackers.” The Pachycephalosaurs are two – legged plant eaters known for their extremely hard, dome – like skulls that they use as battering rams. Usually found in herds, they are fiercely territorial and will attack even large groups of travellers at the slightest provocation. Far from gentle, they lived in a constant struggle for dominance between themselves, manifested in ritualistic combat of head ramming. The impact from some of these clashes can be heard for miles around. Their skulls are so strong that they have been known to leave huge dents in vehicle armour plating and to even blow a sealed hatch off of its hinges. Armoured troops who have taken a solid blow to the torso and live to tell the experience rarely again put themselves in the path of even a juvenile Skull Cracker. Pachycephalosaurs have begun to spread into the dry forests of North America and Europe. Typically greyish green in colour, their domed skulls are rimmed and ornamented with small crowns of horn and display vibrant patterns of colour. These patterns are shades of red, orange and pink in males and blue, green and yellow in females.

A startled Skull Cracker’s instinctive response is to attack. If frightened, it attacks. If it feels challenged, threatened or cornered, it attacks. If angry, it attacks. Combat is the Pachycephalosaurs’ response to most everything. Thankfully, since the beast is an herbivore, it leaves its victim where they lay, so “playing possum” is an excellent ploy to trick the Skull Cracker into leaving one alone. Pachycephalosaurs travel in herds so if one member charges, it is likely that others will follow its lead to protect the herd. It’s bad enough to have one of these cranky things bearing down on you, skull poised like a battering ram. It’s another thing entirely to have three or more charging at you at once.