Not sure if anyone is facing the same issue but this mod crashes my game when I try and access the research menu. Really disappointing cause I love this Ankylo model far more than the original. Anyone got any suggestions or is this an issue for anyone else?
no cap, why did these guy need armoured eyelids. I get the rest, so it wouldnt get one hit by a t-rex right. But... eyelids. Its not like t-rex would be biting its eyes. But there was apparently enough selective pressure for it to evolve armoured eyelids. Now I was thinking maybe its actually an adaptation for digging, which they likely did, but that seems like overkill. I mean theres plenty of digging animals that have nothing like that whatsoever, not even armadillos. Its quite clear the armour of ankylosaurs evolved as a defensive structure from the bone crushing bites of tyrannosaurs, and the tail club evolved to keep the predator away from its head/neck. But, what selective pressure would've lead to even the eyes being armoured? The way I see it, something must have been getting into its eyes, to the point it needed armour over them. And given that its other defensive features were likely if not definitely the result of selective pressure from tyrannosaurs, it makes sense that this feature would be too. And the way I see, the only way a t-rex could target another dinosaurs eyes, would be using a projectile. Venom like a spitting cobra? Maybe, but its application for hunting doesnt make the necessary adaptations to get to that result worthwhile. But, dinosaurs had pneumatised bones, and likely had air sacs like birds. In birds these are used to expel CO2, and take in oxygen, and constantly contain air. But what if, an adaptation occured, where an air sac, was instead linked to the gut. So ended up containing and releasing hydrogen. New extremely complex organs can evolve over surprisingly short spans of time, as seen with the mammalian placenta. These 'gas chambers' may at first help the dinosaur to reduce its weight, allowing tyrannosaurs to gain large size... but, what if another adaptation occurred, now the dinosaur can expel the gas. And maybe... one day, a tyrannosaur gets some stones caught in its teeth, either from digging a nest, or maybe to use as gastroliths. Later it bites down on some prey, the stones rub together, and it breathes out the gas stored in it... the stones create a spark... combustion. The ceratopsid it was attacking is burnt, and dies from its wound. The tyrannosaur is also injured, but not to the extent that the behaviour isnt viable, as its saliva, usually used to help move bone down its throat protects it. As well as this, cooking the meat breaks down some of the food before consumption, this makes digestion more efficient. Its why even none human carnivores seem to prefer cooked meat. Over time, this salvia adapts to become flame retardant mucus, and tyrannosaurs learn to use their knew found combustible breath, from further away... Boom, fire breathing t-rexes are why ankylosaurs needed armoured eyelids.
Now of course this is all wild speculation, but its an interesting thought experiment I think, so I'd like to see if anyone can find gaps, or think it falls apart anywhere.
Could you by chance put that model on the 2001 version, so we can use it and deinosuchus at the same time? Because im not willing to give up this anky for the croc.
Thank you so much for creating this! I hated the JWE Ankylosaurus design. This is far superior in every way. Is there anyway you could make the osteoderms on the sides deform with the body more fluidly?
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Now of course this is all wild speculation, but its an interesting thought experiment I think, so I'd like to see if anyone can find gaps, or think it falls apart anywhere.
I love your work, but to be honest I also love the original skins.