Elasmosaurs (pronounced: /ilæsmoʊˈsɑːrʌs/ ee-læs-mo-SAR-us[5]) were a type of aquatic dinosaur.[3][1]
Description[]
They possessed long snake-like necks and tails and muscular ovoid bodies with fins in place of legs. Elasmosaurs measured 30 feet (9.1 meters) long, with the tail comprising fully half the length, and couldweigh up to 5,000 pounds (2,300 kilograms). Those who sighted only the head or tail from the surface might mistake it for an enormous serpent.[1]
Abilities[]
They were powerful, quick, and had great maneuverability, being able to make sharp turns. Despite their size, they were surprising good at hiding, at least underwater.[1]
Although largely water-dwelling, elasmosaurs were not amphibious and must return to the surface to breathe.[1]
They saw with low-light vision and had a good sense of scent.[1]
Behavior[]
Fintails could be found alone or in pairs, or in herds of 5 to 8 specimens.[1]
Tactics[]
They hunted by swimming near the surface with their head above water, then dove swiftly to snatch prey.[3][1] One would attack any creature it came across, lunging forward with its neck and snapping at its prey.[1]
Ecology[]
Habitats[]
In the Realms, they could particularly be found in the lake of Moonsea.[6]
Appendix[]
External Links[]
Elasmosaurus article at Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia.
Great fintail article at the Eberron Wiki, a wiki for the Eberron campaign setting.
Appearances[]
- Adventures
- Curse of the Azure Bonds
References[]
- ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11 1.12 1.13 1.14 Skip Williams, Jonathan Tweet, Monte Cook (July 2003). Monster Manual v.3.5. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 60. ISBN 0-7869-2893-X.
- ↑ Doug Stewart (June 1993). Monstrous Manual. (TSR, Inc), p. 54. ISBN 1-5607-6619-0.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 David Cook, Steve Winter, and Jon Pickens (1989). Monstrous Compendium Volume Three Forgotten Realms Appendix (MC3). (TSR, Inc), p. 24. ISBN 0-88038-769-6.
- ↑ Gary Gygax (December 1977). Monster Manual, 1st edition. (TSR, Inc), p. 25. ISBN 0-935696-00-8.
- ↑ Frank Mentzer (January 1985). “Ay pronunseeAYshun gyd”. In Kim Mohan ed. Dragon #93 (TSR, Inc.), p. 26.
- ↑ Jeff Grubb and George MacDonald (April 1989). Curse of the Azure Bonds. (TSR, Inc.), p. 93. ISBN 978-0880386067.
Connections[]
Sauropods: Anchisaurus • Brachiosaurus • Brontosaurus • Camarasaurus • Cetiosaurus • Diplodocus • Mamenchisaurus • Massospondylus • Plateosaurus
Ornithopods: • Ankylosaurus • Camptosaurus • Dacentrurus • Hadrosaurus • Iguanodon • Kentrosaurus • Lambeosaurus • Monoclonius • Paleocinthus • Pentaceratops • Stegosaurus • Styracosaurus • Trachodon • Triceratops
Pterosaurids: Pteranodon • Pterosaurus • Quetzalcoatlus
Aquatic: Elasmosaurus • Mosasaurus • Nothosaurus • Plesiosaurus • Pythosaurus • Temnodontosaurus