Acheroraptor

Acheroraptor temertyorum
Name meaning	Hell's Plunderer
Biology
Height	N/A
Length	2 meters
Weight	18 kilograms
Wingspan	N/A

"Acheroraptor (Hell's Plunderer) is a close relative of the famous Velociraptor. Despite their diminute size, Acheroraptor are agressive, often fighting and sometimes killing other members of their own species in conflict over territory or prey. They display a preference towards a more solitary lifestyle than the larger Dakotaraptor, preferring to tackle prey on their own. Acheroraptor are opportunistic, taking a mixture of small and large prey as well as carrion. These common predators are a scourge on young juvenile dinosaurs."

― Saurian encyclopedia

Acheroraptor is a dromaeosaurid from the late Cretaceous Montana, North and South Dakota, USA. Acheroraptor is one of the geologically youngest known species of dromaeosaurids, alongside Dakotaraptor, which is also known from Hell Creek.

The creature measured about 2 - 3 meters (6.66 - 10 ft) in length, 0.6 - 0.9 meters (1,95 - 2,9 ft) tall and weighed in at about 18 - 40 kg (39.6 - 88 lbs).

Acheroraptor is only known from a maxilla and dentary jaw with additional referred teeth, so the full body reconstruction is based on phylogenetics from what is some times believed to have been one of its closest cousins, the more famous Velociraptor. However, a more recent phylogenetic analysis recovers Acheroraptor as a saurornitholestine, instead of a velociraptorine.

Being a predator, it hunted lizards, amphibians like Habrosaurus, small mammals, juveniles of various larger dinosaurs, small dinosaurs like birds and Trierarchuncus. It is also possible it may have taken on slighly larger prey at times, like a sub-adult Leptoceratops or very young Tyrannosaurus that are alone. Eggs could have been eaten, if it managed to steal them from nests. Juvenile Acheroraptor would probably also eat more insects and small mammals/lizards than adults.

In Saurian

Hatchling Triceratops being hunted by an Acheroraptor

Acheroraptor is one of the carnivores currently in Saurian. It is portrayed as fully feathered. Its colors are represented through black and white feathers to match its habitat with black feet and snout and rusty red wings and tail fan for display. Their vocalizations are indistinguishable from any other animal in the game, with a high pitched screech, that reveals their presence. Acheroraptor tend to spawn more often at night. Acheroraptor present themselves as a threat to egg rearing, for they are avid nest raiders. Currently, Acheroraptor don't have ontogeny or sexual dimorphism.

Dakotaraptor gameplay

In the game, Acheroraptor are a prey item for an adult Dakotaraptor. Acheroraptor are baby killers, that is, they will hunt the player when it is a hatchling. However, starting from the juvenile age, the Acheroraptor can be killed more easily by the player, and will usually flee from you, unless you attack it. Juveniles are still Acheroraptor prey, but the player will have to practice RPR to easily take one down. In the subadult stage, the player may still receive some damage from an Acheroraptor, but it is an easy prey. Adults take one down easily, and by this point, they can no longer apply RPR to them, due to how small they are. Acheroraptor can demonstrate themselves as a threat to Dakotaraptor eggs and hatchlings, so adults oughta be careful of them.

Triceratops gameplay

Acheroraptor are dangerous predators for hatchling Triceratops. You will have trouble in outrunning one, benefiting from the protection of the herd to stay safe from one. As you grow into a juvenile, they are largely not a threat, from that point forwards. Adults that are rearing eggs or young must be cautious about Acheroraptor, if they attempt to raid the nest or hunt down an hatchling.

Behind the scenes

Final concept art by RJ Palmer.

Before the description of Dakotaraptor, Acheroraptor was going to be the playable raptor as well as the first playable dinosaur released to the public. However, the larger Dakotaraptor became the playable raptor, while Acheroraptor became a non-playable animal. The reasons behind this was because the team felt that Acheroraptor's gameplay was possible with the young Dakotaraptor and that Acheroraptor is dwarfed by the foliage of the Hell Creek, which would mean the team would have had to commit to creating highly detailed plant models and textures just to retain high-quality visuals for all the life cycles of all the playable animals, possibly resulting in high minimum system requirements for the game, which is something that the team does not want.

Unused design of the Acheroraptor by RJ Palmer.

Unused male design by RJ Palmer.

Notes and references

Acheroraptor as it appears in the game's encyclopedia