Shattered Shores

  Mainland Mainland is the largest island in the Floating Isles, and it sits at the center of them. More than anywhere else, this is where the dinosaurs take over. Nearly every habitat on this island has some kind of dinosaur, and most of the large animals that can be seen here, whether predator or prey, are dinosaurs. Lesser Bear Dragon On The Shore Of The Central Lake Like the other islands, Mainland has a single, central up-flow of freshwater which forms the large Central Lake. (This is known to be an up-flow of water by the fact that two large rivers are flowing  out  of the lake, but there is no visible source of water flowing into  the lake.) The lake is teeming with life. Large Slow Sharks move through the open water, feeding on the thick plant growth below. They are hunted by packs of Spikefin, which attack them from below. Lake Dactyls fly overhead and dip their beak into the water for fish. But they often have to pull away quickly when Bird-Snare Cuttlefish...

 Cruncher Habitat : Ring Sea Type : Herbivorous Marine Reptile Length : 15 to 18 Feet Weight : 900 to 1,600 Pounds Lone Cruncher In Sea Grass Forest The Cruncher is a common animal in the sea grass forests that cover large parts of the Ring Sea. It is most often found moving slowly through these underwater fields in small groups, feeding as it goes. These groups, usually made up of a few individuals, stay close together and travel steadily through areas where food is thickest. It gets its name from the sound it makes while feeding. The Cruncher uses a set of rounded, heavy teeth to pluck and crush the tough seed pods that grow along the long strands of sea grass. These pods appear to make up its entire diet. With each bite producing a cracking noise that can carry through the water, a group of these animals feeding can be a very noisy thing.  Cruncher Feeding On Seed Pods The body is long and smooth, built for steady swimming rather than speed. It moves easily through de...

 Cove Haven Location Of Cove Haven On Long Island Cove Haven is one of the most isolated places in the Floating Isles. It sits deep within the Upper Mountains of Long Island, surrounded on all sides by steep slopes that function as a wall, cutting it off from the rest of the island. Aside from the deep caves that cut through the mountains, the only opening is a narrow, shallow channel that connects the bay to the Ring Sea. Most large sea creatures cannot pass through it, and very few attempt to. Because of this, the area is quieter and more stable than most other parts of the Isles. Slopeback And Young Several small rivers run down from the mountains and through their caves, and spread through a dense forest before emptying into the bay. The water is slow-moving and clear in most places, with soft ground along the banks. The forest here is thick but not as chaotic as elsewhere, and the ground is often open enough for larger animals to move through without difficulty. The largest ...

Bear Wolf Habitat : Long Island; Prairie Type : Large Pack-Hunting Mammal Length : 8 to 10 Feet Height : 3.5 to 4.5 Feet (at shoulder) Weight : 400 to 550 Pounds Bear Wolf The Bear Wolf is the dominant predator of the prairie in the middle of Long Island. It lives and hunts in packs with up to eight adults. Packs have a home den, where they leave their cubs with an adult babysitter when going hunting. When hunting, the pack moves together across open ground, spreading out as they travel, and closing in once prey has been located. The Bear Wolf is a large, heavy-built animal, with a broad head, strong jaws, and long legs built for short bursts of speed. The coat is usually tawny in color, marked with darker stripes that break up its outline in the tall grasses. This allows it to move in very close before being noticed.  The Bear Wolf will hunt just about anything it can bring down, but it shows a clear preference for large animals. Common targets include Unicorns, Heavy Kangaroo...

Hatchet Dactyl Habitat : Rookery Island and Ring Sea  Type : Large Fishing Dactyl Wingspan : 22 to 30 Feet Length : 10 to 12 Feet Weight : 180 to 260 Pounds Hatchet Dactyl in Flight The Hatchet Dactyl is the largest of all known dactyls, and second only to the White Teratorn among flying animals. It roosts in great numbers on the cliffs and ledges of Rookery Island and ranges widely over the Ring Sea, even flying over the Rock Ring itself. Even at a distance, its size and steady, low flight over the water make it easy to recognize. It is named for the half-circle crest at the end of its beak. When viewed from the side, this crest resembles the blade of a hatchet. This crest is brightly colored—in striking shades of deep orange and red. These colors are most visible when individuals gather at the cliffs, where they raise and turn their heads during courtship displays. While in flight, the Hatchet Dactyl holds its head angled downward beneath its body, keeping the tip of its beak ...

 Tree Crocodile Habitat : Long Island; Lower Swamps Type : Semi-Arboreal Crocodile Length : 10 to 15 Feet Weight:  200 to 400 Pounds The Tree Crocodile is one of the more unusual reptiles found in the swamp forests of Lower Long Island. While it is clearly a crocodile, its behavior sets it apart from anything else in its family. It is not truly specialized for any one environment, but instead functions well enough in three—water, ground, and trees. Adult In Tree Its body is lighter and more flexible than fully aquatic crocodiles. Its limbs are longer, and its claws are stronger and more curved; allowing it to climb when needed. This is similar to the Sand Croc juveniles on Midway Island. Even so, adult Tree Crocodiles are not especially fast or agile in the trees. As large as they are, climbing is slow and deliberate, and the animals show clear selectiveness in how and where they ascend. The Tree Crocodile favors thick trunks with rough bark, often those that grow at a slig...

Death Valley Death Valley Cutting Through The Lower Mountains Death Valley is named for several reasons. Very little light reaches the bottom, so almost nothing grows. A large amount of dead material collects here from the river and from animals that fall in. And finally, the entire valley reeks of death and decay. This valley runs straight through the Lower Mountain Range of Long Island, cutting from one side to the other. It is extremely narrow, with steep rock walls on both sides, and the river forced tightly between them. In many places, the walls are so high and close together that very little light reaches the bottom. Because of this, almost nothing grows here. There are algae growths along the water and on damp rock, but little else. Most of the valley floor is bare stone.  The river brings more than just water. Anything that dies upstream eventually ends up here. Fish, mammals, and especially Buck-Tooth Bats (fallen from the nightly combat with Screamer Owls) are carried d...

 Lake Dragon Habitat : Haulout Island; Plateau Lake and Rivers Type : Large Aquatic Reptile Length : 25 to 40 Feet (Lake Population); 15 to 20 Feet (River Population) Adult Lake Dragon The Lake Dragon is the largest predator in the freshwater systems of Haulout Island . It is most commonly found in the open waters of the Plateau Lake, though it is also present throughout the rivers that feed from it. Adults are long-bodied and powerful swimmers, built for movement in open water, and are capable of powerful bursts of speed. In the deep waters of the lake, the largest individuals ambush their prey from below. Their primary food sources are the Scissor Bass and the Whale Bass, both of which are large enough to support a predator of this size. Attacks are fast and direct, relying on speed and the force of the blow. Adult Lake Dragon Ambushing A  School of Whale Bass The Lake Dragon gives birth to many live young. These young are already capable swimmers and do not require car...

Lantern Beetle Habitat : Long Island; River Caves Type : Large Cave Beetle Length : ~4 Inches The Lantern Beetle is one of the largest, yet most common insects found in the river caves that crisscross the upper mountain range. It gathers in large numbers along the damp floors and walls, especially in areas where algae, fungus, and moss grow thick. These growths appear to make up its entire diet, and heavy feeding often draws many individuals into the same area. Lantern Beetle Glowing As It Feeds The beetle is low-bodied and heavily built, with a hard shell that protects it as it moves over stone. Though it has wing covers, it does not fly. Instead, it moves in quick bursts, and when disturbed, it can leap surprisingly far using its enlarged hind legs. This allows it to cross gaps or disappear into cracks with little warning. When feeding, the rear of the beetle begins to glow with a soft, steady light. This light draws other beetles toward the same food source. As more gather and be...

Ghost Dragon Habitat: Mainland ; Upper Forest (between the forks of the left river) Type: Medium Predatory Dinosaur Length: 18 to 20 Feet Height: 8 to 10 Feet Weight: 800 to 1,000 Pounds Ghost Dragon (exaggerated for clarity) Ghost Dragon (as it appears) The Ghost Dragon is one of the most elusive and dangerous predators in the Upper Forest. It is never seen clearly, and most encounters can only be described as distortions—shifting air, bending light, or blurred vision. The little that can be observed of this creature reveals a tall, long-bodied predator with a narrow head, long neck, and powerful hind legs.  When the light coming through the trees hits the animal at the right angle, the outline can be seen more clearly. In these moments, a distinctive pair of rounded head crests can be seen rising from the top of the skull. It appears that the areas not cloaked (for lack of a better, more official term for it) are the eyes, the claws, and the inside of its jaws. This see...