Lost World Reborn: Hyperiguanus giraffaglossis

Hyperiguanus giraffaglossis (Giraffe-tongued tall iguana).

Habitat: Dark jungle.

Size: 20 feet tall, 30 feet long, 4-5 tons.

Diet: Herbivore; high browse and fruits.

Lifespan: Up to 50 years.

Sociability: Solitary except when mating and when with young.

Breeding: Males and females meet briefly to mate. Females raise one to three calves for an unknown period of time.

Status: Cryptic but likely secure.

     Hyperiguanus giraffaglossis is a rare species of iguanodont that lives a solitary life in dense jungles of the Lost World. It has evolved a body plan similar to the sauropods and giraffids through convergent evolution. It has a long neck and narrow, tapered skull and long, dexterous tongue for reaching and grasping leaves. It also has longer front legs than short, and a shorter tail than other iguanodonts. Hyperiguanus still has the sharp thumb claw for defense, but can no longer stand on two legs, being so top-heavy with its longer neck. They can reach up to 20 feet tall, with only the giant sauropods of the plateau being taller, and can weigh around four or five tons. They live exclusively in the dense jungles where giant sauropods don't inhabit, mainly sense they either can't move through the dense vegetation or the plants are too tough for the sauropods to eat, a problem the Hyperiguanus has solved with strong jaws and teeth. They move through the forest alone, and are only seen together to mate or when they have young. Their striped hide helps them blend into the dark jungle, at lest when their great size doesn't give them away. Their solitary nature and camouflage makes them quite cryptic and tough to find, making it hard to tell if their population is stable or not. The jungles of the Lost World are mysterious, indeed!
Eoavis riding on the Hyperiguanus originally conceived and drawn by Pristichampsus