#cariocecus

I'm back with new art! A portrait of the hadrosauroid Cariocecus bocagei from the Early Cretaceous of Portugal. Its partial, articulated skull was discovered in 2016 in the Barremian layers of the Papo Seco Formation. This is the first iguanodontian skull discovered in Portugal. It is distinguished by its low profile and the absence of the crest characteristic of some related dinosaurs. Like many other ornithopods, it had a palpebral bone, which served as a support for soft tissue that overhung the eye and protected it from damage and sunlight. The skull, including missing bones, was approximately 42 cm long, making the dinosaur of average size. However, since the sutures between almost all the skull bones are not fused, the animal was not yet fully grown at the time of death. The name comes from the Iberian and Lusitanian god of war, Cariocecus.

myths around the world challenge: @ibuzoo & @thewinedarksea

Forty-eight – 02

[This post is from Phelan’s point of view.] “Her magic’s awake,” Cariocecus rasped, his voice much closer now than it should have been. Phelan blinked blearily in surprise his head resting against Neve’s shoulder, as he saw Cariocecus appear behind Marin, pale and shaky. “The Hecate,” Cariocecus clarified, his breathing ragged and shallow, as if still in pain—he probably was, Phelan realized, as…

Forty-eight – 01

[This post is from Phelan’s point of view.] A shiver shot through Phelan and he stiffened, his eyes snapping open. Marin’s hand closed around his wrist as he started to force himself to his feet, still feeling shaky after the ordeal that had begun perhaps an hour—had it only been that long?—before. “Phelan—” “I can’t stay down here,” he murmured, trying to make sense of that he could feel going…

Forty-four – 04

[This post is from Marin’s point of view.] My stomach twisted and I bit my lip. “Because you couldn’t stand by and watch her throw herself at us and maybe lose her life over a fight she never really wanted to be in—a fight she never should have been in.” “Something like that,” he whispered, then looked down. “They turned her into a weapon they could point at people, much like they in turn did…

Forty-four – 03

[This post is from Marin’s point of view.] I met his gaze with a long, hard look and he drew a rasping breath as he finally managed to straighten, leaning back against the wall and staring at me with those fever-bright eyes. Out of the corner of my eye, I could see Phelan looking at him nervously, gaze flicking between Cariocecus and I with no small measure of trepeditation written all over his…

Forty-four – 02

[This post is from Marin’s point of view.] They were both silent for a few long seconds before Phelan cleared his throat. His voice still came out as a croak. “Olympium was one of the most powerful factions of old,” he said, his face pale in the lamplight. “They came after us hard in the old days. They—they were the ones—” He broke off, unable to continue. He didn’t have to. My heart had already…

Forty-four – 01

[This post is from Marin’s point of view.] My gaze flicked up as Neve scrambled down the ladder, then turned to help ease Cariocecus down into the tunnel. I scrambled to my feet to help her, leaving Phelan where he was, leaning against the wall with one hand pressed against his temple. Neve’s face was white even before she caught sight of Phelan and I realized with a start when I moved to help…