Monster Monday: Terrestrisuchus & Saltoposuchus, Little Running Crocs

Today's Monster Monday is a two-fer: the greyhound-like prehistoric crocodilians terrestrisuchus and saltoposuchus.

by Nobu Tamura, via Wikimedia

Terrestrisuchus gracilis

Both of these prehistoric crocodylomorphs were built for speed, galloping across the landscape and snapping up prey on the run.  They may have even been able to rise up on their hind legs.  Their lifestyle must have born little resemblance to that of the crocodilians we are familiar with today (though modern crocs can certainly put on astounding bursts of speed).  The smaller terrestrisuchus gracilis was about three feet long including its tail, which made up about half its total length.  Saltoposuchus connectens was similarly built but larger, reaching almost five feet in length.  Both creatures inhabited Late Triassic Europe, which had a hot and dry climate, meaning these speedy crocs probably dashed across sand dunes and arid plains.  Their physiological similarities, combined with the fact that they existed at roughly the same time and in roughly the same place, have led to the suggestion that terrestrisuchus was simply a juvenile saltoposuchus, which is certainly plausible.

by Nobu Tamura, via Wikimedia

Saltoposuchus connectens

Why stat up both of these running reptiles?  Terrestrisuchus is just the right size and challenge rating to be a familiar, while saltoposuchus is large and powerful enough to serve as a threat for low-level adventurers.  Think of it as the difference between a rat familiar and a dire rate: one of them could hang out with a wizard or possibly attack in a swarm, the other can fight a beginning adventuring party alone or in a small pack.

But mostly, of course, I statted them both up because I love prehistoric life and I want as much of it as possible available for GMs to use in their campaigns.

The following text in gold is available as Open Game Content under the OGL. Open Game Content is ©2016 Jonah Bomgaars.

This lizard-like crocodilian bears more resemblance to a greyhound than to its large aquatic cousins

Crocodilian, Terrestrisuchus CR 1/4

XP 100

N Tiny animal

Init +2; Senses low-light vision; Perception +1

DEFENSE

AC 15, touch 14, flat-footed 13 (+2 Dex, +2 size, +1 natural)

hp 5 (1d8+1)

Fort +3, Ref +4, Will +1

OFFENSE

Speed 40 ft.

Melee bite +0 (1d3-2)

Space 2-1/2 ft.; Reach 0 ft.

STATISTICS

Str 6, Dex 15, Con 12, Int 2, Wis 13, Cha 7

Base Atk +0; CMB -4; CMD 8

Feats Run

Skills Acrobatics +6

SPECIAL ABILITIES

Familiar

The master of a terrestrisuchus familiar adds five feet to their move speed when making a double-move, withdraw, or run action. 

ECOLOGY

Environment warm and temperate plains and desert

Organization solitary, pair, pack (3-8)

Treasure none

This thin, scaly reptile rears up on its long legs, balancing itself with its tapering, whip-like tail

Crocodilian, Saltoposuchus    CR 1/2

XP 200

N Small animal

Init +2; Senses low-light vision; Perception +1

DEFENSE

AC 15, touch 14, flat-footed 13 (+2 Dex, +1 size, +2 natural)

hp 11 (2d8+2)

Fort +4, Ref +5, Will +1

OFFENSE

Speed 50 ft.

Melee bite +1 (1d4-1)

STATISTICS

Str 8, Dex 15, Con 12, Int 2, Wis 13, Cha 7

Base Atk +1; CMB -1; CMD 11

Feats Run

Skills Acrobatics +7

ECOLOGY

Environment warm and temperate plains and desert

Organization solitary, pair, pack (3-8)

Treasure none

Terrestrisuchus and saltoposuchus are both small terrestrial crocodilians with the thin bodies and long-legged running gaits of greyhounds.  Terrestrisuchus is smaller, only three feet long (half of which is its thin tail), while Saltoposuchus reaches lengths of five feet including its tail.  They are capable of running at extreme speeds for cold-blooded reptiles of their size, snatching up small animals and insects on the run.  

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

-your cursorial d20 despot