Mokele Mbmembe

Mokele Mbembe
Mokelesaurus mbembe ("River-blocking reptile," from Lingala Mokele-mbembe[One who stops the flow of rivers]+ Greek sauros[reptile])
Clan: Earth/Water
Height: 10 ft (3.048 m) at shoulder
Length: 39.37 ft (12 m)
Weight: 6 tons ( metric tons)
Lifespan: 50-60 years
Diet: Herbivorous
Range: Congo River Basin (Earth), Sin Jungle (Yonder)
Offense/Defense: Armored back, lashing tail, razor-sharp tusks
Status: Vulnerable
Danger Level: Medium to High - Proceed with caution

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Division: Archosauria
Superorder: Dinosauria
Order: Saurischia
Suborder: Sauropodomorpha
Superfamily: Sauropoda
Family: Titanosauriformes
Subfamily: Titanosauria
Tribe: Molekesauridae
Genus: Mokelesaurus
Species: M. mbembe, M. madagascariensis

Deep in the Congo River basin, unseen and unheard, a legend lies hidden in the vegetation. It is only very rarely seen, but those who see it tell spectacular tales of an extraordinary beast, virtually unknown to civilization. But what is this creature, and why does it exist in this remote area, far from civilization?
The mokeles, named for their most famous member, are small to medium-sized titanosaurs that, by virtue of their ability to colonize remote islands, have become the most diverse family in this pervasive group, and one of the more specialized in an unusual way. Most sauropods are land-dwellers, but scientists used to believe that they were aquatic creatures, feeding primarily on water plants and using the nostrils on their heads like snorkels. Mokeles, in some ways, are this esoteric but horribly outdated portrait of sauropod life personified, because they are essentially the dinosaurian equivalent to Earth's hippopotamus - medium-sized, plant-eating amphibious herbivores. No wonder their largest and most famous member, the Congo Mokele Mbembe or simply the Mokele Mbembe, has a traditional name that is translated from the Lingala language to "The one who stops the flow of rivers."

Mokeles in general have robust, barrel-shaped torsos and comparatively short limbs, among other adaptations to their semiaquatic lifestyle. Their eyes and nostrils are positioned on protuberances on the upperside of their skulls, allowing the animals to breathe and survey surroundings while remaining mostly submerged. Like those of many diving birds, their air sacs no longer invade the bones, reducing buoyancy and increasing the strength of the skeletal system so that the internal organs are protected from water pressure. This allows the animals to remain underwater with little effort, though at the cost of size. As a result, they have more extensive armor than any other sauropod. The Congo Mokele Mbembe and its cousin the Malagasy dwarf mokele in particular have taken this to the extreme, with each species having armored plates akin to those of an ankylosaur running down its back. Interestingly, smaller mokele genuses don't have fused armor, relying instead on closely packed ossicles, rounded scutes, and triangular spines for protection. However, recent analysis has revealed that the Mokelesaurus genus uses these armor plates as ligament attachments for structural support, since their size would put extra strain on their vertebrae and other bones without it. This dual purpose is found in few other animals, and helps explain how the true mokeles can achieve such a (relatively) large size.
The Congo mokele is cosmopolitan in its eating habits, consuming whatever the river or land has to offer. Like an Earth hippo, it is often found walking along the riverbottom, placidly plucking at aquatic vegetation, but it will also use its long neck to reach foliage growing on the riverbanks without leaving the water. Interestingly, it has developed a relatively wide snout, rather like that of a rebbachisaurid, which allows it to consume grass as well. The teeth on the front of its mouth angle grow further forward than the huge tusks on the sides of the jaws, and the mokele can therefore grip grass or reeds with its front teeth and loosen it up with sways of the head. Like other sauropods, it doesn't chew, for it actually doesn't need to - the grinding of tougher foliage is taken care of by stones obtained by the mokele and housed in its muscular stomach, an idiosyncrasy also seen in Brontes and most other titanosaurs. This has left the jaw to do whatever it wants to the rest of its teeth, evolutionarily speaking: the teeth on the posterior of the jawline are completely gone, but four particular teeth just behind the front teeth have evolved into huge, lethal tusks, which grind against each other to be kept permanently razor-sharp. To cap it off, the Congo mokele has powerful jaws that can bite at up to 2200 pounds (according to one measurement on an adult female, at least), more than enough to cut through tough branches... and anything that disturbs the normally peaceful mokele at lunchtime.

In other words, the Congo mokele has what can only be described as "a mean streak as wide as the Congo itself," which may explain reports of its dangerous nature. In 1913, German Captain Freiherr von Stein zu Lausnitz, describing an expedition to the area, stated that "Canoes coming near it are said to be doomed; the animal is said to attack the vessels at once and to kill the crews but without eating the bodies." Mokeles are not very aggressive on land (unless in defense of their offspring), although they do emerge from the river individually to graze at dusk, but in the water, it's a very different story, especially in the breeding season. The strongest bull in the area, the beachmaster, presides over a small stretch of river, over 200 meters in length, and containing ten to twelve females. Bachelors are allowed in the beachmaster's territory as long as they behave submissively towards him; bachelors will lounge with other bachelors, females with other females, but the beachmaster will almost always laze on his own, surveying his territory in case a challenger appears. If one does, the beachmaster will inflate his nasal sacs, producing such a low, loud roar that the water around his back literally "sprinkle" in a so-called "water dance." Anyone who sees this happen would be wise to back off, but if the challenger persists, the beachmaster will roar again, this time flashing his large tusks as a warning signal. If that STILL doesn't work, then the two males will fight, slashing and snapping at each other with their large tusks and thrashing at each other with their necks and tails. The fight will end only if one bull concedes defeat.
Female mokeles (cows) have an easier time than the males. Each cow reaches sexual maturity at about 5 to 6 years, which is to be expected for animals that must grow fast to survive in such a harsh environment. It is the aim for the beachmaster to mate with as many members of his harem as possible, the better to pass on his genes, but other than that his participation in parenthood is virtually nil. The brooding mothers are the ones taking care of everything to do with their young. Two weeks after mating, the cows lay clutches of 20-25 eggs in a simple fiercely guarded pit along the riverbank; the hatchlings are 65 cm long and form creches among the reeds and sheltered pools. Being smaller and lighter, they are good swimmers, but are more easily swept away by river currents and often fall prey to predators lying in wait on the riverbank or in the river itself. A mother mokele will therefore defend her young until they reach sexual maturity, and the sight of her going on the attack is nothing short of awe-inspiring. And to further increase the chances for the survival of their offspring, the cows don't just rear them indiscriminately. They band together and form what can only be described as a nursery. Mothers will help daughters, aunts will help nieces, and even the grandmother may participate if she's still active. And if the beachmaster is in a kinky mood, the cows can choose whether to yield to his fancy or not, and often submit by present their bright yellow dewlaps to him. So in mokele society, it is in fact the cows who dominate everything; the bulls' purpose is simply to breed with the cows and, of course, defend the nursery from rivals and predators.

Because of their unique lifestyle, adaptations, and behavior, Mokeles are fascinating animals, and continue to attract the interest of scientists as well as laypeople. Sadly, as people continue colonizing the Congo basin, and attempt to colonize the Forbidden World, the Mokele Mbembe's range is gradually dissappearing. This is also coupled with rampant poaching of the Mokele Mbembe for meat, hide, and ivory, and 125,000 to 150,000 pairs remain. While it's safe to say that this is not a creature to be taken lightly, care must be taken to keep both the Congo and the Sin Jungle from dissappearing, lest the Congo Mokele Mbembe dissappear as well.

Aang says: "Oh, my... *shudders...* Nasty fellas. See, most sauropods are renowned as gentle giants, but the Congo Mokele Mbembe? Not so much. In its Yonder range, the Sin Jungle (nicknamed 'The Darkest Jungle' by many naturalists, myself included), this guy has killed and injured more people than any other animal. Ever. Yonder folklore dictates that the Mokele was one of the most fearless warriors of the dinosaur kingdom, though he longed for a life in the water; the gods allowed him to adopt an aquatic lifestyle on the condition that he doesn't eat any of the fish in the area, a promise he fulfills to this day. Amazing and beautiful creatures though they are, however, just because mokeles are exclusively herbivorous doesn't mean they can't totally ruin your afternoon pool party. One of my most *ahem* fondly remembered expeditions to The Darkest Jungle involved an encounter with one particular beachmaster, in his prime turf, DURING the breeding season. I'm still surprised - and very grateful - that no one, including the mokele, was killed that little incident, though I must note that not all of us came out of it completely unscathed..."