Prarie Pinpointer
Derived from the Pinpointer (Thalassaraptor kokovajilotus), this canetode-eating draconiraptorid has taken to the plains in order to avoid competition with its close relative, the Pinpricker (Thalassaraptor fundatus), which had adapted more so for reaching into the crevices of the more forested regions of North Etelama. The Prarie Pinpointer (Thalassaraptor gallicorpus) hunts exclusively in the grasslands and clearings and has a more stocky and robust body in contrast to the more heronlike stance of its cousin that helps to stabilize it more efficiently with a large body size in open land. Its proportionately large feet help to support its body weight and they help with its primary form of locomotion: hopping around on its toes while traveling on flat terrain. They also allow it to access a wider range of motions to bend its body while still remaining upright and stable. Its large dewclaws also play a role in balance and counter the weight provided by the rest of its body, growing larger with the lack of concern for streamlined flight.
The Prarie Pinpointer has reduced in height as a result of this and now only grows to fifty centimeters (50 cm) at the hip and the rest of its body has also shrunk to accommodate those changes, growing seventy-five centimeters (75 cm) in length. Its wingspan has took what may be the biggest hit, shrinking to a size of one-hundred fifty centimeters (150 cm) from a previous size of two-hundred forty centimeters (240 cm), as flight was not as necessary having a large body size with its prey already present on the ground. It travels by casually hopping along on the ground and only uses flight when it must, primarily doing so in storms, earthquakes, and other natural disasters as it is more convenient for it to hop around with its large body size than to fly. As a trade-off of this, they are not as efficient at flight energy-wise and may only fly around ten to fifteen miles (10-15 mi) at a time before stopping, maintaining it by flapping their wings occasionally. They do not soar over the ocean to hunt as they do not perform well in that niche and as their population is spread throughout the plains, including places far away from the ocean.
Prarie Pinpointers will feast on a variety of small organisms which they come across. Those include Acutognathus aequilibris, Banana-Beaked Needleworm (Acutognathus arierum), Acutognathus scrutator, Blattealimax panivore, Antarctic Roomba (Capilliarmus antarctipoda), Oculolophus caecus, Oculolophus maritimus, and Nipple-Legs (Thiliprootha peothilia). They include the Antarctic Roombas inside their diet as besides containing fuzz and lacking echolocation, those critters are similar enough to their other prey to be taken. They may also take the opportunity to feed on Climbing Nipple-Legs (Thiliprootha arborothilia) that are on the sides and edges of cocktrees bordering the plains in which they hunt, but they do not actually wander into the forested areas as they are not adapted to live in those settings.
Prarie Pinpointers are monogamous and mate in pairs which switch turns hunting and taking over the nest. Mates call out to eachother with a low and quick "garp-garp-garp" sound, and the female of this species will lay anywhere from four to six (4-6) eggs in a dirt mound used as a nest to help protect the eggs from factors in the external environment, such as weather and predators like Acutognathus malovis. Chicks in this nest are cared by the parents and they take two to three months (2-3 mo) to mature and to learn to live on their own. The decrease in the amount of eggs laid is selected for as competition is reduced for offspring, but there are still backup eggs in the case that a few die before maturity. They mate once every year (1 yr).