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Description
I've finally finished this work. Angry Heterodontosaurus tucki attacked a large predator Dracovenator regenti. The idea appeared a long time ago last year, but I decided to return to the sketch only in January. So, here it is.

Heterodontosaurus and Dracovenator belong to the faunal complex of the Elliot Formation, the uppermost geological group of the Karoo Basin in South Africa. Many Early Jurassic taxa have been found there, especially sauropodomorphs and ornithischians. Among the latter are heterodontosaurids, including the type taxon. Theropods are represented by a relative of Coelophysis Megapnosaurus rhodesiensis, sometimes placed in this genus and a Dracovenator related to the North American Dilophosaurus wetherilli.

Dracovenator was the apex predator of the ecosystem, so usually Heterodontosaurus avoided it. But if this birdman practiced parental care, then, like modern small birds, he could attack even a large stranger who approached the nest. And, since Heterodontosaurus had powerful jaws and sharp "incisors" and caniniforms, its bite could be very painful. Not the best moment for this Dracovenator...

Many paleoartworks focus on the confrontation between theropods and their herbivorous neighbors, but usually medium-sized animals are depicted, or a preponderance towards the herbivore. However, there are many cases in nature when small animals, protecting their offspring, attack large predators, and they often retreat due to an unexpected and aggressive attack. I think similar situations could have happened in the Mesozoic. As for the animals themselves, Heterodontosaurus is known from well-preserved specimens, so its anatomy is well studied. But Dracovenator was much less lucky, so its appearance is reconstructed by extrapolation with Dilophosaurus, with which an African predator is usually brought closer. The integument of Heterodontosaurus is depicted on the basis of its relative Tianyulong confuciusi, but the integument of Dracovenator is completely speculative.

Black ballpoint pen, black colored pencil and white gouache, 2022.

Description
I've finally finished this work. Angry Heterodontosaurus tucki attacked a large predator Dracovenator regenti. The idea appeared a long time ago last year, but I decided to return to the sketch only in January. So, here it is.

Heterodontosaurus and Dracovenator belong to the faunal complex of the Elliot Formation, the uppermost geological group of the Karoo Basin in South Africa. Many Early Jurassic taxa have been found there, especially sauropodomorphs and ornithischians. Among the latter are heterodontosaurids, including the type taxon. Theropods are represented by a relative of Coelophysis Megapnosaurus rhodesiensis, sometimes placed in this genus and a Dracovenator related to the North American Dilophosaurus wetherilli.

Dracovenator was the apex predator of the ecosystem, so usually Heterodontosaurus avoided it. But if this birdman practiced parental care, then, like modern small birds, he could attack even a large stranger who approached the nest. And, since Heterodontosaurus had powerful jaws and sharp "incisors" and caniniforms, its bite could be very painful. Not the best moment for this Dracovenator...

Many paleoartworks focus on the confrontation between theropods and their herbivorous neighbors, but usually medium-sized animals are depicted, or a preponderance towards the herbivore. However, there are many cases in nature when small animals, protecting their offspring, attack large predators, and they often retreat due to an unexpected and aggressive attack. I think similar situations could have happened in the Mesozoic. As for the animals themselves, Heterodontosaurus is known from well-preserved specimens, so its anatomy is well studied. But Dracovenator was much less lucky, so its appearance is reconstructed by extrapolation with Dilophosaurus, with which an African predator is usually brought closer. The integument of Heterodontosaurus is depicted on the basis of its relative Tianyulong confuciusi, but the integument of Dracovenator is completely speculative.

Black ballpoint pen, black colored pencil and white gouache, 2022.