Apceros Ecology

Disclaimer: This is merely a plausible explanation for the monster(s) in this article, and should not be considered canon.

In-Game Information
Hunted for their meat, which is buried under a thick, armored hide. Aggressive compared to the Aptonoth, hunting them can be a challenge. Apceros eggs are a valuable guild commodity.

Taxonomy
Apceros belongs to the same family as its less armored cousin Aptonoth. Apceros has adapted to live in much harsher climates and deal with much great foes than Aptonoth. The creatures are large reptiles, but bare no real connection to wyverns, or any other large reptilian species.

Habitat Range
Apceros is well adapted to life in rugged, arid landscapes. The creatures are most commonly seen in the great desert, often spending long periods of time by oasis or even venturing into subterranean caves to escape the heat. Apceros have also been sighted at the volcanic belt, grazing on hardy shrubs the cling to life on the fringes of the great mountains. Apceros will even venture to the inner regions of volcanoes, although most likely not for extended periods of time.

Ecological Niche
One of few large desert herbivores, Apceros makes it living in some of Minegarde's harshest environments. Living in hot, arid climates ensures as minimal predation as possible. Still, Apceros commonly serve as prey for large wyverns ranging from Diablos to Tigrex, and even Gravios. Given their aggressive disposition, Apceros are relatively hard to domesticate, but a few desert settlements have accomplished the task and now have small, but successful herds.

Biological Adaptations
Apceros' most prominent feature is it's thickly armored back and shell, its most useful defensive feature. This hard shell is tough, but it still relatively weak when compared to the shell of others monsters. Apceros also has a thick skull plate and clubbed tail; useful for defending the beast from threats as well as for challenging other males. Apceros' broad, short, beaked mouth is very efficient as uprooting shrubs and bushes, Apceros' main food source. The creature's gizzard contains desert rocks selected specifically to help with digestion by grinding plant matter before it enters the stomach.

Behavior
Unusually aggressive for a herbivore; small herds of Apceros often will try to defend themselves from predators, and occasionally hunters. Apceros are much more territorial than other large grazing animals and are extremely protective of their eggs, a frequent meal for hunters such as Genprey. This over-aggressive nature may deter small threats, such as raptors, but will do little to stop the might of desert hunters such as Monoblos or Diablos. Apceros is, when not under attack, reletively docile, much like other large herbivores. It will slowly graze on desert shrubs and other plants accustomed to harsh environments. Apceros are known to be especially aggressive during mating season, as males will duel one another using their large, club-like tails and thick armored skulls.