Predators on land and in the water - Thylacoleo and Paludirex

In today's bestiary entries, we have two powerful predators—Thylacoleo, the marsupial lion, and Paludirex, one of the largest crocodylians to ever exist. They represent the peak of their creature types in the Great Southern Land.

5e and 5.5e stat blocks are shown, and as ever, should you want a Markdown file for use in Obsidian, or a text version, just contact me.

Thylacoleo

The largest of the marsupial lions, thylacoleo is both a pack hunter and ambush predator. It has a wide, heavy, short-snouted skull with enlarged cheek teeth (the third premolars) that form long shearing blades. Thylacoleo also has an enlarged thumb claw encased in a sheath (as in cats) that is used to disembowel its prey.

Dwelling primarily in treed open plains, thylacoleo hunts by steadily running down prey, or by lying in wait for prey to pass beneath it where it pounces from a hidden position.

Up to 2m (6'6") from nose to tail, thylacoleo weigh from 90-160kg (198-350lb) and are built solidly. Their bite is the strongest of any mammal, pound-for-pound.

5e stat block

5.5e stat block

Paludirex

Known as the Swamp King, *Paludirex* is a huge crocodile-like creature up to 8m (26 ft.) long, weighing in excess of 1,500kg (3,300lb). It has a wide, flat head, proportionally shorter than more common crocodiles.

It is the apex waterway predator in its habitat and hunts by ambush from the water, or by taking unsuspecting grazing animals and those drinking.

5e stat block

5.5e stat block