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Red and Yellow Strongjaw

Víaiosmandibula polichromos is a Viaiosmandibuline Caligobeloid amphibian from the Bubble Sea.   The animal evolved a very bright colouration thanks to the richness in nutrients of the waters it lives in but also for the express purpose of warning other animals and predators of the venom it stores in the dorsal fin.   V. policromos lives mostly among the tree trunks, protected from currents and bigger animals.   It hunts mostly shellfish, bubble tree parasites and Red Thorny Demons, being their natural predator. Given the minor size difference between the two, V. policromos will only hunt Daemonichthys acerpinnae if desperate, trying to avoid it if possible.   The amphibian is hunted mostly by Kugawine enetodontids that developed a resistance to the animal's venom, being able to withstand one or two stabs from the creature's dorsal rays.   The dorsal fin of the animal is composed by four "rays", phylogenetically originating from the manus as digits, the rays have venom ducts running across their length, connected to the venom glans attached to the Spinal cord VI; V. policromos' venom provokes paralysis of the Filtration sac in a matter of minutes from injections, seconds if the venom is injected directly over the target organ.   By paralyzing the filtration sac, the amphibian can suffocate threats easily.   Humans, lacking the target organ, are more or less immune to the animal's weapon, in worse cases suffering from an asthma attack if the injected quantity is very high.   Even though the animal is venomous, it is still kept in home aquariums due to the vivid colouration.   The animal can also be found in several markets for its exquisite meat, often cooked in restaurants in the area in Bubble syrup and sliced Cook's rattle.

Basic Information

Anatomy

  • Head rounded, eye large.
 
  • Cranial armour extremely segmented, several gaps make underlying skin visible.
 
  • Dorsal armour composed by 6 dorsal, 4 postcranial and 10 pectoral plates.
 
  • Visible dewlap especially when the jaw is open
 
  • All fins outside of the Dorsal are very large and thick.
 
  • Anal I & II close to each other and subquadrate.
 
  • Membrum bone of the limbs long and visible to the naked eye.
 
  • The Dorsal fin's membrum bone is vestigial, while the pes divides in four digits, creating the rays.
 
  • Gill Tail very long.
 
  • Gill Fan almost flat, Caudal fins very high.

Genetics and Reproduction

Polygynous species.   Víaiosmandibula polichromos mates in the summer.   In an average shoal of the species, there will be a couple of males accompanied by between six and twenty females, composing the males' mating groups.   The two males will separate, bringing along the respective females of their mating group; the small group will look for potential nesting sites, usually being hollowed out leaves and trunks of the Bubble tree, where eggs will be protected.   Competing groups will be fought by the whole mating party, chasing the competitors away from the potential nest, which will remain contented as long as no eggs are laid inside of it.   The male will mate with all the females in the mating group, in no particular order.   Females incubate the eggs inside the duct for three days before laying them inside the nest.   The females will remain inside the nest packed together until the young are born a few days later, the male will be free to roam during this time.   As soon as the eggs have hatched, the mating party will leave the young to themselves and return to their normal routine, finding another mating party to join until next mating season.

Growth Rate & Stages

Ontogenesis in the species visible.   Hatchlings are born with fused armours with less plates, only segmenting while growing, the rays of the dorsal fin are short and stubby, the venom duct being developed over time.   Loss of natal aculeus one week after birth.

Ecology and Habitats

Epipelagic species found at depths between 0 and 50 m.   Lives among the thick vegetation, rarely exiting the forest's front.

Dietary Needs and Habits

Predatorial species that hunts shellfish, bubble tree parasites and other small amphibians of the undergrowth.   Will sometimes hunt Red Thorny Demons however, due to their size relative to them, this will be a group effort.

Biological Cycle

Periannial species with no dips in activity year long.

Additional Information

Social Structure

Social animal living in shoals of up to forty-two specimens, although shoals very rarely grow that big in the wild.   In farms, the shoals are almost always maxed capacity and the rays are cut at birth, so the venom glands don't develop.   In captivity, they create smaller shoals and demonstrate a different set of social behaviours than in the wild, with specimens being more tolerating towards multiple males in the same group, even to the point of being able to live in captivity in couples.

Domestication

Due to the bright colouration and manageable size, the animal became a popular pet Unionwide, with a major farm on Earth.   Recommended for anyone with a few years of experience, the animal can breed on surrogate nests, avoiding the acquisition of an extremely pricy Bubble tree sapling.

Uses, Products & Exploitation

Important both in the pet trade and as a food source.   Several farms have been created on the planet for both markets, with the only difference of one not cutting the rays of the animal at birth.   Wild Capture of the species, while not illegal, is discouraged by the local governments as not to either trespass in Bubble tree cultivations or disturb local fauna, which is of great importance for tourism.

Geographic Origin and Distribution

Undergrowth of the Bubble sea, Irobian Ocean.  

Perception and Sensory Capabilities

Very good colour vision, very good hearing.

Symbiotic and Parasitic organisms

Afflicted by Intestinal Tube Worms.   Rarely carrier of Ocular Allochromism.
Scientific Name
Eoichthyia; Tartarosomnia; Scutophalidae; Calvatopinnoidea; Caligobeloidea; Viaiosmandibulidae ; Viaiosmandibulinae; Víaiosmandibula; V. polichromos
Lifespan
25 Years
Conservation Status
Least Concern: No measures underway to protect the species.   Population trend: STABLE
Average Weight
200-500 gr
Average Length
40 cm (male) , 50 cm (female)
Body Tint, Colouring and Marking
Yellow body, red armour and fins.   Yellowish-orange fine striping along the armour.   Dark grey to black striping along body and arms.   Blue dotting over the fins.   Rays blue striped black.

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