Scyllae

Scyllae are a type of giant squid. These greenish gray six-tentacled sea creatures can grow up to 60 feet long, though scyllae that live in coastal areas are half that size. Scyllae are extremely territorial, attacking other scyllae, sharks, porpoises, whales, or any boats that stray too close. While a small enough vessel or a swimmer may not be large enough to trigger its territorial instincts, a scylla may instead mistake them for prey.
Scyllae are able to monitor large swaths of the ocean in two ways. First, they are extremely sensitive to changes in ocean current, allowing them to detect movement quickly and easily. Second, their skin is covered in electrical receptors that they can use to hone in on organisms that have nervous systems. This neatly compensates for their limited eyesight and lack of any form of hearing.

Basic Information

Anatomy

Scyllae have six tentacles, each of which is covered in suckers. They possess large eyes to make up for the lack of light deep in the ocean. Like most squids, they have a beak in front of their mouths, which is located at the base of their tentacles.

Genetics and Reproduction

Once a year, scyllae from around the world congregate in the surface waters near the equator to breed. It is the only time scyllae will tolerate each other's presence. They release gametes into the surrounding waters, then migrate back to their territories. Young scyllae make the trip every year; older scyllae may only migrate every few years, and eventually not at all. They will, however, allow other scyllae to pass through their territory.

Growth Rate & Stages

Baby scyllae mature rapidly, voraciously eating any prey they can find (including each other). If they can get enough to eat, immature scyllae can grow as much as a foot a day. Once they are strong enough to swim their growth rate slows down, eventually stopping altogether if they end up in a coastal region. At this point they may be anywhere from ten to twenty feet long. Scyllae begin emigrating from the equatorial region around this time. The few that stay behind end up fighting to the death to claim territories.

Ecology and Habitats

Scyllae prefer open, deep areas in the middle of the ocean. They can also live along coastlines, but lack of large prey and room to grow puts a limit on their size. Scyllae typically claim remarkably small areas, reaching at most a square mile on the surface. While they will leave this area to hunt, they will ignore any potential competitors outside it.

Dietary Needs and Habits

It certainly likes sailors....

Additional Information

Social Structure

Scyllae are solitary creatures, and will in fact attack each other should one scylla enter the territory of another. Scyllae are most likely to be killed by other scyllae.

Uses, Products & Exploitation

Beaks from washed-up scyllae corpses are occasionally modified into tools. If the corpse is fresh enough, seaside communities may use the meat.

Average Intelligence

Scyllae are fairly intelligent, able to circumvent defenses and identify weak spots.

Perception and Sensory Capabilities

Scyllae are extremely sensitive to changes in ocean current, allowing them to detect movement quickly and easily. Their skin is also covered in electrical receptors that they can use to hone in on organisms that have nervous systems. They are fairly nearsighted, especially in the deep ocean.

Symbiotic and Parasitic organisms

Scyllae have several parasites. The red-spotted remora will sometimes latch onto scyllae; however, scyllae will usually remove them fairly quickly. If scyllae consume fish infected with burgundy worm larvae, the worms will mature within the digestive tract of the scylla, siphoning nutrients from its gut. Occasionally a squid's eye may become infected with Purple Rot, a colonial protist. The squid's eye will eventually become completely obscured by the purple residue they generate, rendering it blind.

Conservation Status

Scyllae are incredibly common denizens of the Scyllan Sea.

Average Length

30-60 ft, depending on habitat