Sea Serpents

Kmúþic: Bakúx Mifir /paːk^huks mɪːfɪr/

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Sea serpents¹ is a general term for a wide variety of marine reptiles found in the seas and oceans of Borgalor, especially around the equator, as closer to the poles they face greater competition to whales and sharks. As the name implies, they appear much like snakes, complete with a forked tongue and flexible jaws, though many species also sport spikes along the back, sometimes connected by a thin membrane.

Notable species

Drifting sea serpent: Native to the seas near northwestern Örkraz and Sessalló, they disguise themselves as driftwood and snatch any bird or fish that gets too close.

Kelp sea serpent: Another ambush predator, found in kelp forests in the Þnisic Sea where they pretend to be kelp, aided by a slender body, specialized scales and prehensile tail to grasp rocks at the bottom.

Sacred sea serpent: Found off the southern coast of Jælondis, sporting a dark grey back with irregular lighter spots and belly. The þagralian goddess Mjespa is often depicted with the tail of this creature instead of legs, and the mythical king Þargos is said to have either ridden on the back of one out into the sea or turned his horse into one in some traditions.

Southern pied sea serpent: The largest and least studies species, around the size of our world's extinct basilosaurus, found in the depths between Örkraz and Lúrk.

Þemzoic sea serpent: The southernmost species, feeds mainly on marine mammals around the Southlands.

Þrúpó's striped sea serpent: The smallest species, named after the kmúþan scholar Þrúpó who first described it, found around the Teleyk Islands. They are popular in zoos due to the colourful appearance, being brown with bright green stripes, golden belly, red dorsal stripe and eyes.

Basic Information

Genetics and Reproduction

The animals give birth to live young, often quite large compared to the mother, who then swim away to fend for themselves.

Additional Information

Uses, Products & Exploitation

Stories of sea serpents attacking ships and swimmers are found in many cultures in Jælondis and Örkraz, although much like sharks, the animals are generally not nearly as aggressive in reality, but this reputation has nevertheless rendered some species endangered or even extinct over the centuries. While the meat is widely considered an acquired taste at best, the scales and bones are sometimes used for clothing, jewelry or religious paraphernalia in some societies.

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¹Original icelandic: sæskrímsli.

Geographic Distribution

• Þargolid Sea