Black Surf Shark
"Beneath the waves, the Black Surf Shark moves like a shadow of inevitability, patient, precise, and utterly relentless."The Black Surf Shark is a notorious, almost legendary carnivore that roams the coast lines of the warmer oceans and seas. It is named for its color and propensity for attacking prey in the churning waves of the coastal surf. Completely black in color and a relentless predator, this rare shark is known for chasing down and consuming anything that it deems as food. This includes other large sharks, whales, and humans and their boats. Many tales are told in dimly lit taverns of these terrors destroying entire ships and devouring their occupants. So impressive are these domineering fish, that the Nation Of Veladare has taken this creature as its symbol and proudly displays it on their national flag.
Basic Information
Genetics and Reproduction
Little is known of this species mating habits. It is believed that males become sexually mature at about 25 years of age and females at about 30 years of age. Gestation takes about 12 months with the eggs developing and hatching inside of the mother until birth, which takes place in the spring and early summer.
Growth Rate & Stages
These sharks hatch from eggs that are inside of the mother. When they are finally born they are about 5 feet in length and will grow about 12 inches each year under optimal conditions.
Ecology and Habitats
While these sharks can be located in almost all coastal waters around the world. They are often found in warm waters, ranging between 60℉ and 80℉ degrees, near abundant supplies of food. Turbulent shorelines, riptide areas, underwater drop offs, kelp forests, sea caves, blue holes, and warm water currents are their favored domains. They usually stay within their territory, but will migrate to follow food sources, to mate, and to give birth.
Dietary Needs and Habits
Based on the accounts of fishermen and sailors, it seem that the Black Surf Shark has a very opportunistic and varied diet. These carnivores tend to focus on the more fatty and energy rich meals and avoid the thin and body prey items. These sharks tend to feed at the surface, often striking from below at high speeds or chasing and pinning their target against rocks, high waves, or even the beach itself.
Generally these sharks hunt and feed in the morning and evening within the first or last two hours of daylight. They often target various fish, tuna, rays, sharks, dolphins, porpoises, whales, seals, sea lions, sea turtles, sea otters, and sea birds but will take any injured or slow moving animal in the water. They tend to enjoy whale carcasses immensely, for their high fat and energy content and will often attack small boats, hoping to scavenge on whatever is inside of them.
Small sharks tend to eat the smaller prey items like fish, while medium sized sharks will hunt marine mammals. The larger sharks often specialize in a particular type of prey, perfecting their hunting techniques over the many years of their life. Very large sharks will gorge themselves on whale carcasses in order to sustain themselves in between long periods without food.
Behaviour
The Black Surf Shark is a complex and adaptable apex predator known for its intelligence and strategic behavior. While often solitary, it exhibits socially flexible tendencies, sometimes forming loose hierarchies when feeding, where larger and more dominant individuals take precedence. It employs an ambush hunting strategy, using stealth, speed, and surprise to strike prey, often launching explosive attacks from below and breaching the surface.
Although it is territorial in certain hunting grounds, it remains highly mobile, capable of migrating thousands of miles across oceans, likely following seasonal prey patterns. Black Surf Sharks are selective but aggressive feeders, often taking cautious, investigative bites before devouring a meal. When multiple sharks feed on the same carcass, they adhere to a dominance structure, with the largest individuals eating first. Surprisingly intelligent, they often display problem solving skills. Overall, the Black Surf Shark uses aggression, instinct, and learning, making it one of the ocean’s most intimidating predators.
Additional Information
Domestication
This species cannot be domesticated in any way. All attempts to capture and house live specimens has resulted in the death of the shark within hours.
Facial characteristics
At the end of its pointed cone shaped head, is its sensitive nose and a mouth filled with row upon row of huge, razor sharp, triangular, serrated teeth. These teeth will rotate out to replace any that are broken or lost. Just behind the snout are the large, black iris filled eyes. Surrounding the head of the shark are small electroreceptor pores that enable it to detect the electrical impulses of its prey items
Geographic Origin and Distribution
These far ranging sharks are most usually found in the warm coastal waters of many of the world’s oceans and seas. While they are quite capable of traversing the deep oceans, they will almost assuredly follow the coastlines and hop from island to island where they are most likely to find abundant food sources. These rare shark have the best chance of being spotted in the Vastus Ocean, Daria Ocean, and Eldoris Ocean, as well as the Ples Mora and Ko Mora seas, where they frequent the Shadow Coast, Blood Coast, Haggard Coast, Coral Coast, and Carcass Coast.
Average Intelligence
Once thought to be an unintelligent eating machine, careful observation has shown that this creature is actually much more intelligent than previously thought. These sharks seem to show curiosity and when young, have at least temporary clans with ranks, leaders, and a hierarchy, as well as using pack tactics. Some even believe that they can communicate through displays, slight color changes, and electromagnetic signals.
Perception and Sensory Capabilities
Black Surf Sharks have highly developed perception and sensory capabilities, making them exceptional predators. These highly refined senses make them an apex predator, capable of detecting and striking prey with precision.
Olfaction: They can detect a single drop of blood in millions of gallons of water and track prey from miles away using specialized olfactory bulbs.
Electroreception: Due to their Ampullae of Lorenzini, these gel-filled sensory organs allow them to detect the electric fields generated by living creatures, helping them locate hidden or camouflaged prey.
Vision: They have excellent eyesight, particularly in low-light conditions. A reflective layer behind the retina, enhances their ability to see in murky waters or deep depths.
Hearing: They can detect low-frequency sounds and vibrations from long distances, helping them locate struggling prey or disturbances in the water.
Lateral Line System: A network of fluid-filled canals along their body detects water pressure changes and movement, allowing them to sense nearby prey or predators.
Taste & Touch: While not their primary sense, great whites use their mouths to "test bite" unfamiliar objects, helping them determine if something is edible.
by by me from Midjourney
Scientific Name
Carcharodon Magnus Nero
Lifespan
The estimated lifespan of this fish is estimated to be about 75 years and possibly more if it is able to survive for that long.
Conservation Status
There is no governmental conservation effort put towards these rare and dangerous creatures as there is more fear than appreciation for these predators. They are considered to be extremely dangerous and to be avoided at all times. While they are not outwardly evil, they are at the top of the food chain and consider anything smaller or slower than themselves, a prey item.
Average Weight
Adult weights are usually between 1,500 and 2,100 pounds for typical sized sharks. However mature females have been estimated to reach 1,900 to 3,100 pounds, with the largest females being projected from 5,000 to 5,600 pounds.
Average Length
The average male sharks range from about 14 to 16 feet long with females growing to about 19 to 20 feet in length. The largest females have been documented to reach around 26 feet in length.
Average Physique
This is an enormous fish with a very pointed and aquadynamic shape. Its head is cone shaped and tapers to a point and its powerful tail has a keel fin at its base. The skin consists of a very tough hide and it has cartilage instead of bones, making it very flexible and maneuverable.
Body Tint, Colouring and Marking
While all of these sharks are completely black in color, there may be some slight differences between them. Faint variations of black shading may differ between related families or individuals. These differences are believed to be due to either diet, birthplace, or its home environment.
Geographic Distribution
Threats:
Natural threats to these sharks may occur in locations where the prey items of this and another apex predator overlap or perhaps if these giant fish would be considered a rare prey item itself. The only true threat to this species is the rare larger sharks and Orcas as they compete for food and for dominance. Additionally, these sharks may be targeted as food by humanoids, Giant Kraken, Giant Orcas, Sea Serpents, Sea Dragons, Sea Dragon Turtles, and the Valkoinen.Abilities:
Exceptional Swimming Speed: Can reach speeds of up to 35 mph in short bursts, making it a formidable ambush predator. Powerful Bite Force: With a powerful bite force it can crush bone and tear through flesh with its serrated, razor-sharp teeth that continuously regenerate. Deep Diving Capability: Can dive to depths of over 4,500 feet, enabling it to hunt in both shallow and deep waters. Ambush Hunting Tactics: Uses stealth and burst speed to attack prey from below, often breaching the surface in spectacular attacks. Endothermic Adaptation: Unlike most sharks, Black Surf Sharks higher body temperature than the surrounding water, gives them increased muscle power and endurance. Resilient & Adaptive: Can travel long distances across oceans, adapting to various temperatures and food sources. Survival Instincts & Intelligence: Exhibits curiosity, problem-solving skills, and strategic hunting behaviors, sometimes working in loose cooperation with other sharks."It does not roar, nor howl, nor scream, yet the silence of the Black Surf Shark is more terrifying than any beast’s cry."
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