Gulper Sea Serpent

Known throughout the world, sea serpents are legendary everywhere they are talked of. Many a myth tells of the giant snakes and dragons that dwell within the sea, preying on men and women unfortunate enough to cross their path. However, while they may seem reptilian from distance, up close the creatures are much less mythical and evil. In fact, they normally do their best to stay away from people, making them rarely seen even by the best sailors, hence why so few know of their true nature. Sea serpents are, despite the name, not snakes. In fact, they're not even reptiles: they are actually pinnipeds, closely related to seals. While they are of very close relation to true seals, they are a separate family all their own, with distinct lineages and different species within each group.

Basic Information

Biological Traits

Gulper sea serpents come in many shapes and sizes, from gigantic forms to sizes comparable to relatively large dolphins and sharks. As a general rule of thumb, the closer the warmer the latitudes they inhabit, the smaller they become. Regardless of the species, cows are smaller than bulls by a fairly noticeable margin: if it is not in length, they tend to be less heavily muscled than bulls.

Ecology and Habitats

While sea serpents are known throughout the world among all cultures of the world that have access to the sea, actual sea serpents such as these are only found in northern most waters. Some species do engage in seasonal migrations, but unlike whales, they tend to stick to subarctic or at most temperate waters. They are found as only slightly south of the Allfire Peaks but go as far north as to be found swimming underneath the thickest pack ice.
Gulper sea serpents in the most northern waters are some of the largest resident animals, easily surpassing resident killer whales. These animals are ready prey species for whatever is can take them, which considering their great size is not much. Smaller species are known to be preyed upon by large sharks, but the larger kinds are only hunted by the largest predators. Orcas are known to prey on sea serpents, much like whales, taking them down in great hunting parties during their breeding season. A more regular predator however are their distant relatives, Hunter Sea Serpents who predate them throughout the year where they both dwell, even preferring them to other prey such as whales and seals.
Much like baleen whales, large gulper sea serpents draw thousands to their carcasses upon their death.

Dietary Needs and Habits

Unlike their voracious relatives, gulper sea serpents are much more specialized in their diets: they subsist almost exclusively on krill.

Origin/Ancestry

Pinniped

Lifespan

20-24 years

Conservation Status

In some places, particularly in the north, sea serpents are highly endangered, due to over-hunting. This is largely due to the perception that they are naturally evil and as such dangerous, but also for their meat and blubber. In Hadorstadir, they're under threat of extinction.

Average Weight

Bulls: 678-12,640 lbs.
Cows: 567-10,539 lbs.
*varies from species to species

Average Length

14-67 ft.
*Varies from species to species

Geographic Distribution

• Hadorstadir