Kraken

Large magical animals, krakens are enormous invertebrates found in the deep oceans. They sometimes rise to higher elevations, and may even breach the surface, thus leading to occasional sightings, including by Mundane people. Despite this, they remain elusive and difficult to study due to their reclusive nature and difficult habitat.
The genus counts several species found in most deep oceans, though research needs to be done to determine exact species and lineage. They are related to other magical octopuses, like the lusca and akkorokamui, but form a distinct group with distinct appearances and behavior.

Basic Information

Anatomy

Anatomy-wise, krakens strongly resemble octopuses. They are octopus-shaped, with two large eyes, siphons, a large mantle, a powerful beak, and of course, eight long tentacles. Along the underside of their tentacles are two rows of ring-shaped suckers, but krakens diverge from standard octopuses by having spikes set within these suckers, elevating their use as weapons, and to shred large food items.
Their octopus-like appearance is disturbed, however, by the kraken's most stand-out trait: their armor. Made out of chitin, like their beaks and like the exoskeleton of crabs and lobsters, much of the kraken's body is covered in tough armor, protecting their vulnerable bodies. This armoring seems to favor the head and mantle over the tentacles, likely due to the important organs stored in both.

Ecology and Habitats

Krakens are primarily deep-sea animals, and live in the abyssal depths of the ocean. They are high-ranked predators and hunt large prey, including other krakens. Though they are sometimes found at higher elevations, they typically only rise to lesser depths when they chase large prey, or are otherwise seeking for food and failing to find at at their preferred elevations.

Dietary Needs and Habits

Krakens are large predators, and will catch and eat anything of suitable size, including other krakens. They prefer to hunt from an ambush, as their armor makes them slow compared to other octopuses, but will pursue prey if it is large enough, and pickings slim enough. When present near the surface, krakens may target large ships, confusing them for suitable prey. In most cases they will abandon the attempt when they discover the ship isn't an animal, and not edible. Krakens rarely feed on humans, as their small size makes them not worth the effort, though it sometimes happens incidentally.

Additional Information

Perception and Sensory Capabilities

Sense-wise, krakens fall mostly within the same lines as non-magical octopuses. Their eyes are of the camera-type, similar to those of vertebrates, but nerve fibers are located behind the retina, and they thus lack the blind spot vertebrates have. They can also distinguish the orientation of polarized light, like other octopuses, but the exact function of this ability is not currently proven. It is currently unclear whether krakens can see color, and if so, if they possess color vision or use chromatic aberration to differentiate.
Aside from vision, krakens also possess various other senses. They have two statocysts, organs attached to the brain, which allow them to sense the orientation of their body, and which can be used to hear sounds. They have an excellent somatosensory system, providing them with a well-developed sense of touch, and can even taste what they touch with the chemoreceptors in their suckers.

Scientific Name

Microcosmus