Blackfin Yung Zao
Carcharobelua citrus is a medium sized predator exclusively found in the Gleann Blàthanna seas.
The strong bite given by its powerful jaw muscles combined with its sharp teeth act like a bear trap.
Rare attacks on humans have been registered; in most cases, when the animal bit one of the victim's limbs, it immediatly got amputated by it.
A rarer subspecies was recently discovered in the waters west of Gleann blathanna; this subspecies is characterized by a different coloration, adapted for the thick vegetation of the waters it inhabits as well as a smaller overall length, better suited to the preys it hunts there.
As of now beaches in which this animal lives are off limits to Bathers or otherwise surveilled for its the presence.
Basic Information
Anatomy
- Head quadrate; Cranial armor thin, partially absorbed.
- Teeth few in number, thick and serrated.
- Two single dorsal fins present;
- Anal I and II single ventrally positioned.
- Gill tail short; Gill fan high with soft Caudal drop.
Genetics and Reproduction
Seasonal monogamy.
The Male enters heat once every four months. The mating period lasts only three days in which the male will have to find a mate and fertilize her.
Once the mate has been found, the male will flirt with the female by fighting her, biting her head and keeping her from biting his.
As a result of such behavior, fermales often have numerous scars on the head.
Once the mate has been chosen the male will have full access to the female and will mate with her several times for a full day.
The mating lasts for up to twenty minutes.
soon after mates ends, the male will lose interest in the female and return to his own territory to hunt again.
The female will incubate the two to four eggs for three days before laying them in the sand.
The eggs will take about sixty days to hatch.
The newly born amphibian's first instinct will be that of scattering around and finding their own territory as the parents will surely eat them if they see them.
Being completely indipendent at birth means they are born fully developed and able to hunt.
Growth Rate & Stages
A Newly born Carcharobelua citrus will take six months to reach the adult size and two years to reach sexual fertilty.
Ontogenesis almost absent.
Ecology and Habitats
carcharobelua citrus is an epipelagic predator found 1 to 50 m deep in shallow coastal waters.
It will pass most of its days staying still in the sand dunes and in cryptic environments in reefs, waiting for prey to pass by.
Dietary Needs and Habits
Carcharobelua citrus is an ambush predator.
It keeps still on the sandy sea floor or in cryptic environments in reefs.
Once prey has been located it will lounge at it with the mouth opened and unhinged, biting with extreme strength into the preys flesh.
The amphibian's jaws have a built in locking mechanism that makes it impossible for the jaw to open without the animal doing a specific motion to unblock it.
Like a bear trap, the prey is completly defenceless against this assault; luckily for the prey the impact and bite strength of the animal alone is often enough to kill it alone, without the use of the sphaera lania.
Carcharobelua citrus has been recorded in rare cases attacking people, oftentimes the victim will lose a limb to the animal, easily teared away by the impact alone.
These amphibians wil also hunt their conspecifics if they have the chance to do so and if they are outside of the mating season.
Biological Cycle
Born almost completely developed, this animal's only concern is raising body mass quickly.
In six months time from birth, these amphibians will be adult sized but it will take them another year and a half to reach sexual maturity.
The loss of the natal aculeus happens very late in its development, keeping it till the second month of age; some researchers think this is a sign of a possible evolutional trend that will eventually lead to this species keeping the aculeus to adulthood.
During the cold season, these animals will be less active; youngs that are born during the cold season tend to remain smaller even in adulthood due to less resources being present at the time of their birth.
Females will become sexually sterile approaching the 20 years in age, males will become sterile at 26-27 years old.
Additional Information
Social Structure
Solitary animals that will get together briefly during mating season.
Often recordered to be cannibalistic outside of said season.
Uses, Products & Exploitation
Kept in some public aquariums for display purposes.
In the wild it is of direct hindrance to many seaside activities due to its dangerous nature and as such it has been hunted away from some regions by some local companies with an interest in the field.
Geographic Origin and Distribution
Perception and Sensory Capabilities
This amphibian bases itself on sight and echolocation.
Symbiotic and Parasitic organisms
Can be affected by some species of Intestinal Tube Worms and some gum parasites.
Scientific Name
Eoichthyia; Tartarosomnia; Rotunducephalidae; Paragladioidea; Caudocephalidae ; Pseudocephalocaudatinae; Carcharobelua; C. citrus
Lifespan
30-35 years
Conservation Status
LEAST CONCERN: No measures are in place for the protection of this animal even though populations have been in decline for the recent years.
Population trend: DECLINE
Average Weight
7 to 15 kg
Average Length
Body Tint, Colouring and Marking
Bright yellow body with moslty black fins.
Gill fan bright red.
Round, progressively bigger, spots along the body circular in shape with white exterior and black interior.
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