Blue Streak Tau-Tau
Omeodontorisus gymnogingivatus, or Tepapaquiltiacamichin, is a species of Scarabidichthyioid Armadilloarmatid amphibian from the Neygambian Sea.
The animal is most often found in medium-sized shoals not too far away from the coast, where they'll feed on small burrowing animals such as Sandcreepers, Sandlurkers and twinfish.
During the feeding hours, the group will split and the specimens will hunt on their own or in small packs, slowly patrolling the sandy seafloor for movements; the species sometimes extends its natural hunting grounds to small algal forests where they'll hunt small amphibians seeking shelter in the thick vegetation.
The members of a school will reunite to a rendezvous point whenever they're not feeding, seeking protection in numbers; while in these communal places, the animal becomes very social, often chatting while idling in the water.
After a few days that a shoal has been in an area, it will move to a different zone to start hunting there, the cycling of the animal gives ample time for prey populations to recover.
It is a tradition in some towns in the south of Outpost Island to greet the animal's arrival to their shores, every family sailing with their own decorated pirogues to throw flowers and food at the incoming shoal, for many symbols of prosperity.
O. gymnogingivatus is very rich and savoury even when eaten raw or made into jerky; traditionally spearfished from stilts, the animal is then filleted and prepared in a variety of ways, often accompanied with invertebrates such as sea darts or Iron-mussels.
Especially popular is the Tau-Tau & Sealer stew, slowly simmered and served in the sealer's shell.
Basic Information
Anatomy
- Head elongated and generally rounded; Cranial armour leaves the post-temporal section of the cranium exposed.
- Dorsal Armour composed of seven dorsal plates, the first four of which very large.
- gum of the maxilla exposed by the receding armour.
- Dentition composed by several small teeth; Sphaera Lania large.
- Fins spear shaped.
- Pectoral and Anal fins large compared to the body.
- Gill Tail short and low, creating a bottleneck-shape, Gill Fan long and low, with a very rounded Caudal drop.
Genetics and Reproduction
Promiscuous species.
O. gymnogingivatus mates in mid-spring, in the waters off the coast of Outpost Island.
The animal will start slowly migrating to the breeding grounds months before the actual mating season begins, making several stops along the way to hunt and socialize, as they do normally year long.
Once they arrive at the breeding grounds, O. gymnogingivatus females will start to build their nests out of small rocks and plant remains they find along the seafloor; they'll often accept gifts from humans that, during the prosperity festival, will offer them for their nests like painted rocks, or small shiny objects and shell bracelets made usually by local children.
A typical nest for the species will be round to elliptical, with all the small objects they gathered laying in patterns roughly star-shaped;
A female will then lay in the centre of the patterning and wait for males to approach and inspect their work; the more complex the decoration pattern is, the better are the chances the male will mate with her.
Both genders will mate with several conspecifics during the whole duration of the mating season; a single female can store the seed of up to eight different males for later use, ensuring that after a first egg batch is produced, they'll be able to instantly start incubating the next; this evolutionary adaptation also comes into play in social interaction between females.
It has been observed that, if a female that already mated several times is close by to one that barely mated at all, she'll share some of the male seed she has stored with the other female; by swimming belly side up, the giving female will engage in homosexual behaviour in which she'll prolapse a small section of the egg duct and let some of the stored seed flow inside the receiving female.
This unique behaviour further helps local people associate this animal as a symbol of fertility and the goddess sea, Ixcocozticatezcatl.
The eggs are laid in an orderly fashion in a spiral pattern from the first batch in the centre to the last one along the borders of the nest.
The eggs hatch thirty days after deposition and the hatchlings will join the shoal soon after learning how to hunt from the adults and following them to the long migration north.
The young are raised communally by the entire colony, with no distinct paternal figure.
Growth Rate & Stages
Ontogenesis in the species not very marked.
Loss of natal aculeus after two months from birth.
Ecology and Habitats
Epipelagic species found at depths between 0 and 80 m.
Usually lives in open sandy plains along the coasts but it's not unusual to find them over underwater forests too.
Dietary Needs and Habits
Predatorial species feeding on burrowing animal it hears with its keen hearing.
To hunt it swims close to the seafloor, touching it with the long Anal fins to disturb its surface and alarm the burrowing prey out of their hiding places.
Biological Cycle
Periannial creature that migrates south for the spring and summer; no dips in activity year long.
Additional Information
Social Structure
Very social species living in tightly packed communities; when together, the animals will communicate through clacks, chirps and wails; the extent and complexity of the animal's calls is still largely unknown.
The school will raise the young communally, with no clear cut parent figures.
Domestication
Rarely kept in home aquariums due to its religious connotation, the species is often considered by the local populations of Outpost Island sacred and, as such, should never be kept in captivity.
Uses, Products & Exploitation
Of importance locally as a food source, traditionally spearfished.
Exported from its northern territories by Dirha fishermen as a pet, although the practice is frowned upon by Outpost Island's government, making this animal quite rare on the pet market.
Geographic Origin and Distribution
Perception and Sensory Capabilities
Good eyesight and hearing.
Symbiotic and Parasitic organisms
Afflicted by Intestinal Tube Worms.
Sometimes carrier of diseases of the filtration sac, which can be easily transmitted to other home amphibians.
Scientific Name
Eoichthyia; Armadilloarmatia; Scarabidichthyioidea ; Omeodontorisus; O. gymnogingivatus
Lifespan
20 Years
Conservation Status
Least Concern: no measures underway to protect the species.
Population Trend: STABLE
Average Weight
5-25 kg
Average Length
Body Tint, Colouring and Marking
Sand coloured body, head and upper back and chest rusty to orange.
Exposed gum Purple to Orchid colour.
Tips of the fins lime to green.
One single red spot at the dorsal base of the Tail.
One single blue streak along the length of the body.
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