Eneaspis oceanica

Eneaspis oceanica is a baso-Armadilloarmatid amphibian from the southern shores of the Irobian Continent.
The animal lives in medium to large schools, swimming for days on end without resting, covering several km a day while moving from one underwater forest to another.
E. oceanica is quite ubiquitous to the southern shores of the Irobian continent, found both in open waters and in shallow areas near the shore, foraging for hard-shelled fruit and organism it crushes thanks to the large, blunt, teeth that act much like a nutcracker.
The varied diet and high resistance make this animal among the best adapted for its environment, often out-competing species from nearby habitats, a thing that happens quite often as a pioneer species.
As far back as the 2470s, the species was only rarely spotted offshore the Lizard's archipelago, now its range extended permanently to the region, following ships coming and going from Irobi, which involuntarily create a wildlife corridor thanks to the high amounts of Iron-mussels and other hard-shelled organisms attached to the hull providing food for the animal while travelling.
Since the species has become so common even outside of its historic range, it is now a common catch in many fishermen's nets, with expressed instructions by many local governments to not release it in the wild, due to it being allochthonous and damaging to local ecosystems.
Fortunately E. oceanica is considered refined meat in most countries with its omnivorous diet giving it a perfectly balanced yet strong flavour and the muscle compactness derived from its lifestyle giving it the perfect consistency for steaks; resulting in the market being somewhat pressured to provide more.

Basic Information

Anatomy

• Snout long with large eyes.

• Four large display teeth growing at the distal end of the jaw.

• Dentition composed by large and round teeth.

• Dorsal armour composed of 6 large dorsal plates.

• Pinneal thumbs on both dorsal fins.

• Pectoral fin subquadrate pointing ventrally from the horizontal plane of the body.

• Anal fins subrectangular and wide.

• Caudal fins developed and leaf shaped.

• Gill Tail short and high ending in a round Gill Fan.

• Gill Fan stubby and high, ending in a quite steep caudal drop.

Genetics and Reproduction

Seasonally monogamous.
E. oceanica mates in the summer.
The schools start to move to the shoreline a month before actually mating can begin; during this window of time, the species will enter a feeding frenzy, doubling their mass in preparation for the mating season, during which time they'll cease most activity and reduce foraging to a minimum; to survive the season they'll consume most of the weight gained in the month before it, making this a very delicate time in which to disturb them.
Right before the start of the mating season, the males will start foraging the seafloor for shells and other hard and flat objects to use to make its nest.
Neighboring males usually move from their nests to go to other males' ones to sabotage them, removing from the carefully built structures of competitors some key shells, making them less appealing to females.
Females will prowl the coast looking for free nests as they won't visit ones when the male is present; if the female likes what she sees then she'll wait for the male to return, resting at the base of the nest.
During this period, other males coming in to sabotage could use the occasion to "claim" the nest and steal the female from the male that made the nest.
Once the female has been fertilized, she'll lay her eggs alongside the shell column the male made, scaring off other conspecifics outside of her partner, including the possible owner of the nest, if it was stolen.
During the incubation period, both male and female will guard the eggs, rarely feeding during their watch.
The eggs hatch twenty days after deposition and the hatchlings' first istinct will be finding shelter inside the nest to avoid being eaten by the parents.
Both the mature individuals will then take turns to forage while the other will stand guard that no one comes in to destroy the nest and eat the babies.
Both parents will bring some food for the young, although they still have to pay attention not to get eaten themselves.

Growth Rate & Stages

Ontogenesis in the species not very marked.
young specimens born with a much more segmented and thin armour, eyes much larger.
Loss of natal aculeus seven days after birth.

Ecology and Habitats

Epipalagic species found at depths between 3 and 70 m.
Lives in open waters with plenty of free space and currents; forages in underwater forests and along shores.

Dietary Needs and Habits

Omnivorous animal eating hard shelled food like nuts and shellfish it crushes with the strong and rounded teeth.

Biological Cycle

Seasonal species active in autumn and spring.

Additional Information

Social Structure

Social animal found in schools of several dozen specimens, they migrate year long, covering several km a day looking for food.
Social interactions inside the group very apparent.
The animals will often chat with low frequency bellows and gurgles.

Domestication

Due to the high space requirement for the species, they are only kept in captivity for farming purposes.
The animal would be able to be domesticated, being friendly and playful with divers, however the above cited limitation makes it inadeguate for home keeping.

Uses, Products & Exploitation

Mostly fished and farmed for the excellent meat, the species is a very important food source for several populations of the southern hemisphere.
The display teeth are sometimes found in bundles sold mostly online to collectors world-wide as a beginner item.

Geographic Origin and Distribution

Southern shores of the Irobian continent.
Since the colonization it is allochthonous in the southern shores of Neygambe up to the Union's Kelp forest and to the Lizard's archipelago.
Southern Irobian Ocean, eastern Nuwadi Ocean.

Perception and Sensory Capabilities

Very good colour eyesight.

Symbiotic and Parasitic organisms

Afflicted by Intestinal Tube Worms and False tooth parasites on the display teeth.
In a commensalistic relationship with small cnidarovertebrates attaching to their body and eating their scraps.

Scientific Name

Eoichthyia; Armadilloarmatia ; Eneaspis; E. oceanica

Lifespan

20 Years

Conservation Status

Least Concern: No measures underway to protect the species.
Population Trend: INCREASE

Average Weight

500 gr to 15 kg

Average Length

75 cm (male) , 1 m (female)

Body Tint, Colouring and Marking

Sand coloured body, armour slightly darker.
Body, fins and armour covered in dark patternings.
Gum bright azure.