Mad Carps

"If you have to bleed, don't do it in these water." Anonymous Hunter in the Verdant Steppes

Mad Carps is the familiar name given by Demons to the vampiric species of fishes found in muddy waters of their Empire.
They are very small and agile freshwater fishes of strange behavior. Mad Carps have the same shape as their larger cousin of carps found in more hospitable locations. How they interact with the world however is very different. They have an elongated dorsal fin made of sharp cartilage, its red color and wavy form reminding of a cap. They make use of this weapon and their speed to wound monsters or travelers that step into their territorial waters. Once blood has been spilled, the rest of the Mad Carps hurry and suck the warm fluid. Those late to the party go to wound the victim further. All in all, it is judicious to avoid waters where you spot those red-capped devils.
Some Demon Zoologists theorize that Mad Carps were origally named "Mad-Capped Carps", but that it was shortened into "Mad Carp" because of the pronunciation in Common Imperial. Whatever they are called, their meat doesn't taste very good. This distate doesn't bother their predator of choice, the Dire-Ducks, whose tri-pronged beaks have adapted to ignore the dorsal blade.

Basic Information

Anatomy

Adults are as large as a hand. They are slim, with a body length four times their height. Once they have gorged themselves of blood however, they can look quite fat. Their most obvious aspect is the reddish bony blade on their backs that serves as a weapon and their directionnal fin. Their mouths can extend like a suction cup to swallow blood in the water or to stick to a wound.

Genetics and Reproduction

Though small, Mad Carps are great egg-layers. One specimen can lay 50000 eggs at once within a small crevice. Impressive considering their small stature. Most of the children can die from threats like Dire-Ducks, other fishes, or even cannibalism. That is why they make sure to produce many such eggs.

Ecology and Habitats

They exclusively inhabit the water ways of the Verdant Steppes. Other carp cousins live in the rest of Orbido, but this species hasn't reached those places yet. The greatest spawning places of Mad Carps are the Swamps at the bottom Gorge of Deloth. They try and bleed any visitors, from the smallest critters to the hairy Gouniacs and the large Wyverns that try and hydrate themselves even at the cost of a few pints of blood.

Additional Information

Perception and Sensory Capabilities

Mad Carps can smell blood in the water from a great distance. But to injure a prey, they possess acute hearing that can distinguish the type of object stepping into the water: whether it is large, elongated or small. If they consider it could be a large appendage, they go to take a look. This makes it easy for a fisherman to lure them with logs.
their eyesight is poor, but they do not rely on it since they oftenly muddy the water with blood.

Scientific Name

Cyprinus rotunda