Serpent Fish

by Leviathan

A serpent fish swimming in the upper twilight zone, seeking something to feed on.

Basic Information

Anatomy

Serpent fish are rather similar in form to the Wyrmfish, being a demersal nektonic organism. However, the Serpent fish have been able to become active in sunlight conditions thanks to new innovations. Leading to features such as eyes becoming more prominent. The eyes are multifaceted like in earth’s arthropods with the external covering being part of the mineral armor that covers the main body of the Serpent fish.
Serpent Fish have a leech-like mouth with an extendable proboscis. The end of the proboscis has four claws made up of the same hardened material as their armor. Each claw is serrated, but is used more for cracking shells than slicing. A mandible hinge covers the mouth when swimming, opening up to feed. The mandible hinges have spike plates used to hold their prey while the leech mouth feeds.
The body of the Serpent fish can be divided into several sections; the cephalon, thorax, and abdomen. Their armor is a mixture of mineralized calcite and leathery keratinocyte-like tissues. It is composed of several plates along it's lateral, ventral, and dorsal sides. Leathery armor covers openings in the fused head segments, the joints, and fins. As these areas need flexibility, allowing the Serpent fish to swim via horizontal propulsion. Its mineral armor is composed primarily of calcite, magnesium and zinc. With additional heavy elements coming from ingested radiotrophs.
The gills are feathery and now located within internalized chambers. Each chamber has an operculum gill cover which beats oxygenated water across the gills. These structures are homologous to the fins that would beat water across the gills of the Wyrm fish. All segments of the thorax have these respiratory structures. Due to the veins running through them the hemocyanin based blood is able to passively absorb oxygen from the water, acting like axolotl gills.
On the head the whisker-like feelers now known as antennae have split to provide better use for sensory input. The smaller antennae are covered in chemoreceptors and used for smell. While the larger set is used for picking up vibrations in combination with the pressure plates on the dorsal side.
Proceeding to the thorax, the rearmost segment has the largest fins, which are known as the superior fins. Which the Serpent fish can pad along on the benthic floor and steer when in the water.Segments two and four have medial fins which aid in movement through the water.
When the respiratory structures end, is where the abdomen begins. It consists of the last four segments The superior segment of the abdomen is equipped with posterior fins, which provide some balancing when swimming in the water column. The last segment or telson is a caudal fin that is reversed heterocercal. It is shaped in such a way to provide lift to raise the Serpent fish into the water column. Internally the cloacal orifice ends at the second to last segment in the abdomen.
To keep themselves buoyant, Serpent fish have evolved wax ester bladders. These bladders are extensions of the digestive system filled with waxy oily substances. Which is a mixture of fatty acids and fatty alcohol molecules. These molecules can be broken down and used as energy for muscles and organs. They can also be used to store energy and can be transported throughout the body through the bloodstream. The wax is made up of long chains of carbon atoms attached to each other by single chemical bonds. These chemical bonds change position depending on the water pressure, making them heavier in deeper waters.

Genetics and Reproduction

The sexual dimporphism of Serpent fish is minimal much like Wyrm fish. Males have a pair of claspers The act of mating in Serpent fish includes one of the claspers raised to allow water into the siphon through a specific orifice. The clasper is then inserted into the cloaca, where it opens like an umbrella to anchor its position. The siphon then begins to contract, expelling water and sperm. Serpent Fish males have retractable hooks that extend to anchor them in place. Both males and females grasp each other with their posterior fins to provide stability.
Female Serpent fish are usually larger than males and mating occurs throughout the year. Eggs are laid in individual sacs and buried in multiple areas. Females can lay up to 100 eggs per clutch, hiding them in caches of up to 20 individuals. Serpent fish are known for cannibalizing eggs if found and so this behavior evolved to provide greater chances of survival. Each egg is covered in a purse-like leather covering. The eggs are laid in around 3 local days after mating.

Growth Rate & Stages

The embryos develop for 56 – 140 local days depending on the sea temperature, and the young are born with a measurement of 3 – 6 cm. Over the course of 3 local years, Serpent fish will grow to their adult sizes. Females reach sexual maturity with a length of about 27.1–38.8 cm. Males reach sexual maturity with a length of 26.4–36.7 cm.

Ecology and Habitats

Serpent fish live in deep waters, mainly sticking to continental cliffs but sometimes venturing into open water. Though they preffer areas with some light level, even if it is very dim. They stay within the Twilight Zone and Midnight Zone, rarely venturing near the surface.

Dietary Needs and Habits

Serpent fish have different hunting strategies depending on the situation. They will actively hunt for benthic organisms. Using their hinge mandibles and clawed proboscis to crack open the shells of sessile creatures. This is their main source of prey, but they will also ambush more mobile prey when available. It is an opportunistic behavior, brought on by prey coming near their burrows while resting. Prey items may also lie below the sea bed, which may be uncovered through some mild digging and probing with their proboscis.
Serpent fish are able burrowers using their cephalon and fins to dig into the substrate. They prefer digging in soft silty substrate to create shallow temporary burrows. Serpent fish evolved this behavior as an adaptation to living in more crowded ecosystems. As they use them to ambush prey and hide from potential predators. When not feeding they may spend some time resting on the seabed in these temporary burrows.

Additional Information

Perception and Sensory Capabilities

An exposed diamond shaped leathery area on the dorsal section of the head is photoreceptive, used to manage its circadian rhythm and to keep an eye out for possible predators. As a shadow above could easily be an incoming predator. Each segment of it's body is covered in a multitude of lateral pressure pads, which aid in the detection of prey.
On the cephalon the whisker-like feelers now known as antennae have split to provide better use for sensory input. The smaller antennae are covered in chemoreceptors and used for smell. While the larger set is used for picking up vibrations in combination with the pressure plates on the dorsal side.
Serpent fish have a variety of different ways they sense the world around them. Their eyes are multifaceted, with a hardened protective covering lens of clear calcite and connected by keratin-like proteins. This allows the lenses to have some flexibility between them. Based on the morphology Serpent fish have holochroal eyes, which have many lenses supported by a single cornea. An eye can have up to 10,000 facets. While not blind, they are better at detecting motions than generating images. They are very light sensitive, being able to see UV light up to 800 meters below the surface.

Created By
Chared
Genetic Ancestor
Wyrm Fish

Scientific Name

Ichthyophius Serrgnathan

Origin/Ancestry

Xenosegmata

Lifespan

50 Years

Average Height

7.2 - 11.3 cm

Average Length

25.6 - 40.5 cm

Body Tint, Colouring and Marking

Serpent fish are covered in colored wriggly stripes that match the substrate around them. Usually being a sandy color. They have some countershading, with their ventral side being a light greyish color. The purple coloration can sometimes confuse predators into mistaking it for a retinalphyte.