Angler Dragon
One of the apex predators of The Deep. Recently (re-)discovered due to contemporary events. More based on eastern dragon design or water dragons. Thinking it looks something similar to the Pokemon: Skrelp, and Dragalge. Would be longer and not seahorsed shaped.
Almost translucent skin and covered in scales. The scales are mostly covered with crustose or other materials that depend on where it's territory lays. It is hard to damage them. They are very hard and durable. Can see outline/silhouette of bone structure with moving black/darker clouds within. Has the angler fish lure. Eepizoic (coalline type?) algae grows off of it. Comes in shades of purple, dark blue, white, and gray-green. Mildly bioluminescent, which can be turned on and off at will. The algae is bioluminescent instead? Very rarely do they rise from The Abyss into The Below.
Having adapted to the extremely low illumination, Angler Dragons possess large eyes that are highly sensitive to light. Their eyes have a nictitating membrane that triggers when the Angler Dragon is rising into higher elevations. This nictitating membrane covers the eye and lowers their sensitivity to light, allowing them to see moderately well in brighter illuminated areas. They mainly use smell, touch, and lateral line sensitivities (to changes in local pressures) to catch their prey. They feed off both plants, animals, and other small organisms.
Highly territorial. Rarely see more than one in a certain distance of each other. The main time they come together is to mate. The carrier will lay a clutch of 3-20 eggs. Not all of them will survive to hatch. Angler Dragons are a precocial species. Young typically only stay with the parent for less than a couple of years.
There are vague whispers and rumors about them in the Known World. Most people write them off as a tall tale. Some however, have seen an ominous dark shadow that blocks out even the darkness of The Deep, swim under their ships. Some might have even had a close encounter with one. These ones don't live to tell the tale though.
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