Dreadnautilus - "The Natural Warship" (Dread - naut - ilus)
"The sea is wild, unpredictable and will kill you without a second thought. A creature that is able to not only survive it, but conquer it, should be feared above all others" - Runa Valira, Researcher of Oceanic Occurences at Terminus High University, opening to their section on the Dreadnautilus in their research findings.
The Dreadnautilus are large, the max recorded size being 23 meters (75ft) long, oceanianic creatures that float on the water's surface. Imposing and territorially aggressive, they dwarf most fishing boats that they typically encounter and are one of the top predators in the Epipeglaic Zone (the ocean's surface).
There are numerous myths and stories that supposedly source the names origin - given by any seafarers in various towns. The most supported, and accepted, theory focuses on two key concepts. Firstly, despite being natural animals, they are named due to their resemblance to warships. Secondly, their name stems from the "dread" fishermen experience upon seeing one on the sea.
Superficially, they resemble jellyfish, though in reality are technically a colony. They do, however, contain a central body that resemble a Nautilus - having a large, spiral shell and numerous (they constantly grow new ones, so have no limit) "tentacles" (though technically are not due to not having the strength, range of motion or suckers typically associated with tentacles), that the rest of the colony grows around.
Basic Information
Anatomy
Dreadnautilus are technically colonies, as opposed to one animal, though superficially resemble an oversised jellyfish.
On the water's surface they have a large, circular body, atop which are large "sails." These "sails" by default lay flat against the Dreadnautilus' body, though when they detect wind (through air movement) they stand on end - reaching upwards of 8 meters (26ft). They are designed to catch wind on the ocean, reacting and turning to direct the bodies direction - a method that is slower than typcal swiming, though has signficiantly lower energy cost.
They have large a "float sac" - an organ that fills with gas keeping them on the water's surface - that acts as the "deck" of the body. Underneath extend numerous tentacles, each individual one typically approximatly 30m (100 ft) in length, though a maximum size hasn't been recorded. These tentacles meet and cross at various points, forming a natural net. This net is vital to Dreadnautili as - like human fishing nets - they catch mass numbers of fish to feed the colony (it is theorised that this is what first inspired humans to make their own fishing nets). To aid this, these tentacles are able to move and grasp caught prey - trapping them and carrying them to the mouth found on the central body.
This central body resembles a Nautilus - having a large, spiral shell and numerous (they constnatly grow new ones, so have no limit) "tentacles" (though technically are not due to not having their strength, range of motion or suckers typically associated with them and are classed as arms). The rest of the colony grows around this focal centre.
This body is able to move above the circular floating body through muscle contraction - still connected to the rest of the colony but now positioned above the water surface level. From here, their arms are able to gather up debris (typically shells, silt or other material dropped from the birds that live on their bodies). These arms are specially adapted with siphons at their base. These siphons suck up and store water within them. When within range of a target, they contract the muscles around these siphons - building up water pressure to extremes. This causes the water to shoot out which, coupled with the throwing motion of the arm, launches the collected debris with force comparable to that of a cannon.
Genetics and Reproduction
Dreadnautli reproduction follows a unique method. Befitting their aggressive nature, if two members of the species meet they will often fight for dominance.
These brutal affairs can persist for hours, with both fighting until one overwhelms the other (determined by the "core" dying). Typically when a "core" dies, the rest of the colony will die soon after. However, in the case of a battle between Dreadnautili, the winner will "consume" the remains of the loser. From here, the winner releases multiple "polyps" that it mixes with the remains in a specialy developed "reproductive chamber." These polyps will incorporate and mix the DNA of the loser with their own, producing new individual offspring that form new "cores." These indiduals are then be released from the winners body into the ocean and allowed to develop into adults.
Growth Rate & Stages
Like other cnidarians, Dreadnautilus begin life in a polyp stage, which develop into individual zooids. These zooids stem from the same polyp, but all grow and develop differently. Therefore, while technically genetically identical, they express different aspects of these genes based on what role they are designed to fill.
As long as they can continue to eat, they will continuously grow - with the colony adding or removing members based on food availability. Subsequently, there is technically no known maximum size to a Dreadnautilus. However, the maximum recorded size is approximatly 23m (75ft) in length, and while they can in theory grow forever there is a limited return on food intake, so a maximum size will be reached.
Additional Information
Geographic Origin and Distribution
Global - Dreadnautli have been observed in all known oceans, due to their natural sailing ability. However, it is important to consider that not all oceans have been explored by humanity.
Average Intelligence
Dreadnautli have well developed brains. While the extent of their ability is unknown, they have been observed "shooting" balls of ink through the air, suggesting some understanding of and ability to calculate distance and angles. However the extent of this is unknown.
Perception and Sensory Capabilities
Vision:
Dreadnautili have somewhat simplistic vision, based on the "Pinhole" concept. Despite being well developed, this nature results in only being able to view simple images. As such, the Dreadnautilus will depend primarily on its other senses.
Hearing:
Dreadnautili have two pairs of seperate, but similar, organs for hearing. One pair, located lower on their body, is designed to work underwater and is typically submereged. The other, located higher, is adapted to function above water and is typically exposed to the surface.
Taste:
Ability to taste, while important to the Dreadnautilus, is secondary to the Olfactory system. In this role, taste is located in the the arms (the small "tentacles") that extend from the Nautilus core (with none occuring in the larger "net" tentacles). This is known as a "touch to taste" system. This allows the core body to identify caught species by taste, with prey being retained and any other species released.
Olfactory:
The primary sensory organ for Dreadnautili is smell, resulting in a highly developed Olfactory system. Each of the Nautilus core's arm's (small "tentacles") suckers contain thousands of Olfactory sensor cells. This links to their sense of taste.
Tactation (Touch):
Linked to the taste system, the Nautilus core's arms have a well developed sense of touch that aids in picking up and organising prey.
The larger "net" tentacles have a simiplified sense of touch that simply detects the presence of items they come into contact with, allowing them to be grasped and carried up to the "core."
Symbiotic and Parasitic organisms
The Symbiote Theory
It is argued by some researchers that the Dreadnautlius as a concept is not, in fact, its own species, but instead a symbiote that grows on the "core" Nautilus body. However this is generally not the accepted thought, as evidence suggests the "core" grows from the same egg as the rest of the colony (however this cannot be genetically confirmed in universe).
Symbotic Bird Species
Due to their nature as large, floating platforms, various bird species have been observed nesting on Dreadnautili. These species appear to have a symbiotic relationship. The birds are allowed to nest on the Dreadnautlus, providing them with protection and areas to rest on the open water, and eat scraps of left over or abandoned food from the Dreadnautilus.
In return, the birds provide aid to the Dreadnautilus. They will protect them from predatory aerial animals, and consume small parasites found on their float sacs. Furthermore, when two Dreadnautili encounter one another, the birds that live on one will fly to and attack the opponent. As both Dreadnautli often have their own birds, the ally birds will defend their own Dreadnautilus from the attackers. Consequently, a common sign of two Dreadnautli fighting is the presence of a large ball of marine birds fighting over head.
Civilization and Culture
Major Language Groups and Dialects
Lacking a language, Dreadnautili have been shown to communicate. To memebers of the same species, this is typically through olfactory (smell) or auditory. However, they also communicate with the birds they share a symbitoic relationship with through auditory (this is the purpose of their above water ears) and tactition.
Common Myths and Legends
An old species, Dreadnautili have existed longer than humans have sailed the ocean. Consequently, numerous myths about them exist, or rather many rumours from history have rectroactively been applied to them.
Myths of ghost ships are attributed to their nature as ships that sail "without a crew."
Legends of giant arms reaching out of the water to pull smaller boats under has been suggested to come from sailors drawing too close to Dreadnautili, the animals "net" tentacles wrapping around them and pulling them under.
Average Height
Top of an extended sail to bottom of tentacles averages approximately 38m (125ft)
Flattened sails and retracted tentacles averages approximately 6m (20ft)
Average Length
Approximately 14m - based on best known recording, however due to their nature an average is incalculable.
Geographic Distribution
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