Armidium

Armidiums are small herbivorous creatures covered in thick bony armored plates, with a small compact head underneath. They are generally passive creatures, and have been found in just about any environment the Fields has to offer, filter feeding plankton from the surrounding waters with their mouth appendages.

Basic Information

Anatomy

Armidiums have flat, wide bodies almost reminiscent of an eel's, mostly covered in bony armor with wing-like structures. They have long but short fins covering the majority of their tails, and their mouths take up a good portion of their head, with their eyes being tiny dots in comparison. Inside their mouths are claws with setae made for catching food, which can retract into the mouth for a short period of time.

Genetics and Reproduction

With their large outgrowths of armor, these creatures will often brawl with each other over the right to mate, though they are normally not as aggressive as some other species' mating practices. The combatants will swim at high speeds attempting to ram their outgrowths into their opponent's heads, sometimes kicking up clouds of sand to disorient them before driving them into the ground. Their eggs are laid in large batches, half-buried in the sand, and largely left alone.

Growth Rate & Stages

Armidium younglings are small and fast, and spend most of their time flat on the seabed. They can out-swim most predators, and seem to be able to use the sand beneath them to help them glide faster, as well as kicking up clouds of sand to distract the threat and find safety. As they age, they'll grow bulkier and become more accustomed to swimming above the seabed, rather than directly on it.

Ecology and Habitats

The Fields are only where Armidiums are found, and they are widely distributed around their habitat, found in any type of environment. They have mostly been seen going about their routine travels over the seabed in search of plankton to filter feed, but they also do some more peculiar things. Some have been observed swimming on their sides, making markings in the sand by dragging their outgrowths of armor through it, with certain marks appearing particularly coordinated. It is unclear why they do this.

Dietary Needs and Habits

These fish use the bristles on their feeding arms mainly to filter feed various types of plankton from the surrounding waters, as well as to rip off chunks of Polyweed. They swim in a way to entice the Polyweed to strike their armor, which the plant cannot pierce, then quickly snatch the leafy tips with their wide mouths. Sometimes, these creatures can get aggressive with each other over food, ramming into each other's heads to make their opponent back down.

Additional Information

Perception and Sensory Capabilities

Armidiums have four small eyes on the front of their faces, which is their main method of perception. They also use their senses of hearing and smell to some extent, as well as sensing food with their bristled feeding arms.

Scientific Name

Armidermi radium

Lifespan

Unknown

Average Weight

340 lbs

Average Length

5.1 ft.

Average Physique

Slim

Body Tint, Colouring and Marking

Brown skin, light brown armor

Geographic Distribution

• The Ash Fields

Average Intelligence
Fairly low