Banshee Eel

Apex predator of the Halocline Pits

Banshee Eels are large blind creatures that live in a cycle where they spend most of their lives underground, before emerging in massive quantities to feed and reproduce. They seem to heavily affect how the ecosystem cycles take place, allowing only specific periods when it is safer to mate or hunt for other species. They also make a ghastly howling sound which they use to attract other members of their species, as well as to navigate their surroundings.

Basic Information

Anatomy

The Banshee Eel has an elongated body with tough scales on all sides, their heads being long and streamlined. This species lacks eyes, but has large nostrils, and long needle-like teeth lining its jaws. The eel has a long hind fin taking up half of its body, and protruding from both sides. It has a small dorsal fin, right behind flowing strands of skin, as well as a triangle-shaped tail fin.

Biological Traits

Female eels are often slightly larger, and have small curved horns on the sides of their heads, thought to be able to help the males distinguish them from other Banshee Eels.

Genetics and Reproduction

Once Banshee Eels have eaten enough to sustain themselves, male individuals will gather together in one large area, and begin calling out to other nearby Banshee Eels with their echolocation. Females will be immediately drawn to this calling, and join the group in fewer number than the males. Several males will compete with each other to find a mate, with some pairs breaking out in a fight, attempting to severe their opponent's neck with their strong jaws. The female eels will likely mate several different times before the gathering subsides. Afterwards, the eggs will be laid in a pile, and every eel will die of starvation, knowing they've completed their mission.

Growth Rate & Stages

Over time, this species' eggs will become heavier by the day, eventually all sinking into the ground at once. The young will hatch underground, the eggs morphing into a fluid-filled underground pocket where they will spend the majority of their lives. They will survive by absorbing the leftover nutrients from the ground, as well as the carcasses left over from the breeding period. Once this supply runs out, the young all emerge at once, in sync with every other breeding site in the Pits. From then on, they will feed on living creatures in their habitat to continue surviving, until they find a place to mate, in order to restart the cycle.

Ecology and Habitats

Banshee Eels can be found swimming in any area of the Halocline Pits, including the underwater rivers and lakes that are found within. Most of the time, they will be far above the seabed, using their echolocation to navigate their surroundings. When hunting, they will mainly keep quiet, and swim closer to the seabed in areas with dense foliage. When not hungry, they will ignore most other species they come across, simultaneously scaring them away when they get too close.

Dietary Needs and Habits

The Banshee Eel, when fully grown, will adopt more mature hunting tactics rather simply absorbing nutrients from the ground. One of their hunting tactics is to wait inside dense groupings of plant life, until one of their prey items comes closer, before darting forward and lashing out with their jaws. In these hunts, they will mainly target Headless Turkey Monsters, Nauapallins, Celerderms, and X-ray Eels. They are immune to the Headless Turkey Monster's poisoned skin, and can prey on them rather easily, the only drawback being they have to evade their sharp proboscises.

Additional Information

Uses, Products & Exploitation

These creatures are only sometimes hunted for food by the Cave Stalkers, and their skulls - or even a single tooth - is an indicator of high status and fitness among nomadic bands. Their body parts are often highly sought after in trades for this reason.

Perception and Sensory Capabilities

The Banshee Eel has no eyes, mainly as a consequence of developing underground, and thus relies on hearing and smell to locate its surroundings. It makes use of its guttural howling as a form of echolocation, in place of a sense of sight.

Scientific Name

Caechel plisiazon

Lifespan

Unknown

Average Weight

800 lbs.

Average Length

25 ft.

Average Physique

Slender

Body Tint, Colouring and Marking

White skin, green fins

Geographic Distribution

• The Halocline Pits

Average Intelligence
Average