Flat Tip Reef Shark

Flat Tip Reef Sharks are small carnivorous creatures prowling close to the seabed of the Plains. They have multiple rows of sharp teeth, and a very strong set of jaws, perfectly equipped for brawling with almost any other creature. Despite this, they have been found to be more passive than they appear, mostly favoring scavenging as a means of getting a meal. This shark also has an anvil-shaped dorsal fin, albeit with an unknown use.

Basic Information

Anatomy

This species has a long streamlined body with a large, bulky head, sporting four eyes and wide jaws. They have small outgrowths over their eyes, as well as thin spikes jutting from their lower jaws to protect their heads. The anvil-shaped dorsal fin of the shark is, as of late, a complete mystery. None can figure out what practical use it has, if any.

Genetics and Reproduction

These sharks are fairly choosy when it comes to mating. If two desire to mate with one another, they will engage in a short brawl, consisting of them biting each other in the head into submission. If both individuals deem each other to be fit and healthy enough, they will lay their eggs in a batch in the sand. The parents will invest heavily in protecting their eggs, with the mother hovering above them at all times, and the father hunting to feed the both of them.

Growth Rate & Stages

Newborns of this species will stick close together with their family, constantly learning things from their parents, such as hunting and self-defense skills. Newborns have usually been shown to have close bonds with their siblings, and there have been records of these siblings engaging in play fights with each other. As they grow, their anvil dorsal fins will become much more pronounced, and they will gain the thin spines in their jaws. In adulthood, they will depart from their siblings to live on their own.

Ecology and Habitats

Flat Tip Sharks prowl the plains of the Nightlight Zone, but they rarely affect the environment around them, besides from their nests. They have frequently been found swimming in mundane, flat areas of the Plains, much more so than in areas abundant with life.

Dietary Needs and Habits

Flat Tip Sharks will eat Beak Tuna and occasionally patches of krill that swim by their faces. They swim just an inch off the sea floor when hunting, sneaking up behind any potential prey items in slow successions. These sharks are also fond of scavenging off of corpses for their meal, and occasionally brawl with other members of their species over a share from these corpses.

Biological Cycle

Over time, algae with begin to grow on top of the shark's dorsal fin, eventually covering the whole thing. There have been certain instances of krill swarming to eat the algae off of the shark.

Additional Information

Perception and Sensory Capabilities

These sharks have keen senses all around. They can see a great distance ahead of them, smell just about anything from a mile away, and hear anything attempting to sneak up behind them. However, they can get overwhelmed with sensory information, and wind up drifting all over the place in a daze as a result.

Symbiotic and Parasitic organisms

Occasionally algae can be seen growing on their dorsal fins, though it is unknown how it affects the shark. Nevertheless, it allows the algae a safe place to grow, given most herbivorous creatures avoid Flat Tips.

Scientific Name

Stethacanthus campestris

Lifespan

Unknown

Average Weight

50 lbs

Average Length

6 ft.

Average Physique

Slender

Body Tint, Colouring and Marking

Brown-orange skin, glowing white eyes

Geographic Distribution

• The Sand Plains

Average Intelligence
Fairly low