Umbrascale Lyngbakr

Splitting from its ancestor, the umbrascale lyngbakr has taken to the open oceans of Sagan IV and flourished. One of the largest creatures to inhabit the planet, this literal leviathan feeds upon the smallest of life, such as miniswarmers, microswarmers, strainerbeaks, krillpedes, and various ocean-going species of marbleflora. Their great size, combined with their social lifestyle of living in pods, protects them from most of the oceans more dangerous predators, at least when they are fully grown. Young ones, who are rarely more than three meters long at birth, are vulnerable to the various seaswimmer and scylarians predators, and thus they are heavily guarded by their parents and other larger family members. Should they manage to survive to maturity, they will likely be able to live to more than 200 years of age. Pods of umbrascale lyngbakrs typically consist of ten or more adults and roughly half a dozen youngsters of various ages. This is usually consistent, though young adults are known to leave the safety of the pod in order to found new ones or join others. This is more common in young males, though females are also known to make these journeys as well. A common time for this to occur is around twelve years of age, when the young reach sexual maturity. Protected by thick skin and a layer of blubber-like substance, umbrascale lyngbakrs are well adapted to cold waters but are also rather frequently found in warmer ones. The species has evolved tiny whisker-like feelers on their upper lips. These are used for tasting food and following the greatest concentrations of it. Another adaption is the formation of specialized pockets in their jawbones which allow them to pick up distant vibrations. This primitive sonar allows them to detect their surroundings in low-light conditions, as well as potential prey and predators.