Emperor Seaswimmer

From Sagan 4 Alpha Wiki

Emperor Seaswimmer
(Ingentigladiatus polaris)
Main image of Emperor Seaswimmer
Species is extant.
Information
CreatorNergali Other
Week/Generation23/145
HabitatBumpy Polar Coast, Nergali Polar Coast, North Sagan 4 Ice Sheet
Size170 cm Long
Primary MobilityUnknown
SupportEndoskeleton (Bone)
DietCarnivore (Wading Leafshell, Marine Arthrofin, Marine Gilltail, Marine Filtersquid, Marine Finworm, Marine Urpoi, Polar Skimsnapper, Shellear, Surge Gilltail, Globe Gilltail, Blue Gillfin, Ebony Pump Gilltail, Vicious Gilltail, Hanging Necarrow), Scavenger
RespirationActive (Lungs)
ThermoregulationMesotherm
ReproductionSexual, Two Sexes, Live Birth
Taxonomy
Domain
Kingdom
Phylum
Superclass
Clade
Class
Order
Superfamily
Family
Genus
Species
Eukaryota
Carpozoa
Spondylozoa
Anisoscelida
Tetrapodes
Saganophidia
Turrinares
Jasconoidea
Ingentigladiatidae
Ingentigladiatus
Ingentigladiatus polaris
Ancestor:Descendants:

Splitting from its ancestor, the emperor seaswimmer has become the alpha predator of the Jujubee ocean since its decimation during the solar flare. Doubling in size, it has developed an even thicker, though sleeker, skin in order to keep itself protected as well as streamlined, and has powerful jaw muscles that allow it to bite most of its prey in half. They have evolved a fatty bulge on their lower jaw within which primitive sensory cells have developed which are extremely sensitive to vibrations. Knowing no equal other than those of its own species once fully grown, they have become partially homeothermic.

Now living their entire lives in the water, they no longer need to return to the land. Capable of giving birth at sea, females tend to have four to five pups per litter. The young follow their parents, who still mate for life like their ancestors, and will eventually head off on their own once they reach a quarter of a meter in length. They will then live within the forests of marine bubbleweed for both protection and to exploit the abundant food sources there. Should they survive their childhood, they will eventually fear little once they have matured. Their fat reserves allow them to last weeks without food while attempting to establish a territory, though this is usually done only by fully grown adults who can survive due to their endurance, slow metabolism, and a layer of blubber. This occurs due to they will try to avoid invading the established territories of other emperor seaswimmer. Young ones will remain in the marine bubbleweed forests until they can do this.

While not the fastest creature in the sea, they makes up for this by being well camouflaged. Usually waiting motionlessly, going to surface every eight to twelve minutes in order to breath, they lay in ambush until prey has arrived. In conjunction with their mate, both will rush their prey from beneath, catching them off-guard with a powerful debilitating snap of their jaws. They will also swim along the coasts and the edges of ice sheets, ambushing prey moving in the shallows. They can use their specialized tooth to poke holes through the thinner patches of ice in order to make air holes.