Rust-eating Piratefish

The rust-eating piratefish (praedonis ferrugovorus) is a speicies of large piratefish native to the oceanic regions surrounding mainland Atlantis. Like other piratefish, the rust-eating piratefish is a skin-breathing amphibious fish and can survive for hours on land before needing to resubmurge.
P. ferrugovorus is notable for requiring the consumption of rust in its diet.

Basic Information

Anatomy

The rust-eating piratefish possesses several tetrapod-like appendages ideal for running across land. This makes it less proficient at swimming than other fish, but the ability to evade predators altogether by exiting the water makes up for this flaw.
It has several, scraper-like teeth, ideal for removing rust from metal objects. To assist in this, its saliva can act as an acid to help break down the rust.
Its scales can vary wildly in color, and change based on the kind of rust it consumes the most.

Ecology and Habitats

Rust-eating piratefish are often found at the shores of populated areas, to provide an ample source of metal.

Dietary Needs and Habits

As its namesake implies, the rust-eating piratefish is able to eat rust, and has specialized organs for digesting it.

Behaviour

Rust-eating piratefish are known to hoard piles of metal and metal objects in their underwater dens to consume the rust that eventually forms. It can either collect these metal objects from wreckages or lost objects, or steal them on their expeditions to the surface.
Rust-eating piratefish are generally solitary creatures, and tend to leave each other alone unless food sources are slim. However, they are known to form symbiotic relationships with humans, who provides the piratefish with rusted objects to clean.

Additional Information

Domestication

Some humans are known to 'adopt' piratefish on long seafaring journeys for companionship and tool maintenance.

Uses, Products & Exploitation

Humans are known to harvest their acidic saliva for the purposes of cleaning rust. The saliva is often processed into skouriastro.

Scientific Name

praedonis ferrugovorus

Origin/Ancestry

Atlantian

Lifespan

10-15 years

Average Length

1.5 meters

Geographic Distribution

• Atlantis

Related Technologies

• Skouriastro