Piranhadon

Piranhadon titanus

Piranhadon is a massive, lethal, viviparous tristichopterid from the swamps and waterways of Skull Island. Growing up to 15 meters long, they are an alpha predator of Skull Island’s lakes, rivers, and swamps, only with creatures like the Sirenjaws, Swamp Mimics and Mire Squids able to prey upon them. These tetrapodomorph fishes hunt similar to crocodiles, waiting for unsuspecting terrestrial creatures to come to the bank to drink where they can launch out of the water to grab them, like an orca whale they can beach themselves to reach their prey. Migrating herds that must cross large rivers must watch for Piranhadon waiting in ambush. Piranhadon eyes are large, but not terribly acute. Their vision is restricted to extremes of light and dark. Staring up, they will respond to shadows created against the bright light of the sky that indicates potential prey on or near the surface. Underwater prey is more difficult to discern in the murky water. Massive banks of gills supply the fish with oxygen from the water. Water that is heavily clogged with silt makes it difficult for the species to breathe, restricting its access to the river system. Piranhadon have elongated necks that are flexible so as to allow them to weave through the flooded forests and narrow waterways they hunt in spite of their great size. Side-to-side tail movement provides propulsion, while the massive paddle-like pectoral fins steer the animal with surprising agility. Streamlined and smooth, the great beast can move swiftly through the water, creating barely a ripple on the surface to betray its passage. The larger the individual, the faster it can swim. Male Piranhadon are much smaller than the giant females, rarely exceeding 6 meters in length, and outnumber them several times over. During the mating season, the big females make no effort to accommodate the affections of their many tiny suitors. Only the strongest and fastest males can catch up with them and deposit their seed, thereby guaranteeing the best genes for their offspring. Young are born live in groups of around a dozen. Fully five feet long at birth, they are already formidable aquatic predators and take to hunting in the shallows right away. Plagued by many assorted parasites, one of the most unconventional behaviors exhibited by Piranhadon is voluntary beaching. Selecting an appropriate beach that provides sufficient slipway for returning to the water, the fish will swim at speed up and onto the shore. Several bird species (like herons and gulls) know this behavior and will fly down to meticulously clean the aquatic predator of its unwanted passengers alongside two small lizard species.

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Clade: Olfactores
Subphylum: Vertebrata
Infraphylum: Gnathostomata
Clade: Tetrapodomorpha
Clade: Eotetrapodiformes
Family: Tristichopteridae
Genus: Piranhadon
Species: P. titanus