Abyssal Worryfish

Haganaan anxietafrons is a Radiopinniserpentoid Xenomuraenid amphibian from the Hetherian Ocean.
The small amphibian lives deep in the cold waters off the north coast of New Louisiana, hunting for small amphibians and free-swimming invertebrates, using its keen hearing to locate prey in the dark waters in which it hunts.
Although it hunts deep in the dark meso- to bathypelagic zone, the animal lives in the epipelagic area most of its life, where light is abundant.
Living in small schools along rocky slopes, the species uses the dull body and armour colouration to camouflage against the cliffs, laying on them motionless for hours, preserving energy for the night, when they are most active.
The specialized pupil of the animal can dilate at will to adapt to the light condition in which the animal is hunting; in addition to this, the eye produces a specialized type of chlorophyll-like molecule that it uses to better perceive green light waves, making it especially capable to hunt green-light producing amphibians of the twilight zone.
The mouth of H. anxietafrons is riddled with many medium-sized teeth, used not so much in predation as in communication.
To communicate, the animal creates clicking sounds with the teeth, opening and closing the mouth in fast movements; these "claps" are used to alert of other animals to conspecifics or to scan for their presence.
It's not uncommon to see specimens rest one next to the other, communicating between each other.
When out hunting, the animal will often move in small schools of max five animals, using claps to co-ordinate other members in scaring prey towards a centre point where they'll surround it; usually, the leader of these hunting parties is the biggest female.
Rarely caught by fishermen, the animal is of poor value and usually transformed into chum for bigger animals.
The animal takes its peculiar species name from the shape of the cranial armour, which makes it look like it's constantly in a state of distress, thus the name worryfish or H. anxietafrons (from the latin Anxietas=stress & frons=brow).

Basic Information

Anatomy

• Head slightly compressed frontally.

• Cranial armour opening around the eye.

• Mouth with a very packed dentition of small to medium-sized teeth, laterally flattened.

• Presence of a Display Cheek in the ventral section of the throat; cheek moderately long and rounded, vaguely leaf shaped, opening at 45° ventral to the horizontal plane of the body.

• Dorsal armour very reduced, composed by nine dorsal plates and two postcranials.

• All fins fleshy along the main body, with a ray finned structure along their length.

• Body long and thin.

• Anal II vestigial, growing at the base of the Gill Fan

• Gill Tail moderately long and gradually decreasing in size to the Gill Fan.

• GIll Fan romboid with angular ridges and a soft and long caudal drop.

Display cheek:

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Genetics and Reproduction

Polyandrous species.
H. anxietafrons mates from middle to late autumn, when the waters are getting warmer and food more abundant.
A single female will mate with up to three males per mating season, usually being members of their daily commute to the hunting grounds or members of its hunting party.
Males will determine mating rights by duelling each other to a display showdown; both duellists will open mouth and display cheeks, with the male with the biggest cheek and brightest palate winning mating priorities.
The leading mate wins the right to fertilize two chambers of the female, instead of just one, like all the other males coming after it.
Once all the chambers have been fertilized and mating is over, the female and the accompanying males will remain close to each other, solidifying their status as a seasonal hunting party.
The eggs are incubated in the duct for two weeks before being laid along the rocky cliffs; a female lays between ten and thirty eggs, most of which will be plundered or washed away by currents well before hatching.
Eggs hatch after a week or two from deposition.

Growth Rate & Stages

Ontogenesis in the species barely visible.
Loss of natal aculeus two months after birth.

Ecology and Habitats

Epi- to Bathypelagic species found living at depths from 130 to 200 m.
Feeds in the Meso- to Bathypelagic zone, between 200 and 1500 m deep.

Dietary Needs and Habits

Predatorial species leading co-ordinated attacks on schools of smaller amphibians and invertebrates.

Biological Cycle

Seasonal species most active during the autumn and winter; mostly nocturnal.

Additional Information

Social Structure

Social animal living occasionally close to conspecifics; hunts alone or in parties.
Communicates through claps made by the rapid closing of the jaw.

Domestication

Mostly seen in public aquariums as a filler amphibian in much bigger tanks dedicated to the cold waters of the Hetherian ocean.

Uses, Products & Exploitation

Of minor importance overall; the biggest use of the species is the processing of its meats as chum to lure bigger animals.

Geographic Origin and Distribution

Cold waters off the north coast of New Louisiana, Hetherian Ocean.

Perception and Sensory Capabilities

Good eyesight and hearing, poor smell.

Symbiotic and Parasitic organisms

Afflicted by Intestinal Tube Worms and drinker worms.
Rarely carrier of brain shrinking disease.

Scientific Name

Eumuraenia; Radiopinniserpentoidea ; Haganaan; H. anxietafrons

Lifespan

25 Years

Conservation Status

Least concern: No measures underway to protect the species.
Population trend: STABLE

Average Weight

300 to 800 gr

Average Length

up to 60 cm

Body Tint, Colouring and Marking

light brown to ruddy body, grey to rock coloured armour and skin of the head.
Fins reddish to purple red.
Palate bright blue.