Fire Tagumi

Pyrosputator adamantinii is a small-sized Calamathroid Quadratocephalid amphibian from Najeete.
The small animal is most famous for the incredibly dangerous venomous spit it uses to defend itself against predators, from which its genus name, "fire breather", derives.
It lives in medium to large schools among the prop roots of low depth zone plants and in open streams, where the currents are lower; it stays hidden between the roots and in small burrows in the muddy sediment, where they stay unnoticed and only ever venture out to eat.
The animal feeds on the abundant soft plants that grow on the bottom of the streams and rivers, keeping close to the river's bed; among the many predators that prey on it, the Grinning Pumpkinfish is surely among the biggest ones.
The striking colours of the animal attract the attention of many who, oblivious of the danger, investigate the curious critter, only to find themselves permanently scarred or blind by the venomous defence of the apparently harmless amphibian.
The venom of the P. adamantinii has dangerously high concentrations of a stinging agent, powerful enough to sear through skin and muscle; injuries from the animal's venom are very malodorous and foul looking, with open tears on the victim where the chemical touched.
Certain populations in the medium depth zone of Najeete use rifle darts loaded with P. adamantinii venom to scare off predators coming in from deeper into the swamps.

Basic Information

Anatomy

• Head rounded and high, armour Euabsorbed.

• Mouth small compared to the body, teeth very thin and small, rectangular in shape.

• Eleven very small serrations grow from the top od the dorsal side of the body down to the base of the dorsal fin.

• Pectoral fins rounded and large, growing behind the eye close to the head.

• Two barbs grow from the mid section of the thorax, phylogenetically originating from the Anal I pair.

• Anal II grow shortly after the barbs, in the are where the thorax gives way to the Gill Tail.

• Dorsal fin very large and subtriangular, growing at the base of the Gill Tail.

• Body very round and high, Gill Tail very thin and attached to the dorsal section of the body.

• Gill Fan moderately large compared to the body with visible ridges and a moderate caudal drop; Gill Tail continues after the end of the Gill Fan, creating a spear-tip shape.

Genetics and Reproduction

Promiscuous species.
P. adamantinii mates in Early summer and in Late Autumn.
As schools in the species have no fixed members, with specimens coming and going from a hiding place to the next, the mate selection is down to what is available at the moment in a given hiding place.
Males will mate with several females, even if they already mated this season; eggs are laid after a few minutes from insemination, the females are ready for mating again after a few hours; they are able to preserve the male's seed for days after mating, selecting which seed they'll use for the next batch, even if other males have mated after the selected one they use.
The mating season ends after two weeks, an average female lays between 300 to 700 eggs per mating season.
Of the hundreds of eggs they lay, only a fraction survives to adulthood.
The young are on their own from birth.

Growth Rate & Stages

Ontogeny quite marked in the species; hatchlings have a more slender body, more in line with their close cousins than to the derived form of P. adamantinii.
Loss of natal aculeus after a few days from birth.

Ecology and Habitats

They inhabit the low depth zone of the Najeete's marshlands, at depths inferior to 5 m.
They like muddy grounds with plenty of prop roots to hide in; the hiding spots have to be protected from currents.
They like streams and rivers with medium currents where they can forage algae.

Dietary Needs and Habits

Forager that feeds on soft algae growing on the bottom of streams and rivers; sometimes will feed on small invertebrates that touch the water near their hiding spots.

Biological Cycle

Periannial creature feeding off of the abundant resources of the marshes, no noticeable dips in activity year long.

Additional Information

Social Structure

Lives in schools of up to fifty specimens in the communal hiding places.
Outside of the resting areas, the animal is quite lonesome, staying together in small foraging groups for protection but quite the distance apart; they don't like conspecifics being too close to them while eating.

Domestication

Due to the very dangerous venom, keeping this animal as a pet is illegal in most countries, with few exceptions in Nea Athina and in the Jishou Islands.
Sometimes seen in public aquariums, although kept alone to avoid them accidetally hurting any other species kept alongside them; the glass in these tanks has to be one way so as to prevent them from seeing the guests.

Uses, Products & Exploitation

Of moderate interest for the venom extraction, which is harvested to make darts to sell as a non lethal alternative to bullets for self denfence against animals.
Very low concentrations of the former are used in the production of stinging sprays.

Geographic Origin and Distribution

Low depth zone of the Najeete's marshes.

Perception and Sensory Capabilities

moderate eyesight, good hearing

Symbiotic and Parasitic organisms

Afflicted by Mud-crack parasites and other skin ailments.

Scientific Name

Eoichthyia; Tartarosomnia; Rotunducephalidae; Gladiopinneioidea; Quadratocephaloidea; Calamathroidea ; Pyrosputator; P. adamantinii

Lifespan

5 Years

Conservation Status

Least Concern: No measures in place to protect the species.
Population Trend: Unknown

Average Weight

20-70 gr

Average Length

17 cm (male) , 25 cm (female)

Body Tint, Colouring and Marking

Yellowish-green body with red band over the dorsal section and a red mask over and around the eye.
Belly slightly lighter.
Barbs banded ruddy-red colour.
The Pectoral fins clend from the yellowish-green of the body to a light purple.
Dorsal fin blends to a darker colour towards the tip with darker striping.
Gill Tail and Fan banded in the same colour as the barbs.