Forest Fishgnawer

Exsertognathus lolligii is a medium sized Vertigololiginid Titanopolypusid amphibian from the underwater forests of the boreal waters of the north Jano-Blathànna Ocean.
The animal belongs to one of the most derived families of pressionatatian amphibians, comprising some of the biggest animals known on the planet.
It's a predator found lurking inside the underwater boreal forests off the east coasts of Yan, between the high trunks of the ancestral trees; the forests where it lives are open enough to allow for it to dart among them and still manoeuvre with ease.
The specialized mouth common in the family, with those long and serrated teeth, is perfectly adapted to catch amphibians; the teeth are long enough to penetrate deep into the prey, perforating vital organs and ensuring a quick kill without the risk of prey getting away.
Unlike most other members of its family, the tentacles around the mouth of this particular genus are stubby and rounded, of no use for predation; this gives the animal a more conventional look, not too distant from its pressionatatid cousins.
Living deep under the crown of the trees means that the animal is quite protected from both industrial and sport fishing alike, with only a few daring people ever attempting spearfishing of the animal.
Reportedly E. lolligii's meat is quite savoury once cooked and seasoned.

Basic Information

Anatomy

• Snout long and thin with long, serrated, teeth.

• Crown of thirteen stubby tentacles around the base of the snout, head subquadrate.

• Dorsal I and Anal I mirrored and with very long and thin digits, membrane vestigial.

• Pectoral fin absent.

• Dorsal II & III and Anal II & III veiled.

• Very thin Gill Tail creating a bottleneck shape, Gill Fan very thin and small compared to body.

Skull diagram:

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Genetics and Reproduction

Polyandrous species.
E. lolligii mates in the Early-summer.
Passive females move around in their territory releasing a pheromone trail to attract active males from around the area, potential partners coming in have to catch up to the passive female, who will try to flee from it.
As the active male catches up, it uses its long parapenis to grapple the passive female from the tail; once she feels the male has caught her, she'll gradually slow down to a stop.
When she's finally finished fleeing, the couple can mate and the active male return to its normal routine.
The passive female keeps the eggs inside an external sac that, instead of hanging off the outside of the duct like other members of the group, they lay along the tall ancestral trunks of the trees.
Once the passive female has finished laying the egg sac, it will immediately resume its pheromone spraying to attract new mates.
The eggs hatch after a month and a half; the young eat through the sac to freedom.
An average egg sac contains from three to seven eggs.
Specimens that don't find a mate once the mating season is over, reproduce parthenogenetically, giving birth to fully fertile clones of the parent.

Growth Rate & Stages

Ontogeny in the species not marked, outside of a very large eye at birth.
Loss of natal aculeus after seven months from hatching.
Young specimens live in or above the crown of the ancestral trees, where most small animals dwell; they'll hunt there for a couple of months before gradually moving down the trunks.

Ecology and Habitats

Epipelagic species found at depths between 30 and 100 m.
Lives among the trunks of ancestral trees, below of the tree crowns.

Dietary Needs and Habits

Active predator preying on other smaller amphibians.
The animal is a burst swimmer, able to do quick turns around trunks, chasing prey efficiently.
Young specimens feed on small animals that live in and around the tree crowns; this way they have access to both food and protection from larger specimens who would otherwise hunt them.
During the winter, the species enters a less active state, idling for most of the day, only darting to hunt.
During this period, the animal is seen flocking around carcasses coming down from the surface to feed, this is the only occasion in which the species tolerates conspecifics outside the mating season.

Biological Cycle

Seasonal animal entering a reduced state of activity during the winter, although it's still quite active nonetheless, mostly scavanging.

Additional Information

Social Structure

Lonesome animal not tolerating conspecifics.
Only period in which they are found together is during the winter when feeding on carcasses coming down from the surface.

Domestication

Seen rarely in public aquariums; the animal is quite the star in any structure hosting it.

Uses, Products & Exploitation

Of small economic importance overall, with only a few daring people attempting to spearfish the amphibian.

Geographic Origin and Distribution

Ancestral Forests of the northern Jano-Blathànna Ocean.

Perception and Sensory Capabilities

Very good colour vision.

Symbiotic and Parasitic organisms

Afflicted by Intestinal Tube Worms and skin parasites.

Scientific Name

Pressionatatia; Dipressioductata; Tentaculea; Titanopolypusoidea; Vertigololiginidae; Exsertognathus; E. lolligii

Lifespan

65 Years

Conservation Status

Least Concern: No measures underway to protect the species.
Population Trend: STABLE

Average Weight

150-300 kg

Average Length

3.4 m average

Body Tint, Colouring and Marking

Green body with lighter countershading.
Snout and tip of the fins blue, same for the area around the eye.
Yellow V-shaped pattern along the body ending in a banded pattern at the base of the tail.
Anal II and Dorsal II fins Ocellated.
Small yellow bands on the tentacles.