Grappling Shieldback

Versabilocephalus cataphractus is a species of Gymnocephalid Enetodontid amphibian from the waters around the Lizard's Archipelago.
The animal can be found inhabiting the sandy dunes off the coasts of the archipelago, swimming close to the seafloor and using the prehensile tuberculus to stir the sand and force animals such as Sandcreepers, Sandlurkers and Twinfishes out of their hiding places.
The eight fin layout gives the animal increased manoeuvrability in its environment, allowing the animal to sprint for brief distances to catch up with prey if it manages to escape the tuberculus.
The animal is not a particularly good resistance swimmer, nor quite fast in moving about in its daily life mostly thanks to the dorsal armour extending over the whole length of the body making the animal extremely heavy and rigid for its size.
The animal, being too heavy to migrate, will remain around the archipelago all year long, becoming less active in the winter months due to most of its prey hibernating or reducing activity to only the hottest hours of the day.
The dorsal armour evolved sometime in the last 32 million years as a way to protect from a now-extinct predator, the adaptation remaining as a ghost of predators past.
When it feels threatened the animal will quickly borrow in the sand covering its body from aggressions and leaving only the armoured back exposed to the oncoming assault.
The head can be turned to look up but will be mostly kept looking down at the sandy dunes to look for signs of prey.
Although not the best of meats, the animal is nevertheless fished and cooked, especially during the winter months, where most other animals migrate north.
The Dorsal armour is made into traditional shields, usually painted with the person's family colours or Isle clan pattern; these shields are used in ritualistic combat or as the house decor, with coloured leather straps attached its borders; the antennae are attached to the bottom section of the armour, where it takes off into the two growths as the shield is held tail-side up.
The animal is known to be particularly curious towards humans, often expressing a desire to investigate divers and play with them, however, one must pay attention as V. cataphractus will more often than not try to steal shiny objects from a person, be it a bracelet, earrings or even a glittered bathing suit. The trinkets they steal they'll hoard in their nests or, in the case of bracelets, they'll wear around the tuberculus and protect adamantly.
In recent years, with several activities selling small bracelets to give the animal as a tourist attraction, it has been observed a change in the behaviour of the species, with the number and colour of the bracelets a specimen is wearing becoming a deciding factor in mate selection.

Basic Information

Anatomy

• Head long, armour euabsorbed.

• Very long tuberculus, even when in rest position.

• Jaw I evolved into an antennae.

• Dorsal armour composed of a single plate extending along the length of the body; dorsal armour extends after the end of the body in two needle-shaped growths.

• Pectoral fins moved next to the Anals.

• Anal I, II & III fins moved to the midpoint of the body.

• Gill Tail moderately long and thin.

• Gill Fan very regular.

Genetics and Reproduction

Seasonally monogamous species.
V. cataphractus mates in the summer, during the most active season of the year prey-wise.
Males will make nests in repaired areas inside small patches of seagrasses, ripping the area clean of them with the tuberculus to create a rounded shape to fill with exoskeletons, bones and trinkets they steal from divers.
In recent years, due to the rise in popularity of gifting bracelets to the animal, the number and colour of the bracelets a male wears have become a deciding factor in choosing a mate, resulting in an alteration of the animal's behaviour.
Females, like in many other Enetodontids, will roam the forests in search of nests to inspect, judging them based on the shape, contents and the quality of the job the male did in cleaning all the seagrass; the female will often manipulate and move around the objects inside the nest to better evaluate the male's work.
If she's convinced, she'll lay on the sand, marking the seafloor with the fins and signalling the male to approach.
She will then inspect the male's bracelets, a male with no bracelets has a very reduced chance of mating for the season. If she deems the male appropriate as a mate, she'll once again move to the seafloor to lay on the sand, this time flashing the colours of the armour to signal the male it can mate with her.
Due to the animal weight, mating can take hours and is exhausting on the male.
The couple will remain together until the eggs hatch almost three weeks later.
As soon as the eggs hatch the male will move away and cease control of the nest to the female, where she'll nurse the young until they're big enough as to survive on their own.

Growth Rate & Stages

Ontogenesis very apparent in the species.
Hatchlings are born with a very reduced dorsal armour, much more similar to other Enetodontids, the armour grows at a much higher rate than the rest of the body.
Natal aculeus gets absorbed into the dorsal armour as it grows over it.

Ecology and Habitats

Epipelagic species found living in the water column at depths between 5 and 45 m.
It lives in sandy plains and on seagrass prairies with plenty of light.

Dietary Needs and Habits

Predatorial species feeding on burrowing animals like Sandcreepers, Sandweeper, Sandlurkers, Twinfishes or Carpetfishes.

Biological Cycle

Seasonal species entering a reduced activity period in the winter.

Additional Information

Social Structure

Although not gregarious in nature, it's not uncommon for two or more specimens to find themselves in close proximity to one abother, hunting in the same area.
When they do meet, the creature will not only tolerate the presence of its concpecifics but will actively engage in social activities such as grooming of one another's shells or chattering through bellows and rhythmic movements of the fins.

Domestication

Impossible to keep in captivity outside of public aquariums due to it not accepting feed not in the form of live prey.

Uses, Products & Exploitation

Mostly used in the production of the traditional shield used by the local populations of the archipelago, the animal is also consumed cooked especially in the winter when food is scarcer.
The populations are in decline as the demand for custom made authentic shields rises even outside the archipelago as a luxury novelty item.

Geographic Origin and Distribution

Waters off the coasts of the Lizard's archipelago, south Nuwadi Ocean.

Average Intelligence

Known for its curiosity and intellect, the animal often investigates and plays with divers.
It has been demonstrated to recognize faces and being able to remember a person over long periods.
They create and use rudimental tools with the prehensile tuberculus in the shape of rocks or exoskeletons fitted for several roles; a rock can be used to crush the hard exterior of invertebrates and gain access to the meat inside, a sharpened and spoon-shaped exoskeleton can help them eradicate plants more efficiently.
They are attracted to shiny objects and go as far as to wear bracelets or other such objects much as humans do, sometimes outright learning by mimicking what they see divers do, to the best of their physical capabilities.

Perception and Sensory Capabilities

Good hearing and average eyesight.

Symbiotic and Parasitic organisms

Afflicted by Armour thinning diseases and intra-ocular worms.

Scientific Name

Enetodontia; Enetodontida; Paleostomatosoidea; Gymnocephalidae ; Hoplostracinae; Versabilocephalus; V. cataphractus

Lifespan

12 Years

Conservation Status

Vulnerable: no measures underway to protect the species.
Population trend: DECREASE

Average Weight

130-200 kg

Average Length

1.25 m (male) , 1.5 m (female)

Body Tint, Colouring and Marking

Yellow to sand coloured armour and head, body purple.
Forehead to right under the eye crimson, tuberculus striped with the same colour.
Upper body armour striped in dark grey to black, same colour seen in the tip of the armour and Gill Fan.
Fins tipped in a lighter colour than the body, same seen in the Gill Fan.
Tip of the antennae bright azure to sea foam.