Kryptoarthrocephalus fluorescens

Kryptoarthrocephalus fluorescens is a species of Tubercolostomatosid Tubercolostomatosoid amphibian from the waters of the Balloon forests of west Gleann Blathànna.
It lives at medium depths under the canopy of the Balloon forests, where it will hunt for Mime Cockatielfishes, Cyclopiscopinninids and the occasional Cockatielfishes that move under the canopy from the protection of the Balloon Forest's tendril maze.
The animal's colouration is used to camouflage in the green-tinted waters in which it lives, while the very bright fin and jaw distal ends are used in sexual selection.
In a textbook example of Convergent evolution, the last pair of jaws adapted into a sensorial organ, losing its predatorial function in favour of better electroreception, much like their sister taxa, the Kugawinidae.
Both the Dorsal and Anal II fins have atrophied, slimming down the shape of the body making the animal more hydrodynamic.
This adaptation resulted in the animal's ability to chase more actively the fast prey it usually hunts while the slimmer jaws allow for quicker action.
Historically ubiquitous to the forests, the species' numbers have been steadily decreasing in the last 50 years, following several extermination campaigns funded by local food industries.
Today K. fluorescens is restricted to the deepest sections of the forests in smaller often fragmentary populations, papers published between the years of 2550 and 2561 warned about the possible functional extinction of the species in the next 30 to 50 years, if action is not taken.
Historically the species used to nest in the shallower areas of the Seagrass prairies closer to the shores, however, since human reclamation of the farmable areas, the species had to adapt into nesting in the deeper areas, entering in competition with Yellowback Plougheads for suitable nesting sites, resulting in fewer hatchlings for both species.
To this day, only a couple of reserves have been established to protect the fragile ecosystems of the Balloon Forests and this Tubercolostomatosid.

Basic Information

Anatomy

• Fronto-temporal plate of the cranium long and pointy, small sagittal crest above the eyes.


• Eyes large compared to the head, Quadrate plate pointed and moved caudally, not touching the eye socket.


• Jaws I & II long and slim, used in predation; Jaw III much thinner, used in electrolocation.


• Dorsal armour composed by 10 dorsal plates and 5 postcranials.


• Pectoral fins long and leaf-shaped, moved ventrally but pointing dorso-laterally to the body.


• Anal I fin long and leaf-shaped.


• Dorsal and Anal II fins vestigial.


• Gill Tail long and thin ending in a rhombic Gill Fan.

Genetics and Reproduction

Seasonally monogamous species.
K. fluorescens mates in the early spring.
Males will nest among the Balloon graveyard, in shallower areas of the forests, where they enter in competition for nesting grounds with Yellowback Plougheads.
An average nest of K. fluorescens is either made by uprooting saplings and clearing the area from dead plants or stole from a Ploughead.
The nest is decorated with shells, armours, bones and other small objects and pebbles.
Visiting Females will inspect the nests carefully, moving the small object to their preference and judging their quality; if the female's convinced then she'll lay on the bottom of the nest waiting for the male to mate with her.
The eggs are incubated in the duct for two weeks before deposition.
Historically eggs were laid in abandoned sandcreeper burrows, however, in this new nesting areas burrowers are much rarer, resulting in most females laying them in the nest's centre, which is more exposed to scavengers and currents, the main cause of the higher mortality in hatchlings and the dispersion of the eggs.

Growth Rate & Stages

Ontogenesis in the species visible.
Hatchlings are born with a rounder and more expanded cranial armour, which will slowly retract while growing.
The Anal II fins in young specimens are usually larger and rounder, retaining some locomotory ability for the first phase of their life.
Loss of natal aculeus a week after birth.

Ecology and Habitats

Epipelagic creature found at depths between 20 and 60 m.
Historically abundant all over the Balloon Forests, the species is now much more fragmented, restricted to the deeper forests.
It lives at medium depths, under the canopy of the Balloon Trees themselves.

Dietary Needs and Habits

Predatory species that hunts anything from Cyclopiscopinninids to Galeocristatoids.

Biological Cycle

Seasonal animal that sees moderate dips in activity during Autumn and Winter.
During the latter season prey is the scarcest due to most of them either migrating or hybernating.

Additional Information

Social Structure

Not incredibly social, they prefer to hunt alone, often barely tolerating the presence of conspecifics.

Domestication

Due to conservation laws, the species can't be kept in captivity in private structures, however, several specimens have been succesfully moved in a captive environment to breed and aid conservation efforts by international associations.

Uses, Products & Exploitation

Seen as a pest by many populations of the western Gleann Blathànna, the species has been hunted to extinction in the outer territories of the Balloon Forests.
In the past the animal was consumed when accidentally caught in nets, today the fishing of the species, while not illegal, is highly discouraged.

Geographic Origin and Distribution

Deeper forests of the Balloon Sea, Jano-Blathànna Ocean.

Perception and Sensory Capabilities

Average eyesight, good hearing and electrolocatory abilities.

Symbiotic and Parasitic organisms

Afflicted by Intestinal Tube Worms and parasites of the fins.

Scientific Name

Enetodontia; Enetodontida; Paleostomatosoidea; Tubercolostomatosoidea; Tubercolostomatosidae ; Kryptoarthrocephalus; K. fluorescens

Lifespan

15 Years

Conservation Status

Endangered to locally extinct: Populations fragmented and restricted to the inner Balloon forests; few measures in place to protect the species.
Population Trend: DECREASE

Average Weight

20-49 kg

Average Length

1 m (male) , 1.25 m (female)

Body Tint, Colouring and Marking

Green body, lighter hue on top of the head and along the second half of the back.
Tuberculus blue, tip of fins and jaws bright teal.
Ventral section of the body striped in a lighter hue.