Parrot Spearchin

Lanceamentum prodigus is an Oniine Scarabidichthyioid amphibian from the south-western Irobian Ocean and the Eastern Nuwadi Ocean.
The large animal, perhaps most recognizable for its pointy chin, is an active predator in its waters, hunting anything from Selenopiscoids to the Migrating Cutthroat Reef Rhinos coming from the south.
To hunt, given the extremely long jaw, the animal has to attack from the top or from below, rotated as to ensure it could bite prey without having to stretch the mouth open too much, a physical limitation of the jaw.
The bite itself is quite strong, made to create a large amount of pressure, used to cause heavy internal haemorrhaging to the prey; thanks to the very peculiar mouth structure, the animal won't be able to keep a firm grip over prey, often resulting in it having to adjust it's bite multiple times. If prey escapes from the deathly grip, L. prodigus will follow it over a brief period to make sure the animal won't die due to the internal wounds.
Eating for the species can be quite difficult, especially with bigger prey, having to bite from the top or bottom and roll on itself to remove chunks of meat from it.
Although the animal may seem like it has a very limited prey range, if needed it can open the jaw extremely wide by unhinging it from its socket; this is quite uncommon as the motion can potentially be very straining on the animal.
The one-meter long rostrum is used by both males and females during sparring encounters in the mating season, acting as a sexual selection mechanism.
Although not very common, the animal can e found on the market mostly as an accidental catch.
The rostrum is sawed off to be sold separately to tourists as a souvenir while the meat can be cooked or eaten raw. The animal's meat has a very strong taste to it, almost sour to some people.

Basic Information

Anatomy

• Dentary bone of the jaw extremely long, slightly pointing ventrally.

• Cranium subtriangular, Pre-maxillary plate very pointy.

• Pectoral fins spear shaped and very long, moved ventrally and greatly flexible.

• Dorsal I fin rectangular, Dorsal II subtriangular.

• Gill Tail moderately long wnding in a large and long Gill Fan, very smooth caudal drop.

Skull diagram:

Show spoiler

In image only Chondrocranial and Splanchnocranial elements are shows, dermocranial armour not shown:

Genetics and Reproduction

Polygamous species.
L. prodigus mates in early spring.
Both males and females in the species fight for mating rights.
Females will spar with other females to define their breeding grounds and the right to mate with the males that enter them, males will spar with females for the right to mate with them.
The animals, to spar, face one another using the dentary bone of the jaw as a sword, crossing them and measuring who's stronger.
If a male manages to overpower a female, it can then proceed to mate with her.
A female will incubate the eggs for a few hours before laying them on the male and chase him off her territory in order to have more males coming in.
Once a male has mated and the eggs have been laid on him, he will be "taken", he won't be further approached by females if not to be chased off of their territories.
The eggs latch to the male's side using the tendrils usually reserved for anchoring in other animals, using them to absorb nutrients directly from the parent's bloodstream and boost growth. The eggs will hatch between four days to two weeks from being laid, depending on the father's proficiency as a hunter.

Growth Rate & Stages

Ontogenesis in the species very apparent.
Young specimens are born with the dentary bone as long as the maxillae and the dentary teeth packed up in a tighter row.
The growth rate of the dentary will greatly surpass that of the rest of the body, spacing out the teeth more to assume the mature morphology.
Loss of natal aculeus three weeks from being born.

Ecology and Habitats

Epipelagic species found at depths between 10 and 100 m.
Lives in open waters of the continental shelf, liking areas with plenty of vegetation and rocky outcrops.
Western populations live in the southernmost coral reefs of the eastern Nuwadi Ocean.

Dietary Needs and Habits

Predatorial species feeding on a vast array of little to mid sized prey.
It attacks from below or above the animal, taking it where it's thinner as not to open the jaw too widely.
Western populations are known to hunt on Cutthroat Reef Rhinos migrating north from the Leviathan Islands to mate.

Biological Cycle

Eastern population seasonal, entering periods or reduced activity during the autumn and early winter.
Western population periannial, with few dips in activity year long.

Additional Information

Social Structure

Lonesome animal rarely tolerating conspecifics.

Domestication

Too big for home aquariums, the animals is seen in several public aquariums and often shares the spotlight with other big predators in documentaries due to its bizarre look.

Uses, Products & Exploitation

Rarely caught in fishermen's nets, the biggest use the species has is the harvesting of the jaw to make souvenirs.

Geographic Origin and Distribution

Fragmented populations in the east Nuwadi Ocean, more populous in the southeastern coast of Irobi, Irobian Ocean.

Perception and Sensory Capabilities

Very good eyesight and hearing.

Symbiotic and Parasitic organisms

Afflicted by Intestinal Tube Worms and False tooth parasites on the jaw.

Scientific Name

Eoichthyia; Armadilloarmatia; Scarabidichthyioidea; Oniidae ; Oniinae; Lanceamentum; L. prodigus

Lifespan

18 Years

Conservation Status

Least Concern: no measures underway to protect the species
Population trend: DECREASE

Average Weight

200-500 kg

Average Length

2.8 m (male) , 3.6 m (female)

Body Tint, Colouring and Marking

Armour sand coloured to bright yellow, body green to lime.
jaw dotted in brown, single band coming down from the middle of the cranium to the jaw, eye banded.
Top of the armour ruddy to orange shaded.
Throat bright blue to azure.
upper body striped in purple, dorsal fins brown.
Tail lighter than body ending in a dark tip.