Round-crested Cockatielfish

Cyclolophocephalus Antiquus is a small Psittacosteocristine Pedalionmorphid amphibian from the boreal north of the Jano-Blathànna Ocean.
They live right above and inside the ancestral tree's crowns, selectively picking the younger and softer leaves and fruits using the long and prehensile palatine tongue to grasp the branches.
A bit smaller than its easter cousin, the Cockatielfish, this genus is adapted to live the majority of its life submerged, surfacing only rarely to mate and to flee from predators.
The specialized buoyancy apparatus the family evolved in used by this animal more as a mean to escape quickly from predators, being able to take in water and blow it out in a pressurized jet, propelling the animal backwards quickly.
When threatened, C. Antiquus flees outside the tree crowns and into the open ocean, towards the surface; this move that, at first glance, sounds counterintuitive is a very efficient method to escape predatorial animals as venturing outside the forest and into the open ocean would leave most predators of the upper forest vulnerable to even bigger animals prowling the surface; while C. Antiquus is too small a target for most animals of the open sea to notice, their predators would be the perfect size for a quick snack.
Among its most common predators there are young Forest Fishgnawers.
This behaviour, though, has lead the species to become threatened as the fishermen's nets scraping the tree surface alarm the animal and force it to flee right into them, causing accidental overfishing of the species.
The animal is quite palatable both eaten raw and gently cooked in a pan with a bit of spice and some Weeping Jack flower powder.

Basic Information

Anatomy

• Head subquadrate, single rounded bony crest in the dorsal section.

• Eye large, mouth beaked and small, slightly pointed downward.

• Large operculus under the chin, thorax expandable.

• Pectoral fins leaf shaped, quite small for its family, growing on the dorsal section of the upper body.

• Dorsal fin veiled.

• Anal I and II long and spear shaped, almost horizontal to the body.

• Gill Tail very short and high, ending in a very large Gill Fan with long ridges and a moderate caudal drop; tail continues shortly after the end of the Gill Fan.

Genetics and Reproduction

Seasonally monogamous species.
C. Antiquus mates from early spring to late summer.
Females will attract the male's attention by swimming belly side up at high speeds just above the treetops, once a couple or more males have gathered, she'll slow down to move in circles until the mate is decided.
Males will decide which one will mate by flashing colours and patterns in the crest, measuring who makes the more complex pattern and palette in the lowest amount of time.
Once the mate is decided, the female will restart her frantic swim, testing the speed of the male, which has to catch up to her and attach itself to her duct with the parapenis, being carried by the female while copulating.
Once the male is done, he detaches from the female, who will stop her display and reunites with her partner.
The female will lay her eggs on the surface in small floating nests and abandons them there.
In the time the eggs grow and hatch, the nest will be transported by the currents to other sections of the forest, where the hatchlings will immediately dive into at birth.

Growth Rate & Stages

Ontogenesis very visible in the species.
Hatchlings are born without any crest and with vestigial caudal fins, they absorb the natal aculeus a week after hatching.
As soon as they are born, the hatchlings will submerge and run for cover in the submerged treetops, where they'll immediately start to feed on the youngest buds and occasional invertebrate.

Ecology and Habitats

Epipelagic species found at depths between 20 and 50 m.
Lives among the treetops of the Ancestral forests, likes clear waters with plenty of vegetation and large open spaces above it.

Dietary Needs and Habits

Herbivorous species foraging the soft leaves of the Ancestral forests.
Due to the nature of the Ancestral trees, they don't face any major changes in diet during the year; during winter season they'll feed on the more fibrous leaves, since new ones won't bud until spring but otherwise the diet will remain the same all year.
Young specimens sometimes eat invertebrates too to aid in the rapid growth of the animal.

Biological Cycle

Periannial creature with few dips in activity year long.

Additional Information

Social Structure

Very social animal seeking conspecifics to forage with, communicating between them with colours and patterns in the crest.
Playful animals even when interacting with humans in captivity.

Domestication

More popular as a pet than its bigger cousing Psittacosteocristi navimorphus due to a more generalistic diet and smaller size.
Recommended to kids or for pet therapy.
The animal is always in demand on the global markets for its playfulness and affection towards the owner.

Uses, Products & Exploitation

Of moderate economic interest in the food market, often being an accidental catch in nets.
Of major economic importance in the pet trade. although nowadays most specimens are bred in captivity.

Geographic Origin and Distribution

Ancestral forests of the north Jano-Blathànna Ocean.

Perception and Sensory Capabilities

exceptionally good colour vision, very good hearing.

Symbiotic and Parasitic organisms

Afflicted by severalskin parasites.

Scientific Name

Eoichthyia; Caudonatatia; Pedalionmorpha; Galeocristatoidea ; Thoracofluitidae; Psittacosteocristinae; Cyclolophocephalus; C. Antiquus

Lifespan

10 Years

Conservation Status

Vulnerable: Population loss due to overfishing of the species, no measures underway to protect the species.
Population trend: DECLINE

Average Weight

300-600 gr

Average Length

32 cm (male) , 40 cm (female)

Body Tint, Colouring and Marking

Green body with slightly lighter belly, upper head and back up to the base of the dorsal fin ruddy to red.
Single azure to blue band over the head and along the body, separates the green section from the red.
Blue striping on the top of the crest.