Blood Raptor

by Kipsa

Ferrobibendum lamia, also called the Blood Raptor, is an aquatic predator which exhibits many of the characteristics of the more basal Radio Raptors from which it evolved. Radio Raptors were largely confined to closed ecologies surrounding radioactive rifts in the oceanic plates, feeding primarily on radioactive energy and on other Radiotrophs. Competition within these narrow niche environments drove one group of Radio Raptors to travel increasingly further afield and to prey upon a wider array of marine organisms, the subsequent mass-extinction of marine predators outside of the ocean rifts enabling this group to exploit newly vacant niches as they transitioned away from the abyssopelagic into shallower waters.
Over time the pressures of a more wide-ranging lifestyle and more active prey led to a number of adaptations which have enabled Ferrobibendum to more successfully compete in new environments away from ocean rifts. The characteristic tendrils of the Radio Raptor ceased to fully divide in Ferrobibendum leading to the development of inter-tendril webbing aiding more efficient movement through the water. Ferrobibendum lost the ancestral ability to feed off ambient radiation but retained the ability to metabolize elements such as iron, copper and sulphur and incorporate these into its body in the form of both sclerites and specialized feeding needles derived from the mineral-rich barbs of the ancestral Radio Raptor. The shift towards predating larger and more active prey has also led Ferrobibendum to develop a cooperative hunting strategy and increased sociality when compared to Radio Raptors, utilizing the electrosensory abilities common to Radiotropha in order to communicate and coordinate when hunting as a swarm.

Basic Information

Anatomy

Ferrobibendum retains the characteristic trailing 12 roots or tendrils of the Radio Raptor, the inferior six tendrils now forming a powerful conjoined tail whilst the superior six tendrils have shortened and conjoined to form a double dorsal fin. Ferrobibendum retain the additional two forward barbed tendrils of the Radio Raptor but these have become flattened and heavily muscled and are held against the side of the body when swimming, the tendrils extending forwards rapidly to catch and grip prey at the moment of attack.
In matures specimens the anterior sections are largely covered by mineralized plates of sclerites formed chiefly of iron. The creature’s head and forward tendrils are embedded with hollow iron needle-like barbs, each with a pair of small sphincters at its base, these needle-barbs allow Ferrobibendum to pierce the integument of its prey and siphon its prey’s circulatory fluid whilst feeding.

Genetics and Reproduction

Like Radio Raptors the Blood Raptor reproduces through budding of the posterior tendrils however rather than relying on absorption of genetic material from prey to introduce genetic diversity they have instead developed a form of quasi-anisogamy. Pods gather together seasonally to form larger groups and during these gatherings specimens from different pods compete for dominance, with the largest specimens using a specialized needle-barb to harvest genetic material from the circulatory fluid of their chosen mate. This genetic material then fuses with proto-gametes located in the tendril-tips resulting in between one and three of the tips budding from the parent as new Blood Raptors. The loss of the tendril-tips put’s the parent at a disadvantage and around a third of budding Ferrobibendum die soon after their offspring detach but if the parent survives long enough the tendril-tips will regrow and they may go on to breed again in subsequent seasons.

Growth Rate & Stages

Once the harvested genetic material has fused with proto-gametes located in the tendril-tips the fertilized tail tips will begin to metamorphoize into juveniles, developing for between 60 and 70 days before budding off from the parent. The juvenile Ferrobibendum possess only a single tendril and lack the mineralized sclerites of adults, their tendril dividing as they grow just as in the ancestral Radio Raptors and the juvenile acquiring its armor from its vampiric diet over the course of about a year.

Ecology and Habitats

The Blood Raptor is a pack-hunting marine predator found across the world’s oceans at depths of between 1000 and 2000 meters though other species may live as deep as 4000 meters. Blood Raptors are globally distributed but are particularly common in the waters surrounding Niylan, benefiting from the tolerance for sulfurous environments inherited from their abyssal origin.

Dietary Needs and Habits

Blood raptors will typically surround and harry their prey in coordinated attacks, immobilizing prey with their tendrils and metallic “teeth” in order to siphon the prey’s circulatory fluid before ingesting the flesh. This feeding strategy ensures that as little of the mineral-rich hemoglobin or hemocyanin as possible is lost to the water during feeding.

Behaviour

Blood Raptors have a relatively high encephalization quotient and exhibit complex cooperative and social behaviours, coordinating with each other through a sophisticated range of electrical signals. Their intelligence is roughly equivalent to that of jumping spiders.

Additional Information

Social Structure

The social structure of Blood Raptors can be characterized by fusion and fission, with the smallest social unit being pods of 10 - 20 closely related individuals. When swarms grow beyond this size individuals will leave the group to form new swarms and conversely when tackling large prey and during mating season different pods will gather together to form temporary super-swarms which may number hundreds of individuals.

Perception and Sensory Capabilities

Ferrobibendum have lost the ancestral ability to detect and feed off radiation but retain electrogenic tissue in the tendrils and exhibit effective electroreception, allowing them to detect prey from up to 10 meters away in water and receive electrical signals from other Ferrobibendum up to 15 meters away. They have evolved dented eyespots, giving them a large field of vision with small blindspots directly in front of and behind the head and good low-light vision but relatively poor visual acuity.

Created By
David Gorman
Genetic Ancestor
Radio Raptor

Scientific Name

Ferrobibendum Lamia

Origin/Ancestry

Radiotropha

Lifespan

5 - 6 years

Average Length

24 cm

Body Tint, Colouring and Marking

Blood Raptors possess a counter-shading of dark and light grey with dull metallic sclerites.