Sea Serpent

Sea serpents are the most common of the serpents, as their name indicates. Capable of adjusting to just about any body of water large enough to contain their bulk, they can be found in plenty of oceans, where they are among the apex predators. To sate their hunger, sea serpents don't just hunt, but also often extort or, if they feel like it, ally with other races for easy sustenance, often finding that smaller beings like merfolk make better aides than snacks.
Sea serpents engaged in combat prefer to wrap prey in their bodies, using their thicker slime to hold them in place while they squeeze the life out of them, biting off chunks if the target struggles. They hunt not only aquatic beings, but also occasionally beasts of the air, launching themselves out of the waves and dragging their prey down to drown.

Basic Information

Anatomy

Sea serpents have long bodies, covered in fine, grey-blue scales. A single long fin runs along their back with two relatively smaller fins on the side for steering and a large one at the end for propulsion. Their head is mostly one big mouth full pointed, backwards facing teeth, with an eye on both sides. They exude a slippery substance that makes them hard to grab, but unlike other serpents, this substance is more viscous and thus also aid the serpent in wrapping prey in their coils.

Genetics and Reproduction

Sea serpents mate through sexual intercourse. The female carries the egg in her for a while, before laying it in a secluded spot.

Growth Rate & Stages

Sea serpents are born ready to hunt and eat, though much smaller prey. The parents will usually keep an eye on them for the year or three, depending on circumstances, before letting the young serpent off to find their own path in life. The serpent will continue to grow until the day they die.

Ecology and Habitats

As the name implies, sea serpent live in the sea, where there's plenty of room for their large bulk.

Dietary Needs and Habits

Sea serpents are carnivores. As they grow, they slowly move up to consume larger and larger prey, eventually feeding on whales and other large forms of sea life.

Additional Information

Social Structure

Sea serpents are solitary beings who regard each other as competition. Mated pairs and childrearing are just about the only times sea serpents stay together for prolonged periods of time.

Geographic Origin and Distribution

Sea serpents are a semi-common species, but found on many spheres.

Average Intelligence

Sea serpents are sapient. They are observant and with decent memory, which they use to plan their hunts. They are still rather feral and most lack charm, preferring to get their way through threats of violence rather than diplomacy.

Perception and Sensory Capabilities

Sea serpents have decent senses of sight, smell and hearing.

Civilization and Culture

Naming Traditions

Like most serpent species, sea serpent names tend to be all over the place.

Scientific Name

Oceanus Anguilla

Lifespan

200 years

Average Weight

61-67 tons

Average Length

12-16 meters

Average Physique

Sea serpents have incredible physical strength capable of splintering ships in their coils as adults. They are hardy, capable of surviving grievous injuries, which is hard enough to inflict between their scales and tough flesh. They are also quite agile, moving with frightening grace for their size.