Sand-sharks
mutuibarando (moo-tooee-bar-an-doe) in the old language
Sand-sharks are large predators who are one of the few species to live in the Quouribi desert. They are dangerous and tough and will eat just about any organic material they can find. They are functionally blind, not having any external optical organs, but are quite sensitive to vibrations and noise and can detect the heartbeat of its prey up to 300 meters away, while under the sands of The Desert of Quouribi.
Sand-sharks are solitary predators and quite nomadic, roaming long distances around the desert in search of food, only coming together to breed twice yearly. Males will compete over females if more than one male is drawn to a female's presence. From what is currently known about these monsters of the most arid place on Rit, they do not form pairs and meet only to fertilize the females eggs before going their separate ways. Pups are born about 6 months later in litters of 2 to 5 and they have been known to eat each other within a day of being birthed, leaving only the 1 or 2 strongest left. It is not known how the birth takes place in the desiccant sands of the Quouribi and it is not known if the pups suckle milk or have to fend for their own food from day one. It is strongly suspected that pups often eat their birth mothers as well if she is not strong enough to stave them off or provide them with enough food to keep them satisfied.
The male and female sharks find each other for mating purposes by using a strong infrasound broadcast from within their chests, like a drum booming under the sand, it can be heard miles away. Each shark has its own frequency and pattern of sound and male and female sounds are distinct from each other. These sounds do seem to be used mainly for finding each other to propagate the species, but have been heard outside of the mating seasons.
Not enough research has been done due to the extreme conditions of the region to make any guess at the meanings of the patterns or frequencies, if there even are meanings to them.
The Qoitiken have documented these sounds during their hunts and say that on great occasion, a number of sharks will react to groups of Qoitiken on the hunt and can communicate well enough to coordinate attacks and avoidance of hunting parties. The conventional wisdom of the Qoitiken is to quickly and silently depart the area with speed when these behaviors are observed, as in the past, entire hunting parties have been killed by coordinating groups of sand-sharks.
Geographic Distribution
Read more in the books "The Minds of Gods and Demons" beginning with the first book,
I like how these seem very shark-like (the pups eating each other), and yet clearly adapted for the new environment of living in the desert. I also enjoy how people have had had difficulty reaching them. Based on the way the communicate, I wonder if they hunt similar to the sandworms in Dune--by feeling the vibrations of their prey. I'd also like to know more about their grouping habits. It sounds like they are usual loners, and don't even form familial groups, but they also sometimes hunt in packs. I want to know what causes the shift from isolation to teamwork.
Thank you! Glad to know the article inspired curiosity! I should have linked the article on the First Hunt of the Qoitiken. Explains a bit more, but this article will be expanded after the 26th of August. https://www.worldanvil.com/w/the-minds-of-gods-and-demons-kbignell/a/first-hunt-of-the-qoitiken-ritual They do hunt like the Sandworms, using vibration, they can also smell moisture from far away. They don't often group together, but large vibrations will bring many together to in a feeding frenzy.