Glowfish
Glowfish are small aquatic creatures that inhabit the more warm and shallow waters of the Opalescent Sea. They're composed of a transparent membrane, long, thin tendrils, and glowing orbs. They have a thick, round membrane that contains lots of small, bioluminescent orbs. It's still unknown what the orbs are actually for. The tendrils are attached to the bottom of the membrane and help propel the glowfish through the water and capture small plants to eat. They're no bigger than a foot and a half long and six inches across. The inner orbs, if prepared properly, are a delicacy in many coastal villages.
Basic Information
Anatomy
Glowfish have no visible anatomical systems like a skeletal system or a nervous system, but they do have a pretty sturdy and thick membrane that contains lots of small orbs. The orbs are bioluminescent and can be a variety of different colors. It's not proven what the orbs are for, some theorize that they're eggs, while others believe that they act as the creature's brain. Connected to the bottom of the membrane are many thin tendrils the creature uses to move through the water. Two of the tendrils are longer and thicker than the rest and are used to help grab food and help them steer themselves through the water. Those two larger limbs are called their tentacles.
Growth Rate & Stages
Glowfish start life in an egg that looks very similar to the orbs in their membrane. They stay that way for about a month, then spend their next 6 months growing from an inch long to their full length of about 1.5 feet. It's unclear how long they live as adults, but the current estimate is about 100 years naturally.
Ecology and Habitats
There are two different kinds of glowfish, those that like the cold water, and those that like the warm water. The warmer water glowfish have thinner membranes, while the colder water glowfish have thicker membranes. The colder water glowfish stick around the northern shores while the warmer water glowfish hang around the southern coasts. No matter the climate, the glowfish swim around shallow water, no deeper than 30 feet deep.
Dietary Needs and Habits
Glowfish eat small plants exclusively. Their mouths are small and can’t fit many things into them. They either find floating plant particles to eat, or they can use their tentacles to grab small bits of kelp or other sea plants.
Additional Information
Uses, Products & Exploitation
Some people have taken to fishing for glowfish to sell to markets. The membrane and tendrils are inedible, but the tentacles and the inner orbs are considered a rare treat because of how hard they are to catch, and how few each fish contains. One glowfish is about one serving of food, so they're not eaten often.
Perception and Sensory Capabilities
Glowfish don't have a sense of sight, but they do have an enhanced sense of vibration. They can sense when something is moving near them, and how fast it's going. They feel around with their tentacles when things don't move, like the sea floor or a cavern. They don't have many nerve endings so they don't get hurt as easily when bumping into things, which happens quite often for the glowfish.
Scientific Name
Rutilan’s Gelata
Lifespan
100 years (estimated)
Average Weight
10 ounces
Average Length
1'6"
Geographic Distribution
Comments