Kaigian Water Nymph
| Kaigian Water Nymph | |
|---|---|
| Base Information | |
| Classification | Omnivore/Hunter |
| Terrain | Aquatic then Near Sessile in Shallows |
| Locomotion | Swimming |
| Size | 500kg (3,000kg) |
| Speed | fast swimmer 2 (twice normal human speed), eventually much slower |
| Strength | very strong, can carry twice their mass |
| Social Structure | hunting pods of less than 100 individuals |
| Weapons | teeth and claws, then trashers |
| Armor | cloth then battledress+3 |
| Source | |
| Homeworld | Kaig (Magyar 0413) |
| Multi-world | No |
| Canon | No |
| Extinct | Extant |
| Reference | Author: Ronald B. Kline, Jr. |
This is a non-intelligent creature native to Kaig (world) (A6AA758-E) in the Nemo Subsector of the Magyar Sector. They dwell in aquatic habitats from pole to pole over a global migratory hunting range. This species experiences a significant metamorphosis over the course of its lifespan.
Kaigian Water Nymph (Creature) Physiology & Ecology[edit]
They have a long muscular body up to 8 m long. They are poikilothermic. The six fold radially symmetrical mouth is lined with sharp teeth in the powerful jaws.
They have an internal skeleton based on a flexible cellulose analog glycoprotein. Thickened cell walls merge to create non cellular integumentary covering and the internal framework and muscle anchoring points.
Nymph (Ecology) Environment[edit]
This moonless world lacks tides and has a small axial tilt. The climates are less differentiated and the seasonal variations are nearly nonexistent. This facilitates their large range. The size of the global waves, the severity of the huge storm systems and the strength of the elaborate current systems do play a role in their ecosystem.
Nymph (Physiology) Locomotion & Manipulation[edit]
There are two powerful arms with six radially arranged webbed claws for swimming and food acquisition. They are mainly propelled through the water by their four long powerful tail fins. Their smooth slippery skin has glands that produce a mucous like coating that dramatically lowers their frictional coefficient in the water. They move so efficiently, despite their size, they are near silent in the water while stalking prey. Their design produces little cavitation.
Nymph (Physiology) Senses[edit]
They have embedded dermal bio-electrical acoustical transducers which allow for very precise sonar targeting solutions on prey items. Their entire dermis is a highly sensitive tactile sensor net and can perceive small pressure changes at range. Due to their highly functional senses, they are effective hunters regardless of lighting conditions.
Kaigian Water Nymph (Creature) Life Cycle & Reproduction[edit]
They have a single gender. There is small variations between generations and the genome is highly conserved over evolutionary time.
Life Stage 1. (Infant) Planktonic Nymphs[edit]
They produce huge numbers of free swimming zoo-planktonic live young which are virtually genetic copies of the adults.
Life Stage 2. (Juvenile) Piscine Nymphs[edit]
The 1.0 kg juveniles who have survived their planktonic existence congregate around Protector Nymphs, the mature Stage 5 life stage of the Kaigian Water Nymph. They shelter under their protection and help lure in prey items. They clean up the scraps from feeding events. As the juveniles grow they range farther from the shallows and eventually leave altogether to hunt larger prey in the depths.
Life Stage 3. (Young Adult) Hunter Nymphs[edit]
Once they reach 'full size' (8m long 500kg) after many local years of near continual growth, these heterotrophic consumers begin to change. They leave the deep water areas of the planet and congregate in the shallower areas of the world ocean. They move to hide and hunt more among the photosynthetic producers found in these regions. They switch in diet as well, consuming more "plant" life and switching to smaller, more numerous prey items. They are nearly pure carnivorous hunter/killers while in the adult free swimming stage and release young whenever their energetics permit. Their typical prey items, during this life phase, are huge aquatic grazers and filter feeders.
Life Stage 4. (Prime Adult) Ambush Nymphs[edit]
As their diet begins to include more "plant" life they begin to change in morphology. Internal anatomical changes facilitate their shifted physiology. The tail develops into a muscular four toed foot, anchor and hold-fast. The body begins to orient vertically in the water column instead of horizontal swimming. The integument thickens enormously until it is several cm thick and very dense. This thick cylindrical tube is a dramatic contrast from the long sleek free swimming stage. The arms bifurcate into twelve long tentacle like tubes each ending in a sharp claw remnant.
At the final stage they are 16 m tall and closely resemble the photosynthetic producers native to these shallow biomes. They mass 3,000kg and lie still, only gently swaying with the waves like the sessile organisms around them. However, when prey approaches they strike, their enormous strength allows their tentacled limbs the catch and squeeze the largest prey items. These are then maneuvered into position and lowered into the same six fold toothy maw to be digested internally.
The camouflaged ambush necessitates a wait and hide approach in stark contrast to the continuous motion of their hunting phase. Their metabolic rate slows, their thicker skin lowers some of their sensory acuity. The tentacles retain very sensitive vibration detecting abilities, but their sonar lacks some of its former range.
Life Stage 5. (Senescent Elder) Protector Nymphs[edit]
Few adults survive to fully morph into this finally larger stage. The massive protector stage is not reproductive and doesn't release young anymore. The protectors move within and protect from rivals, their smaller shallow territorial ranges but don't venture into the depths again.
Kaigian Water Nymph (Life Cycle) Table[edit]
Kaigian Water Nymph (Creature) Life Cycle Table Stage Name Appearance Age Mobility Primary Trophic Role Stage 1 Planktonic Nymphs Zooplankton-like Organisms Infant (Baby) Motile Omnivore/hunter Stage 2 Piscine Nymphs Fish-like Organisms Child (Juvenile) Motile Carnivore/chaser Stage 3 Hunter Nymphs Shark-like Organisms Young Adult (Adolescent) Motile Carnivore/chaser Stage 4 Ambush Nymphs Squid-like Organisms Adult (Reproductive Prime) Motile Carnivore/pouncer Stage 5 Protector Nymphs Giant Squid-like Organisms Senescent Adult (Elder) Motile Carnivore/pouncer
Kaigian Water Nymph (Creature) Diet & Trophics[edit]
Early explorers and colonists initially failed to recognize these radically different stages were members of the same species. The genetic coding shifts and gene frequency changes during latter mitotic cycles. The genes morph as the organism does.
Kaigian Water Nymph (Creature) History & Background (Dossier)[edit]
Despite biochemical differences these organisms are aggressive and will not hesitate to attack and ingest humans. The thick cell walls are indigestible to humans but the muscle like protein fibers are enzymatically available to human digestion with careful preparation.
Kaigian Water Nymph (Creature) TAS Advisory[edit]
Human deep, mixed gas divers are advised to avoid encounters with this species if possible. Locals produce a sensor that detects their hunter sonar frequencies and can alert of their approach. Many work crew assign over-watch guards and/or sentinel weapon systems to dissuade the aggressive hunting behaviors of the stage 3+ specimens.
Kaigian Water Nymph (Creature) References & Contributors (Sources)[edit]
- Author & Contributor: Lord (Marquis), Captain, and Lead Naval Architect Ronald B. Kline, Jr. of the Imperial Navy
- Contributor: Lord (Marquis) and Master of Sophontology Maksim-Smelchak of the Ministry of Science