Zhoam

A non-sophont animal native to Akiva.

These aquatic animals are 12 metre long predators. They are known for being extremely vicious, killing other vertebrates over twice their size.

They have earned themselves the nickname of Coven Fish due to their schools always consisting of 13 adults.

Zhoam can take several hours to die out of water. Beached Zhoam are still dangerous.

Reproduction

Those Zhoam not culled by the Scanians as food live for 25 cycles. When they reach that age they head for Immortality Bay, where they ground themselves on the beach. They then lay their eggs and die. The bones of the Zhoam contain an extremely powerful enzyme which is only released as the bones start to decay. This enzyme seeps into the sand and activates the eggs, which will hatch into worm-like young.

Uses

Zhoam blue plate with Bawyati kebabs and Haurm garnish is a famed Scanian delicacy. Zhoam Steaks with a fresh Sketra salad is another favourite.

Scientists have discovered that the Zhoam reproductive enzyme is an extremely powerful growth agent suitable for use on many species. However, the Akiva government has refused exploitation of Immortality Bay's reserve on the grounds that this might lead to the eventual extinction of the species.

References & Contributors (Sources)

This list of sources was used by the Traveller Wiki Editorial Team and individual contributors to compose this article. Copyrighted material is used under license from Mongoose Publishing or by permission of the author. The page history lists all of the contributions.

• Jae Campbell, Leighton Piper. "Port of Call: Akiva." Signal-GK 01 (1989): 11-18. via HIWG
• Jae Campbell. Encyclopaedia Dagudashaag (Signal-GK, 2017), 16.