Triple Gill-Crested Hydra

Triple Gill-Crested Hydra
Base Information
Classification	Carnivore Hunter
Terrain	Marine and Coastal
Locomotion	Swimmer
Size	4-12m long, 600-1,800kg
Speed	Fast
Strength	Strong
Social Structure	Few, breeding trios and egg masses
Weapons	Teeth
Armor	Jack
Source
Homeworld	Kikuyu (Gushemege 2931)
Multi-world	No
Canon	No
Extinct	Extant
Reference	Non Canon

A tri-fold radially symmetrical amphibious carnivore from the polar marine and coastal habitats of Kikuyu. Adults vary from 600kg to 1,800kg and 4-12m in length. They have a smooth, glossy dermal layer with patterns of white and black coloration. Their white heads allow them to blend in with ice and snow, while their black bodies absorb heat and allow them to hide in shadows below the ice shelf.

Physiology & Ecology

Their bodies are a tapered torpedo shape with a long whip-like tail which seems like a macroscopic flagellum. It churns through the water in long, powerful spiral patterns, often disturbing bioluminescent microscopic plankton, which serve to warn observant natives of its approach. There are three heads arrayed equidistant around the anterior end. The prow is a fatty hemispherical dome over a delicate nerve cluster which serves as a passive acoustical sensor. Each head has a sharp, triple-bladed beak, three clusters of neon colored compound eyes, and is surmounted by a glorious red gill crest. These three fins, rich in vascular membranes, run the length of each head and neck. Their iron rich blood transports gases, hormones and metabolic wastes. The crests serve as fins and are anchored in dense muscle layers. The whole head and neck structures serve as directional diving planes for the high speed swimmer. They aid in directional propulsion in the water at speed, and serve as a gas exchange structure. If kept moist, these membranes can pull oxygen from the dense atmosphere above or below water. The necks are extremely flexible and can turn 270 degrees.

Life Cycle & Reproduction

There are three gender phases for this organism. An alpha of breeding size forms a trio with a hormone-receptive beta and an old brooder. The alpha and beta each copulate with the brooder, depositing half of the genetic compliment. These cells fertilize and collect within the womb of the older, more massive brooder. Alphas are 4m long and mass 600kg. The betas are slightly bigger. The brooders are 12m long and 1,800kg. The alphas stay in the area after the seasonal breeding event and help defend the nesting brooder. They hunt and bring back food items. The betas move off and grow larger; several cycles later they morph into a brooder. Brooders no longer produce reproductive cells but develop a breeding receptacle and attached womb. The brooders nest in long vertical shafts; they excavate these only after breeding. Within their womb, the fertilized eggs divide, differentiate and tissue specialize. Once the eggs have developed into an advanced, multi-cellular macroscopic organism capable of surviving outside the adult's body, an egg mass of well-developed embryos is delivered into the brooding shaft.

The brooder's diet at this time is supplemented by food items recovered by their alpha. The massive egg cluster is kept warm by their body. The egg mass moves and functions as a separate organism. This oozing, gelatinous blob can slide around and acts as a colonial decomposer/scavenger/reducer; they digest the carcasses left by the adults. They can break down the adults' excrement as well. Their bodies are kept fluid by a blend of glyco-proteins that act as natural anti-freeze. These cellular masses secrete corrosive digestive enzymes to allow phagocytotic absorption of the nutrients. This egg mass usually has to survive a few cycles of frost and hibernation before they are large enough to hatch. Eventually the membranes rupture, releasing tiny hunters into the icy waters to swim, feed and grow for many cycles. The brood egg masses prowl the ice near the brood shaft. They can reach 2m diameter and 50kg before they release the larvae into the water.

Diet & Trophics

The Hydra are poikilothermic heterotrophic consumers, they are an apex predator within their ecosystem. The alphas and betas are free-swimming carnivorous chasers who stalk and hunt amid the ice flows and along shore. Their white heads blend in with the ice and snow. They lunge from cover from below ice, snow and soil; this sudden eruption, followed by three biting heads, makes short work of unsuspecting prey items. The brooders dig their vertical pits and spring forth using their powerful tail.

The Hydra's three heads allow them to pounce and attack multiple targets at once, each head equipped with its own cluster of compound optical sensors. Any organisms that swim, fly or crawl are their prey. The only advantage is that they seldom work together. A breeding trio usually stakes out a territory big enough to feed them and their egg brood. The egg brood mass slimes about, decomposing any organic remains or waste it encounters.

History & Background (Dossier)

This is a vital tribal totem animal in the Icen Lands of Kaidor on Kikuyu.

TAS Advisory

These are deadly predators and should be avoided if at all possible. Trained hunters often fall victim, and amateurs should not be allowed anywhere near them.

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.

• Author & Contributor: Lord (Marquis), Captain, and Lead Naval Architect Ronald B. Kline, Jr. of the Imperial Navy