Amnimorsu

**Social Behavior** | Social

> "*One moment they are frolicking together, the next it's a bloodbath.*"
>
>
>
>

**Amnimorsu** is a type of amphibious predatory fish, endemic to Mayar. These fish live in cooperative shoals of up to **20 individuals** that are related to each other and led by a breeding pair. The parents of any Amnimorsu group determine when hunts begin, when the shoal moves and where, and for how long they remain in a certain area. This is a sexually dimorphic species where males greatly exceed females in size.

Amnimorsu are most at home in water, and are only effective on land for short periods of time. They breathe through their skin which must remain moist in order to absorb oxygen, but they also possess a secondary respiratory surface on the lining of their mouths.

Though their most noticeable feature is their large, toothy maw, Amnimorsu are striking creatures, sporting a huge variety of colour combinations. Albinism and melanism do occur in Amnimorsu, but these individuals often do not make it to adulthood as standing out from their family unit makes them an immediate target for natural predators.

### Hunting and Diet

Amnimorsu are capable of targeting prey much larger than themselves. They will ordinarily pursue prey for long periods of time, on land or in water, until their target winds down or simply runs out of energy. The carnivorous fish then surround their prey and begin feeding on it, launching an overwhelming attack on all sides. The prey remains alive for large portions of the Amnimorsu's feeding frenzy.

The fish will consume all soft tissue, leaving behind a perfectly picked skeleton, although some instances of Amnimorsu consuming bone do exist.

### Breeding and Social Behaviour

Courting is a process spanning several days, where lone Amnimorsu males attempt to impress a female. This is a period of extreme volatility among males that often results in severe injury or even death.

Once a pairing is established, the male and female spend time carving out a territory, chasing off competing lone Amnimorsu, whether male or female, and building a nest where the female lays up to 500 eggs which are then fertilised by the male. A week later, if the clutch is successful, Amnimorsu fry will hatch.

A fry is vulnerable and nearly entirely dependent on its parents for guidance and protection. Though their growth rate is otherwise rapid, the Amnimorsu's highest mortality rate is recorded within the first month of the fry's life. Of the original clutch, only about 1% of the fry survive their first month. At 5 months the surviving offspring become juveniles, and they reach the subadult stage by 10 months. Around the 15 month mark Amnimorsu subadults that are unlikely to remain within the family unit exhibit more and more independent behaviour: feeding away from the family, venturing out on their own more often, and even getting into relatively harmless squabbles with siblings and parents. By the 18th month these individuals strike out on their own, looking for a mate with whom they will form their own shoal.

Amnimorsu are highly social beings, within the family unit, but notably also outside their own species as long as hunger isn't a concern. Interactions with non-Amnimorsu are, however, always high risk, unpredictable and may have dire consequences.