The Plank Leech

### Description

The Plank Leech is an alien-like creature that is known to attach to the bottom of wooden boats and the planks of shipwrecks. They use their large single eye to search for other pieces of wood while they are latched. Interestingly, this fish is somehow able to break up the fibers of wood grain within its digestive track. Old rumors say that experienced pirates would allow these to feed on their peg-legs as a display of confidence.

### Behavior

The Plank Leech have an almost entirely alien anatomy that appears to have been designed strictly for the purpose of consuming wood. Although confusing, it appears as though this species was specially developed to consume the surplus of wood currently in the ocean. The Plank Leech can often be found in what are now called "spectators". These spectators often consist of anywhere from 10-100 Plank Leeches depending on the presence of wood in the surrounding area. These spectators are often found on shipwrecks in the sunlight-twilight zone, and have been known to scare divers into drowning. Furthermore, because of their unique physiology, their eyes appear to either reflect light strongly, or generate light completely on their own through bioluminescence.

The Plank Leech is known to attach to larger fish such as the Filter Wing Whale and the Trash-Back Whale while they rise from lower depths in an attempt to enter a more desirable area for food. Unfortunately, this is often ineffective, and many Plank Leech's that leave their home shipwrecks perish.

### Anatomy

##### Mouth

The mouth of the plank leech is unique due to its ability to completely rotate on each level of its serrated teeth. This mouth, visible as a slit with 3 layers of serrated teeth appear to be able to protrude from the body to grind at the grain of the planks. Upon doing this, the mouth forms a vacuum, sucking in both water and the fibers from the plank. The excess water that is vacuumed is then disposed of through the larger gills to either side of it.

##### Body

The body of the Plank Leech is very similar to that of barnacles, being almost completely solid on the front-facing side thanks to calcium-like growths. The Plank Leech, contrary to its similarities with barnacles does not grow calcium growths on its underside, remaining vulnerable if ever removed from its plank.

##### Legs

The Plank Leech has 8 total legs, each with 3 joints, and a serrated claw on each leg. These serrated legs are what allow the Plank Leech to so firmly grasp on to planks. Despite the efficacy of these legs, while riding the Filter Wing Whale and the Trash-Back Whale, the Plank Leech uses the suction from their mouth to remain attached.

##### Eye

The eye of the Plank Leech is the most prominent part of their anatomy. This eye is eerily similar to a human eye, possessing muscles and eyelids that allow them to look in different directions and blink. The ability to close their eyes helps prevent them being noticed by predators capable of tearing them from their planks, while the ability to look different directions allows them to more effectively survey an area for food. Warranting even further intrigue, the Plank Leech is capable of generating flashlight-like light from their single eye. Although this process has never properly been broken down, it is hypothesized that the Plank Leech is capable of heating fibers in their eye to the point of generating light or capable of utilizing hyper-reactive forms of the normal bioluminescence chemicals.

##### Tail

The tail of the Plank Leech is completely unremarkable, only being used to direct where they move while descending, or if movement is absolutely necessary.

### Reproduction

When Plank Leeches mate, they mate strictly with other Plank Leeches on their current feeding area. Plank Leeches that have been caught during copulation have been found to crawl around on the area, finding the nearest mate of similar age and size before one mounts the other. Further investigation into the copulation process is necessary, as the sexual organs of the Plank Leech have been missing from all adult subjects found.