Arviq Ecology

This page lists all ecological information about Arviq from every Monster Hunter fangame it has appeared in as well as outside information.

## In-Game Information

Aggressive fanged beasts of the warm currents, the Arviq will hound and squeal at both monsters and hunters alike, charging them down and ripping them asunder with their horrible snaggle-toothed jaws. It is best to avoid when one can, so face them at ones own risk.

## Taxonomy

* Order: Artiodactyla
* Suborder: Flipper
* Family: Arviq
* Species: Arviq

A large marine mammal characterised for its innumerable similarities to the Brute Wyvern Deviljho, their aggression and ability to shred prey knows little bounds.

## Habitat Range

Able to live in shallow waters and out in the open ocean, with the only apparent restriction in their range being from freshwater habitats and more polar regions, save the Frost Islands, warm enough to house them and prey they would prefer to seek out. They are more commonly sighted in areas of the Deserted Island and Great Sea.

## Ecological Niche

Where their distant relatives, the Arluqs, hold title as top dogs, Arviq are oft considered the jackals of the ocean. Generally faster and somehow aggressive enough to tackle the largest creatures in the ocean, they don't spend too long in a single area, always on the move. While they are capable of capturing smaller game, just as squid and fish using their snaggletoothed jaws to catch them, the double-function purpose of using their gnarly maws comes in handy for their preferred prey options, the titans of the ocean. Using their terrible dentures to sheer off flesh from still living prey before retreating, Arviq hunt in small pods, swarming large creatures such as whales, Arluqs, Arfeq, Lagiacrus, Ceadeus, Royal Ludroth and Monksnail as they take bites out of them. Due to their smaller size however, these predators still find themselves made meals by even the monster they tackle for their own dinner, like the Lagiacrus, Arluqs and Nakarkos.

## Biological Adaptations

The Arviq share similarities with various creatures, both aquatic and terrestrial, such as a Ceadeus's serpentine body plan, which is quite effective in and around reefs, lagoons and the atolls they frequent when not on the chase of larger prey. Although with their size it may appear cumbersome, the Arviq are very flexible and as such, are capable of whirling around quickly to see attack anything beneath them. They are also fairly streamline, able to maintain high speeds without tiring.

The snaggletoothed jaws of a Deviljho are also fairly recognizable on the Arviq too, these large dolphins have around a hundred teeth grow outward throughout their life. While useful for catching small, slippery prey with their long, surprisingly dexterous beaks, its more often the young Arviq that find such uses, as the larger adults receive more rewards in using those terrible teeth to sheer off chunks of flesh from large/larger creatures. Combined with their speed, it allows a hasty retreat once claiming their prize.

Their bodies in areas are covered in hard, bony protrusions, mainly around the flippers and beneath the eyes. While one could say they hold a similar use as the monster's spikes, which are grown out of the front of their spine and their dorsal fin, and even on the paddles themselves, these osteoderms serve a more offensive use than the spikes defence. Mainly against other Arviq if such altercations do occur, since they'd rather use their teeth for hunting than intraspecific conflict, they with bludgeon opponents with their flippers until one submits. These paddles however are still used in hunting too if they are required.

## Behavior

Aggressive yet smart, these social cetaceans of the carnivorous side are regarded as the jackals of the sea, in comparison with their larger distant relative's as the Man O' War, the Arluq. While capable of hunting anything from small fish and Ludroth, to the small but defensive pods of Arfeq, they prefer to tackle creatures of truly immense sizes. From the aforementioned Arluq to fully grown Lagiacrus, their main tactic to rush in, sheer off pieces of flesh from the creature they're attacking with their horrid teeth, and then swim away as fast as they strike. They know not to pick fights when it would spell their doom if they did such. Their sociability comes in the form of their pods, with their being at least 2 Arviq in any group, their fellow dolphin are perhaps the only creatures in the sea they aren't immediately hostile to.