Iniopterygian

Class:Real, prehistoric fish
Hab: Marine
Fre: Uncommon
Num: 10-60 (small) / 2-7 large
Lair: 0%; nomadic
Size: 1 or two lbs smaller species / 20-30 lbs larger species
Move: Very fast swim, fast (but short) flights in air OR buoyant float-fliers
Def: Very tough hide studded with denticles (tooth-like scales)
Att: Vicious bite; even skin is as tooth-studded
Int: Low beast but cunning pack-hunters
Spec: Real-world gliding sharks! + a true flyer extrapolation
Posns: Edible

Iniopterygians

SEE Ray Troll's illustrations at trollart.com. Quote, "The flying, whacked out fishies are Iniopterygians. They're an extinct order of shark-like critters described by Dr. Zangerl and Jerry Chase. They look like thorny little shark mouseketeers from hell." Indeed.

Inioptergian sport large side fins just behind the head; they are thought to have been able to soar, rather like flying fish. I imagine the smaller species as rat-sized pack-hunters, and imagine larger, dog-sized species as well.

Iniopterygins as Float-Flyers

Iniopterygins might also utilize Buoyant Blubber Blastula (which SEE) to become float-fliers; these might develop air-breathing capability. Such float-fliers are especially well suited to cruising about the shores of islands, launching themselves from the waves to scout out the land. Islands may not be large enough to support a population of major predators, and most oceanic predators cannot get prey on land. As float-fliers, the iniopterygins can launch attacks from the sea.

SEE also Piranhakeets and Fish, Air-Breathing, General

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Apr 4, 2006