Piranhakeets, various

Class:Beast
Hab: Damp woodlands, tropical to temperate
Fre: Common to rare, by setting; more common in fairylands
Num: 10-60 to 50-300, by variety
Lair: 20% (100% when resting)
Size: 6" to 6' by variety
Move: Quick, agile fliers
Def: Good dodge, light armoring scales
Att: Vicious nip; damage by variety and size
Int: Average Beast
Spec: Possibly
Posns: Incidental

Piranhakeets

Colourful as parrotfish, piranhakeet flit through the trees on colourful wings. They are not the ravenous, every-famished creatures stories make them out to be. Rather, they generally only swarm when they sent blood. When hungry, the flock disperses to comb through large areas of jungle. When one smells blood, or sees some creature that seems injured, it trills a call and the rest of the flock soon comes to investigate, observe, and feed.

In areas inhabited by piranhakeets, some plants have developed an unusual scent defense; they spray those who bruise them with blood-scented sticky sap, which attract piranhakeets. Some such plants even have air-sac pouches that can emit paranhakeet-like trills, summoning the flock.

Less dangerous "small-mouthed" varieties may be kept as highly ornamental pets.

SEE also Iniopterygians for ancient real-world fossil shark-like "flying fish"!

Black Ribbon Piranhakeet, "lesser" and "greater"

Class:Beast
Hab: Damp woodlands, tropical to temperate, or subterranean
Fre: Rare
Num: Lesser 10-60, greater 2-12
Lair: 80% (100% when resting)
Size: Lesser: 2', greater 6'-12'
Move: Good fliers, "lesser" is quicker, more agile, but "greater" can pursue far
Def: Lesser: quick, agile fliers; Greater good fliers, very tough hide, both slimy
Att: Very vicious nip; damage by variety and size
Int: Beast
Spec: Slimy skin causes most blows to glance off harmlessly
Posns: Incidental + very tasty flesh and marketable hide

Black Ribbon Piranhakeet, "lesser" and "greater"

The black ribbons are the eels of piranhakeets, clever, vicious, and slimy-sleek. The lesser black ribbons hide in thick foliate or among tangles roots, perhaps using some sort of lure to draw prey close. Then, lightning-quick, they swarm out and overwhelm. The great black ribbon uses the same tactics, but are so large that usually only a very few can work from a single source of concealment; the crowns of great trees and hollow logs are popular sites.

Both the lesser and greater black ribbon piranhakeets are also known to lourk in caverns, hiding in holes, behind boulders or stalactites, or even concealed under loose rubble.

The slimy skin of black ribbon piranhakeets causes most blows to glance off harmlessly.

Saffron-Scarlet Piranhakeet

Class:Beast
Hab: Damp woodlands, tropical to temperate
Fre: Common to rare, by setting
Num: 10-60 to 50-300, by variety
Lair: 20% (100% when resting)
Size: 4'-6'
Move: Quick, agile fliers
Def: Good dodge, light armoring scales
Att: Vicious nip; damage depends on variety and size
Int: Beast
Spec: May be domesticable
Posns: Incidental + very tasty flesh

Saffron-Scarlet Piranhakeet

Hot, vivid zebra stripes, edged in neon blue and dusted as if with golden saffron, would seem to make this fish too obvious to sneak up on prey, but as most prey is colorblind, they, along with its dagged fins, break up its outline, so the very patters which help the school coordinate also provide camouflage. Among the larger of piranhakeet species, the Saffron-Scarlet is a pack hunter, its strategies simple but effective.

Folk with special skills might be able to domesticate these to use as hunting hound-fish. A special background would be needed, as training fish is different from training mammals.

Verdigrised Guilder Piranhakeet

Class:Beast
Hab: Damp woodlands, tropical to warm temperate
Fre: Uncommon to rare, by setting
Num: 50-300, by variety
Lair: 90% (100% when resting)
Size: 2"
Move: Quick, very agile fliers
Def: Excellent dodge
Att: Vicious nip but tiny; only 1 pt damage each, but it adds up
Int: Simple beast
Spec: Somewhat trainable
Posns: Incidental + very tasty flesh

Verdigrised Guilder Piranhakeet

Beautifully patterned with a mottling of verdigris green over shimmering gold and flecked with red copper, theses glittering fish, like oversized coins, flash a warning to any who approach their trees. Otherwise, they prefer to hide among the foliage, using chameleon-like tongues to snap up insects. But, should any who might disturb their abode, lush with flowers and fruit, they will not hestite to swarm, their sharp nipping soon driving away all but the most determined.

While a plague to orchardists and most gardeners, Verdigrised Guildeer Piranhakeets may be cultivated in exotic gardens - especially where they serve to deter intruders. While not terribly bright, they can be trained, should someone with fish-training skills be willing to dedicate sufficient time. One minimal "trick" is to train the piranhakeets to associate a sound, such as a bell or whistle, with flocking to a certain place, usually by using the signal when food is presented in a platter away from any path. Thus, when signaled, the fish clear away, permitting passage.

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Apr 4, 2006