| Class: | Realistic Beast |
| Hab: | Rivers, estuaries, swamps, wetlands, mudflats |
| Fre: | Rare |
| Num: | 2-12 |
| Lair: | 70% territorial, 30% roaming; all snoozing 90% of the time |
| Size: | 20-40' long |
| Move: | Fast swim or wriggle in water, through mud, or on land |
| Def: | Extremely tough hide studded with tooth-hard denticles |
| Att: | Crushing leap, bite = marine shark of similar size |
| Int: | Minimal; instinct-driven |
| Spec: | Aggressive / harmless species indistinguishable; woken by scent of prey |
| Posns: | Meat, hides, large teeth for blades & charms |
Largest of the wriggler class of Land Sharks, which SEE, the marsh mauler is equally deadly on land or in the murk. A favorite tactic is to lay in ambush, immersed in and concealed by shallow much or dark water, tail coiled below for a sudden surprise attack on any prey which may wander near the water's edge. Marsh maulers are common where roads wend through marsh, in slow water by fords, or near the ends of bridges.
Very similar to the Swamp Shark, which SEE, the marsh mauler is considered a wriggler class land shark because its amphibious nature, able to breath in water or air, and speed on land differentiates it from the similar but aquatic Swamp Shark, which SEE, and lack of burrowing ability differentiates it from the sand swimmer class of land sharks.
While it is amphibious, due to their great size, marsh maulers cannot sustain very vigorous activity on land for very long if it is in an arid area and exerting itself strenuously; in a humid area or when calm, it can breath air and sustain a lower energy activity indefinitely. This is one reason they prefer to hide for a surprise pounce, maximizing the damage of their crushing charge. Even if prey escapes, the mauler will likely have carved out a satisfying meal, its great jaws shearing off entire limbs at each bite. Even lesser shark-inflicted wounds are gaping bite and slow to heal.
Marsh maulers may live in the same areas as Susu River Dolphins, which SEE. They employ similar tactics. They are fierce competitors, and each prey upon the other when the opportunity of clearly superior numbers presents itself.
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