Post by Lyrikitty on Nov 20, 2008 22:08:25 GMT -5
Bigmouths - these are large -- very large -- fish analogous to Terran basking sharks, feeding on the tiny creatures that drift freely in the waters of Pern's oceans by straining them out of the water using fine gillrakes. Several species of bigmouth, generally smaller than those of the great oceans, are found in the Sea of Asov, where they are hunted by the locals. Not known for their intelligence, bigmouths give birth to live young rather than eggs and are valued meat animals. Bigmouths are usually drab brown or grey-blue in colour and have a horizontally flattened tail.
Bloodfish - primitive, heavily armored sea fish, bloodfish attach themselves to a host animal by sinking a long proboscis into its flesh and locking into a blood vessel from which it then feeds. All attached bloodfish are female -- for the first Turn of life the 'fish are free-living, feeding on smaller creatures and the eggs of other fish, and in this phase they are male, maturing quickly and mating with any attached adult female whose host brings them close. Hosts are selected because the bloodfish detects their body heat -- they do not discriminate between Pernese and Terran species, although a bloodfish feeding on a red-blooded host is quickly sterilized and cannot breed. To a small host, a bloodfish is a painful and dangerous parasite, but a larger creature such as a bigmouth or dimglow may barely notice
them.
Bonefish - large marine fish with bony nodules and scales embedded in its skin. Edible, it can easily break out of fishing nets and so much be caught using a strong line. The scales are often used in jewelry in Seaholds.
Cark - a dangerous, aggressive native fish common to southern seas.
Eels - like their Terran counterparts, Pernese eels are long,
sinuous fish that are highly regarded as food animals. They are found in both fresh and salt water and some species can grow to great size.
Fingerling - small minnow-like fish native to Pern.
Flatfish - fish that, as the name suggests, have a flat body form. Usually found hugging the sea floor, Pernese flatfish resemble Terran rays more than plaice or sole -- there are many species, the majority of which are important food fish.
Grabbers - an unusual group of fish, grabbers are one of the most important groups of marine carnivore. All have powerful, vertically flattened tails and two pairs of fins, one at the midpoint of the body, the other towards the rear. There are also a pair of front limbs adapted into grabbing claws not dissimilar to those of a tunnelsnake -- when not in use, these tuck into a streamlined pouch below and behind the formidably toothed mouth. When hunting, a grabber uses the claws to seize the prey, which may be a whole fish, or a chunk of an unwary larger creature. Some oceanic species can grow to huge size, those of the coastal regions are generally smaller but can be dangerous to humans as they lurk amongst the rocks, waiting for prey to pass by
Orangegills - small, numerous fish that live in huge schools,
feeding on smaller animals such as fliptails. Caught in nets, they are a valued food source in coastal holds; they are also frequently used as bait for larger fish.
Packtail - squat, bottom-dwelling sea fish with a thick fleshy tail and poisonous spines along its back. A valued food fish, although care must be taken in handling it.
Redbellies - large, meaty river fish that breed in the shallows of lakes, often migrating hundreds of miles to do so. Adults sometimes venture into salt water to feed, but always return to fresh in order to lay their eggs. An important food fish, especially during the breeding season when they are easily caught. They prefer colder waters.
Shipfish - also, dolphin. The people of our Pern, have only recently become aware of the dolphin's intelligence. (Some people still do not believe in it.) Dolphins, together with those of the Dolphineer raft, play a key role on Pern's seas. Usually beloved by Pernese, and are never fished. Note that "Shipfish" is considered insulting by the dolphins themselves, though it is still in wide use by those who are not in close contact with them.
Skimmers - large, flat sea fish that feed on small floating creatures by skimming them out of the water. Similar to the Terran manta ray.
Yellowfish - large, powerful deep sea fish, yellowfish travel in schools, feeding on smaller fish. Their meat is of a very high quality and much valued, although catching them takes skill as they can rip through most nets. In some places, schools passing close to shore are herded into inlets and butchered there.
Yellowstripe - a small, native fish with yellow racing stripes.
Yellowfins - a medium-sized native fish with bright yellow fins.
Yellowtail - a small, native fish with a yellow tail and dorsal stripe.
Bloodfish - primitive, heavily armored sea fish, bloodfish attach themselves to a host animal by sinking a long proboscis into its flesh and locking into a blood vessel from which it then feeds. All attached bloodfish are female -- for the first Turn of life the 'fish are free-living, feeding on smaller creatures and the eggs of other fish, and in this phase they are male, maturing quickly and mating with any attached adult female whose host brings them close. Hosts are selected because the bloodfish detects their body heat -- they do not discriminate between Pernese and Terran species, although a bloodfish feeding on a red-blooded host is quickly sterilized and cannot breed. To a small host, a bloodfish is a painful and dangerous parasite, but a larger creature such as a bigmouth or dimglow may barely notice
them.
Bonefish - large marine fish with bony nodules and scales embedded in its skin. Edible, it can easily break out of fishing nets and so much be caught using a strong line. The scales are often used in jewelry in Seaholds.
Cark - a dangerous, aggressive native fish common to southern seas.
Eels - like their Terran counterparts, Pernese eels are long,
sinuous fish that are highly regarded as food animals. They are found in both fresh and salt water and some species can grow to great size.
Fingerling - small minnow-like fish native to Pern.
Flatfish - fish that, as the name suggests, have a flat body form. Usually found hugging the sea floor, Pernese flatfish resemble Terran rays more than plaice or sole -- there are many species, the majority of which are important food fish.
Grabbers - an unusual group of fish, grabbers are one of the most important groups of marine carnivore. All have powerful, vertically flattened tails and two pairs of fins, one at the midpoint of the body, the other towards the rear. There are also a pair of front limbs adapted into grabbing claws not dissimilar to those of a tunnelsnake -- when not in use, these tuck into a streamlined pouch below and behind the formidably toothed mouth. When hunting, a grabber uses the claws to seize the prey, which may be a whole fish, or a chunk of an unwary larger creature. Some oceanic species can grow to huge size, those of the coastal regions are generally smaller but can be dangerous to humans as they lurk amongst the rocks, waiting for prey to pass by
Orangegills - small, numerous fish that live in huge schools,
feeding on smaller animals such as fliptails. Caught in nets, they are a valued food source in coastal holds; they are also frequently used as bait for larger fish.
Packtail - squat, bottom-dwelling sea fish with a thick fleshy tail and poisonous spines along its back. A valued food fish, although care must be taken in handling it.
Redbellies - large, meaty river fish that breed in the shallows of lakes, often migrating hundreds of miles to do so. Adults sometimes venture into salt water to feed, but always return to fresh in order to lay their eggs. An important food fish, especially during the breeding season when they are easily caught. They prefer colder waters.
Shipfish - also, dolphin. The people of our Pern, have only recently become aware of the dolphin's intelligence. (Some people still do not believe in it.) Dolphins, together with those of the Dolphineer raft, play a key role on Pern's seas. Usually beloved by Pernese, and are never fished. Note that "Shipfish" is considered insulting by the dolphins themselves, though it is still in wide use by those who are not in close contact with them.
Skimmers - large, flat sea fish that feed on small floating creatures by skimming them out of the water. Similar to the Terran manta ray.
Yellowfish - large, powerful deep sea fish, yellowfish travel in schools, feeding on smaller fish. Their meat is of a very high quality and much valued, although catching them takes skill as they can rip through most nets. In some places, schools passing close to shore are herded into inlets and butchered there.
Yellowstripe - a small, native fish with yellow racing stripes.
Yellowfins - a medium-sized native fish with bright yellow fins.
Yellowtail - a small, native fish with a yellow tail and dorsal stripe.