FISH: ANGLERFISH
Original Animal Characteristics
Description: Anglerfish are bony fish, named for their characteristic mode of predation, wherein a fleshy filament from the fish's head (the esca) acts as a lure; this is considered analogous to angling. The filament is movable in all directions,
and the esca can be wiggled so as to resemble a prey animal, and thus to act as bait to lure other predators close enough for the anglerfish to devour them whole. The jaws are triggered in automatic reflex by contact with the tentacle.
Anglerfish are both pelagic and benthic fishes of the abyss and the continental shelf. Deep sea anglerfish live mainly in the oceans' aphotic zones, where the water is too deep for sufficient sunlight to penetrate for photosynthesis to occur,
therefore their predation relies on the esca being bioluminescent. Some species of angler fish are notable for extreme sexual dimorphism where the males are merely 10% of the size of females, producing a parasitic relationship where the male
attaches to and feeds off female's blood.
Size Level: Small Female Anglerfish: SL 2 Large Female Anglerfish SL 6 All Male Anglerfish SL1
Height: Small Females average about 4-10 inches (10-25 cm), Large Females can reach up to 6 feet (2 m). Males are approximately 10% of the adult female size.
Weight: Can get up to 60 pounds (27 kg) for large females.
Build: Long
Mutant Changes & Costs
Total BIO-E: Small Female: 75 Large Female: 55 Males: 80
Attribute Bonuses: +2 to M.E., +4 to P.S., Brute Strength
Human Features
Hands: 5 BIO-E for Partial hands at the end of the pectoral fins (applicable even with arms and hands).
10 BIO-E for full hands at the end of the pectoral fins (applicable even with arms and hands).
20 BIO-E for Extra Limbs; a set of fully developed arms and hands.
Biped: Automatically receives Partial Biped from highly modified, leg-like pectoral fins, or 5 BIO-E for Full Biped where the pectoral fins have developed into two legs.
Speech : 5 BIO-E for Partial or 10 BIO-E for Full.
Looks: None; Looks like a fish, however due to the wide range of species, the body can range from spherical to elongated and compressed (flatish). They generally have caudal fins, dorsal fins, anal fins, and pectoral fins. They may or may not
have adipose fins or pelvic fins. Coloring widely ranges, typically from a uniform black, brown or grey with no markings to complexly or multicolored pattens. The most notable features are the long filaments projecting from their head which
contains a bioluminescent lure known as an esca and a wide mouth full of long, pointed teeth, which extends all around the front of the head.
5 BIO-E for Partial; Rounded head with a flatish snout, large eyes on the side of the head, thick skin, short arms and legs.
10 BIO-E for Full; Rounded features, hairless, dark skin, fat looking.
Natural Weapons:
5 BIO-E for 2D4 damage Teeth.
15 BIO-E for Distending Jaws (The anglerfish is able to distend both its jaw and its stomach to enormous size, allowing it to swallow prey up to twice as large as its entire body. The teeth are angled inwards to prevent objects from escaping the
mouth.)
Mutant Animal Powers:
Automatically gets Breathing: Gills and Swimming: Basic
5 BIO-E for Advanced Smell (males only)
5 BIO-E for Nightvision
5 BIO-E for Hold Breath (in the air)
5 BIO-E for Lateral Line
5 BIO-E for Swimming: Master
10 BIO-E for Esca (bioluminescent lure)
10 BIO-E for Breathing: Lungs
10 BIO-E for Beastly Strength
10 BIO-E for Camouflage Pattern
15 BIO-E for Camouflage Flaps
20 BIO-E for Breathing: Dual Breathing
20 BIO-E for Crushing Strength
Vestigial Disadvantages:
-5 BIO-E for No Gills
-5 BIO-E for Colorblindness
-5 BIO-E for Nearsighted
-5 BIO-E for Webbed Hands and Feet
-5 BIO-E for Limited Buoyancy
-10 BIO-E for Light Sensitive
-10 BIO-E for Nocturnal
-10 BIO-E for Diet: Carnivore
-10 BIO-E for Reflexive Jaw (closes when Esca is touched)
-20 BIO-E for Dehydration: Extreme
-20 BIO-E for Diet: Parasitic Vampire (male only, attaches to and feeds off female's blood)
Notes: