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Description

For the longest time, it was believed that all aquatic life on Tunjera became extinct years ago due to the high acidity of its lakes and oceans. This was proven untrue when the exploration of the Capital’s sewers brought the attention of several dozens of these creatures. The Sewer Akula was the first living marine organism found on Tunjera and the first of two species of Akulas to be thoroughly researched. Their survival in the sewers is thanks to their immunity to several toxins and pollutants, which is actually ingested by the animal to make its own flesh poisonous. Numerous generations later, they have adapted to survive exclusively in this vast maze of tunnels found underneath Tunjera’s massive city.

Normally, the 40-centimeter-long Sewer Akulas swim slowly in the sewers, making as little noise as possible while they navigate the flooded tunnels. They are not trying to hide from animals as they have no natural predators. They are actually making use of their hyper sensitive hearing, trying to listen for signs of potential food. In the sewers, there is very little to eat, but from time to time, animals of various sizes slip through the cracks of the street above and fall into the water. The Akulas can pick up the sounds and vibrations of a splash from several kilometers away. Rather than immediately swimming out to seek out the animal, they wait to hear the sound of thrashing. This means they won’t waste energy going after a pebble that was simply blown down a sewer hole by a strong wind.

When a helpless creature carelessly starts to thrash in the water trying to escape, all the Akulas within hearing range immediately turn towards the source and quickly swim towards it. Their water-drop shape makes them streamline and their thick tail provides them enormous thrust. They also have three fins with tubercles that reduce drag in the water but also enables them to make quick turns through the various 90 degree shaped corridors. These fins are also covered with pores sensitive to movement in the water that enable it calculate an animal’s size and strength. As entire shoals of Akulas start to zone in on the sane target, they form a large cluster strong enough to create waves. If the prey has not escaped the water yet, it won’t be long until it finds itself cornered.

Akulas ram themselves head first into their prey, partly to stun them, but also to maintain a grip thanks to its barbed curved protrusions that bend and clip into the prey’s flesh. Few animals are able to remove an Akula once it has hooked itself. As more and more of them latch onto it, the prey will either die of blood-loss from all the wounds or feel overwhelmed by the sudden extra weight and drown. Once the prey has stopped struggling, the Akulas reveals their proboscis that are normally curved within their armored heads and begins digestion.

Fun Facts

If one should ever fall into Akula infested sewers, the best chance of survival is to stand still until help arrives. They have very weak eyesight as the sewers are often too dark to make use of them and will only sense your presence if you panic.

Akulas may have either first been introduced into the sewers by swimming into sewer opening connecting to large bodies of water, or maybe even as pets of the Former Inhabitants that were flushed down toilets.

A Sewer Akula’s age can be determined by the severity of the bends at the base of its protrusions, indicating repeated ramming into prey.

Sewer Akulas have a surprisingly flexible skeleton, allowing them to squeeze through tight spaces, useful for entering new areas where prey maybe have fallen through.

Description

For the longest time, it was believed that all aquatic life on Tunjera became extinct years ago due to the high acidity of its lakes and oceans. This was proven untrue when the exploration of the Capital’s sewers brought the attention of several dozens of these creatures. The Sewer Akula was the first living marine organism found on Tunjera and the first of two species of Akulas to be thoroughly researched. Their survival in the sewers is thanks to their immunity to several toxins and pollutants, which is actually ingested by the animal to make its own flesh poisonous. Numerous generations later, they have adapted to survive exclusively in this vast maze of tunnels found underneath Tunjera’s massive city.

Normally, the 40-centimeter-long Sewer Akulas swim slowly in the sewers, making as little noise as possible while they navigate the flooded tunnels. They are not trying to hide from animals as they have no natural predators. They are actually making use of their hyper sensitive hearing, trying to listen for signs of potential food. In the sewers, there is very little to eat, but from time to time, animals of various sizes slip through the cracks of the street above and fall into the water. The Akulas can pick up the sounds and vibrations of a splash from several kilometers away. Rather than immediately swimming out to seek out the animal, they wait to hear the sound of thrashing. This means they won’t waste energy going after a pebble that was simply blown down a sewer hole by a strong wind.

When a helpless creature carelessly starts to thrash in the water trying to escape, all the Akulas within hearing range immediately turn towards the source and quickly swim towards it. Their water-drop shape makes them streamline and their thick tail provides them enormous thrust. They also have three fins with tubercles that reduce drag in the water but also enables them to make quick turns through the various 90 degree shaped corridors. These fins are also covered with pores sensitive to movement in the water that enable it calculate an animal’s size and strength. As entire shoals of Akulas start to zone in on the sane target, they form a large cluster strong enough to create waves. If the prey has not escaped the water yet, it won’t be long until it finds itself cornered.

Akulas ram themselves head first into their prey, partly to stun them, but also to maintain a grip thanks to its barbed curved protrusions that bend and clip into the prey’s flesh. Few animals are able to remove an Akula once it has hooked itself. As more and more of them latch onto it, the prey will either die of blood-loss from all the wounds or feel overwhelmed by the sudden extra weight and drown. Once the prey has stopped struggling, the Akulas reveals their proboscis that are normally curved within their armored heads and begins digestion.

Fun Facts

If one should ever fall into Akula infested sewers, the best chance of survival is to stand still until help arrives. They have very weak eyesight as the sewers are often too dark to make use of them and will only sense your presence if you panic.

Akulas may have either first been introduced into the sewers by swimming into sewer opening connecting to large bodies of water, or maybe even as pets of the Former Inhabitants that were flushed down toilets.

A Sewer Akula’s age can be determined by the severity of the bends at the base of its protrusions, indicating repeated ramming into prey.

Sewer Akulas have a surprisingly flexible skeleton, allowing them to squeeze through tight spaces, useful for entering new areas where prey maybe have fallen through.