Haven't posted a new idea in a LOOOOONG time. I hope this is a good one.
Name: Octohog (nonspecific latin Cephalopod Sciuridae)
size: ranges from 3 feet tall to 10 feet tall (in rare cases 20 feet tall)
threat: low-moderate
These creatures of the sea are a combination of an octopus and a groundhog, in both behavior, appearance and general uniquity, and despite the circulation of danger around the common beasts, these creatures are not as harmful as you think.
The Octohog is nocturnal, first off. It sleeps till evening after a full night before, before deciding to go out for food. It also sleeps in a hole it dug on it's own, usually underwater. When it emerges, a seafaring wanderer can usually make out it's features within the sand. It's main body is like that of an ordinary octopus, but on further inspection you'll notice a few key differences. It's mouth within the center of it's tentacles is more akin to that of a groundhog, bearing several teeth inside, though still having somewhat of a beak on it. Though these cephalopods lack suction cups, the make up for it by having small teeth that line their tentacles. At the tips of each of their limbs is a very sharp appendage that encompasses the whole tip. Basically, when it's 8 tentacles are combined, it forms one giant claw with eight claw tips, which can tear through even the hardest bedrock. This helps it much in it's day to day activities.
The diet of the Octohog is a meagre one. They will usually feed on small fish and on occasion minor land mammals such as squirrel like animals. Their favorite meal by far, though, is to feast on passing Arthronodes (AKA Electric crabs) that tread near their territory. Because 80% of their skin is composed of rubber like material, the arthronode makes a perfect meal for the Octohog, usually by cracking their shells open with their sharp tentacles and eating the meaty interior. Their rubbery skin protects them from the electricity these creatures normally put out.
The Octohog is a brooding beast of the deep oceans, but on rare occasions a land prone one as well. If they desire, they can store water in special membranes in their rubbery skin and leap onto land, using their claws to edge across the sandy portions of the beaches. They do this primarily when they plan to lay special hatchling eggs after regular cephalopod style mating seasons. They have an instinct that's set on the time of the tides, and can predict when the tide will fall in or flood the shores. They'll usually lay their eggs when the tide is out, then come back for them when the tide comes in. This serves a pivotal purpose for the newly hatched creatures for several reasons. They can't be hatched underwater right away because of the threat of predators, and when the creatures are born, their "tentacle claws" are sticky and weak. They must tread on the sand and have the sand stick to their tentacles in order to reinforce their strength, not to mention increase the mass and condensed sand in their claws. Once the miniature octohogs get used to the beach, they'll migrate to the sea and feed off large plankton before moving onto fish and other sources of food.
The Octohog itself doesn't make for good eating and predators are not advised to eat these creatures. It's tentacle claws and teeth are hard to get off while it's alive and will damage the throat if you aren't careful. Not to mention it's rubbery skin proves to be a hassle to chew, just for the meat inside. Though there are rumors of a certain dridder by the name of Myrah (by Tuc) that can make an excellent seafood soup out of boiling the octohog at high temperatures, which dissolves it's large claws and forms them into a natural sea salt. It's quite a dish and safe to consume. Removing the teeth beforehand is actually not very hard to do once the beast is subdued. Though the same could be said of all creatures.
About it's habits and habitat: The day of the Octohog begins in the evening and ends in the late morning. It hunts at night using precision night-vision eyes, making it the perfect predator in dark nights and deep waters. This is when it attacks arthronodes, fish, and any unfortunate meals it finds on the beach. To assess it's threat level, just remember that if you're bigger than the Octohog, you won't have much to worry about unless you tread into it's territory. It only feasts on creatures smaller than it or of it's same size. But should you perturb it, it will not hesitate to defend it's territory, or even it's own young.
Anyway, once it finishes it's feeding, it will find a place to stay for the day, usually a residence near the beaches, not too deep, but not too far in. It is here it will forcefully dig into the sands or even the bedrock if it needs to, using it's mighty tentacle tips. When it makes a hole about 10 feet in, or smaller/bigger accordingly, it will spit a water proof mucus from it's mouth and repeatedly pound it into the walls of the cave, to keep it from collapsing. It is here it will settle in and get some sleep for the day.
One last thing to note is that, along with it's innate ability to sense the tides, the Octohog can also sense the temperature outside thanks to their highly sensitive instinctual natural sensors, which are able to feel the heat even through their rubbery skin. In cold seasons, it will retreat to deeper waters and often hibernate in it's own cave for long periods. It won't usually come out unless it gets warmer or if it needs food, another similarity it has to the Earthly groundhogs. People can even set their predictions for the weather depending on if the Octohogs come out or not. Of course, since Felarya isn't as regular in these departments, predictions should be highly looked into.
That's what I've got. Please tell me what you think of it.
Subject: Octohogs 
Fri May 22, 2009 11:27 pm
