Slaughterfish
These massive river fish have long jaws full of razor sharp teeth. Their predatory drive is intense enough that they’ll even attack people.
Aging
0-1: Fry
1-100: Juvenile
100-500: Adult
Average Lifespan: 500 years
Diet
Slaughterfish are carnivorous. Their diet consists of whatever they can catch; smaller fish, birds, small mammals, amphibians—larger slaughterfish can even take down cows, deer, and people. Merfolk and their kin have an easier time managing these beasts, and are less likely to be targeted by slaughterfish as food.
Credit goes to Kila for writing
Appearance
Slaughterfish, when fully mature, can grow up to twenty feet in length. Their long bodies are covered in dark greenish scales, with pale underbellies. They have numerous fins along their bodies, many of which have razor sharp spurs.
Their jaws are what makes the slaughterfish truly fierce. Their jaws are massive, long, and filled with long glass-like teeth. Once they grip their prey, they thrash, shredding flesh into ribbons.
Abilities
Slaughterfish are fast creatures, and are known for stalking their prey during the day, and ambushing them at night. They hunt in all hours of the day. Their vision is very sharp for a fish, and their keen sense of smell aids them in following their prey.
They’re very tenacious beasts, and are fuelled by aggression. Many will go after prey larger than themselves, ignoring the risk to themselves. The promise of a meal is too tempting.
Culture
Slaughterfish are solitary by nature, and only school in large groups during breeding season. Males fight for females in deadly matches, ensuring that only the strongest males pass on their genes.
The fry are vulnerable, and begin their lives tiny and frail. They hide among the reeds, eating insects, until they grow large enough to catch bigger prey. Cannibalism is not uncommon, which is why many never reach adulthood. Those that do are the strongest and most cunning.
Merfolk have taken to keeping slaughterfish as pets. They’re intelligent enough to be trained, and make excellent guards.