Art by Tortoiseman
Arrowfish (longomandibulidae) are a family descended from needlefish. They can be found all over the world in the open ocean. After the extinctions of swordfish, marlins, and barracudas, the needlefish took their place. They usually range from 5-10 feet in length and have a countershaded color pattern. One unique attribute about them is that their flesh, bones, blood, and teeth are green. The green pigmentation of their insides is due to biliverdin, a product of hemoglobin that helps them fight disease and parasites. Biliverdin is also an antioxidant, so it prevents cellular breakdown in the arrowfish.
To catch prey, they have an extended lower jaw with a sharp tip. They open their mouth and slash small fish with the lower jaw, either cutting them and or knocking them off balance. Sometimes they work together for some hunts. They take turns herding fish together and eating. In order to corral, they flash their dorsal fin. Their dorsal and anal fins have moved farther up on the body and the tail has gotten longer and muscular. Arrowfish can jet up to 60 mph in short bursts while hunting.
Arrowfish spawn once a year and lay strings of thousands of tiny eggs in the stormraft fleets. They can reach maturity within one to two years given they survive their planktonic larval stage.