Genus Neodracodon

Genus Neodracodon are most well known for their odd, conical serrated teeth. Each tooth being serrated and spaced evenly within the mouth. These teeth are well adapted for sinking into flesh and holding any squirming prey in a tight hold. In addition to their odd dentition, they also have impressively large lungs, making them well adapted for going in deeper regions of the ocean. Like all hemots, members of Neodracodon have small eyes with matching poor eyesight. This poor eyesight is not a hindrance for them, however, as they spend a lot of their time in darker waters where light doesn’t reach far. To compensate for this lack of eyesight they have evolved long, sensitive barbels along their faces that are able to detect the waters around them. These barbels can sometimes even be seen as almost alien in appearance which, coupled with their preferred dark oceanic homes, makes them the subject to many folktales and lore. In addition to their appearance, the species of Neodracodon is an outlier amongst Pescanguids with their unconventional parental behaviours among pescanguids. Adult neodracodons will give birth in brackish waters that are more shallow, usually in the presence of other mothers. Upon being born, these pups are fully developed and capable of fending for themselves. The parents then leave and the pups will grow to become active predators to fish and small mammals within the areas. As they age, their diet, morphology, and behaviours change to fit the more oceanic lifestyles. This makes the Neodracodon genus a remarkably unique group of Cetophians.

Jarandizo (Neodracodon jakki)

The sharp precision teeth of the jarandizo makes the ideal weapon against fleshy prey. Oftentimes, jarandizos will be seen with scars from fighting large squids and smaller ammoteuthids. Despite the well organised teeth, jarandizo teeth are exceptionally large and impressive in length, making them incapable of fully closing their mouths. This has caused the jarandizo to evolve an advanced palatal valve that seals their throat from water going down it or air escaping, which enables them to swallow food underwater much like crocodiles and alligators. The inability of them to close their mouths all the way, also gives them a permanent grin, thus granting them the nickname “The Grinning Hemot”. Jarandizos stand as remarkable apex predators on the deep oceans with full adults ranging in sizes of 24-31m long, making them close in size and power to the leviathan hemot. The typical range of Jarandizos is in the Atlantic seas and during birth seasons, they will often find nursery bays to give birth to and then leave the newborns to grow and develop until the parent fleet passes by again where the surviving young will join the fleet. Mature juvenile jarandizos can be recognised when their bluish gray head becomes a pinkish red colour and the sensitive barbels on their face reach their full length. These barbels at full length mimic the appearance of giant squids, the most common prey for adult jarandizos. Because of increased human activity within the jarandizo nursing bays, many juveniles either don't make it to adulthood or become stunted in their growth due to overfishing, pollution, and poaching. Because of this, jarandizo populations are low and as of 2004, they have been declared endangered.

A few detailed depictions of the Jarandizo from various angles as well as a closeup of its teeth

Medusan Serpent (Neodracodon immotus)

Like many hemots of the genus Neodracodon, the medusan serpent is a formidable predator and much more active than its sister genus Balaenami. The medusan serpent also differs from its sister species as it is a patient, unmoving ambush hunter. Often lying motionless on the seabed of the oceanic plains with its broad, flattened maw open. The medusan serpent gets its name from Greecian explorers who observed these animals and saw their still, almost frozen bodies lying at the ocean bed. Coupled this with their slate grey, almost rocky appearance, led them to believe these animals were turned to stone by the fabled Medusa in an attempt to anger Poseidon. But the animals are merely impressive ambush hunters capable of holding their breath for shockingly long periods of time. Medusans typically average between 10-15m (32-49ft) in length and many adults spend their time on the seabed waiting for prey to approach them to allow for a strike. Despite being called a serpent, they are much more crocodilian in appearance with their long pointed jaws, but they are unmistakable hemots by their size alone. In addition to their size, medusans also posses large back spines that protrude from their upper back. These spines are leftover from juvenile medusans who require appropriate defense from predation that they retain into adulthood for camouflage and sexual display.

A few detailed depictions of the Medusan Serpent from various angles

Neptune (Puerto Rican Hemot) (Neodracodon magnapetrami)

Named after the Roman god of the sea, the neptune is worthy of its name both because of their sizes that range from 15- 20 m (50-65 ft) and their weights of 50 tons (98,856 pounds) for males and 22 tons (45,000 pounds) for females. Physically, the neptune is more compact and bulky compared to the other toothed hemots and are adorned with vibrant blue bodies streaked with lighter shades of blue that resemble waves or wavy lines, although older males are seen with white heads. One thing that has made neptunes spectacles to observe in the wild are their powerful mating displays and territorial battles. To help with this behaviour, the necks of neptunes are reinforced with thick skin and layered fat. The skin is bumpy, almost pebbled, to cause the most damage during their confrontations. These displays of raw strength and power are likely the origin of so many stories and legends of unimaginably sized sea monsters in fearsome battles striking fear into the hearts of many. The neptunes were so important to Roman explorers and travellers by sea that they were rumoured to be direct creations of neptune himself to test the worthiness of warriors who dared to cross his seas. With sizes and behaviours this impressive, it should be self evident to avoid these impressive animals as they are very dangerous and widely considered to have ferocity on par with that of a badger. Mating season consists of large groves of males and females that gather to observe and partake in the neck bashing. While most mating rituals in nature are merely for show, some can be permantly harmful or even fatal. This is the case for neptunes, as the display often can be bloody and dangerous with bites and bashes all around. These events can even last up to days until the females must migrate to their spawning grounds to give birth. After the mating season is over, many losers who didn't perish are often hunted or scavenged by surrounding animals who gather during these events for an easy meal. This includes animals like the atlantic neptune shark, which has been recorded feeding off of young or injured neptunes. Many shivers of these sharks are found following or tailing behind neptunes during mating season, and sometimes a neptune shark will spend the majority of its life tailing or staying near neptunes, making a uniquely parasitic symbiosis.

A few detailed depictions of the Neptune from a head closeup, to a full body, and then a territorial battle

Inanteotl (Basher Hemot) (Neodracodon salvaticus)

Named by the Aztecs, the name "Inanteotl" translates to "rock god" as the Aztecs believed the animal to be the pet of the Aztec goddess of water, Chalchiuhtlicue. Upon its discovery, they also found the deep gashes and scars left by the grip of ammoteuthids the animal had fought. They believed the ammoteuthids were demons that poisoned the waters Chalchiuhtlicue and her Inanteotl pets lived in. These animals would continue throughout history to be intertwined with being guardians of the sea and ferocious beasts, protecting the world from the ammoteuthids. During the time of oceanic exploration, explorers would tell tales of witnessing the inanteotl fight its ammoteuthid adversaries. And while folklore can go a long way in glorifying an animal or creating a mythos, most of the legends behind these animals are true. Inanteotls aren't the largest of the Neodracodon genus, but they are most definitely one the most ferocious of its genus, only being rivaled by the neptunes. But instead of aggresion amonst one another (which they do partake in), their aggressive behaviour comes from their fights with ammoteuthids in which they regularly hunt and feed on. They possess larger mouths with larger teeth than most in their genus, as well as what they're named after, their armoured faces which consists of thickened skulls and extra layers of fat, making their heads look almost swollen. The barbels on their face aren't exclusive to just their bottom jaws and face, as they encircle the head. This makes them almost have a mane around their head, thus making them look almost alien. The rest of their body remains a simple blackish gray colour. Juveniles appear vastly different from their adult counterparts with their barbels being positioned at the front of the face and in a uniform blue colour on their tops with white underbellies, as well as a smaller skull and much more lean body. Unfortunately, their odd appearance and historical reputation has made them targets for hunting. While not classified as endangered anymore as recent as 2007, their populations have not reached leels of comfortable stability.

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