Saber Squid

Somewhere in the open grasslands near what is today Tripoli Libya soaring from down from the sky a large male Teratorn-Blish (Mortemopteryx altivolus-soaring death wing) lands next to a watering hole to wash down the carrion of a Brute Grazer carcass a few miles away. A massive descendant of the Condor Blish with a massive Wingspan of 28 feet and taller than a man it is the largest of any living Blish and is approaching the size limit for how big flying Ichthyopterans can get as their bones are mostly light cartilage and have low levels of ossification similar to modern salmon and are lighter than other Actinopterygian and Mammal bones but not to the extent of flying Archosaurs.

At this large size Teratorn-Blish can easily dominate any carcass it comes across often standing on its hind limbs and flashing its crest and wings which look much more colorful to other Blish who can see 4 shades of color compared to our 3.

However, as it shambles down to the water, it steps to a large rock, and one of the creatures sleeping on it doesn’t take kindly to the fish standing too close to it

The Taratorn-Blish suddenly vaults off its wings into the air at the sight of golden brown running towards it, letting out a horrific sound that can only be described as an echoing belch. ttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ysnj54x0ZWs

Reminded why this time is known as “The age of invertebrates” Teratorn-Blish has encountered the killer of the Brute Grazer a bear-sized predator known as the Saber-Squid (Gladiuteuthis faociaperoter-sword squid that opens throats)

A descendant of the Twizzletooth the Saber Squid is a large apex predator of open grasslands the largest predatory Tera-Squid to evolve. Well, it is a social predator its groups are smaller than those of distantly related Scissormouths usually a mated pair and their female offspring, and are less coordinated in how they hunt relying on mobbing given their larger size. As assumed their larger size means their prey is no longer the Cephalopes that Scissormouths pursue. Saber Squid are now primarily hunters of the Brute Grazers.

Adult Brute Grazers are aggressive and are difficult for even groups to bring down relying on stabbing some part of the respiratory system whether that be the lungs or the throat with their characteristic sabers on the bottom beak. Of course, to effectively kill an animal the size of an elephant this way requires its prey to already be subdued. Saber Squid are thus heavier set than other predatory Terra-Squids to wrestle Brute Grazers their front first two pairs of tentacles are shortened to help them maintain a grip around the prey's shoulder. The tips of their beaks are rich in enamel giving them a red tinge and further aiding in their stabbing and slicing capabilities. Fortunately for the Brute Grazers, they're so big that even one can feed an entire family of Saber Squid for a week so even with their relatively slow rate of reproduction and long generation periods their population is unaffected by attacks from their enemies piercing saber-toothed beak.