MagiStream

No one is quite sure whether coronate leviathans and their close relatives the aphotic leviathans are fish, reptiles, or some combination of the two, but they're impressive animals regardless. At least, the females are impressive. Serpentine in shape with long, sharp teeth and a brilliant lure on her head, the female coronate leviathan can reach a hundred feet or more in length. The male, however, is rounder and typically only a few feet long when fully grown. While both male and female leviathans can deliver a nasty bite and use their lights to disorient prey, the females are by far the more aggressive of the two. The size difference means that a careless male could easily be eaten by a hungry female, so finding a mate is a dangerous affair for the males. They use their lights to charm a potential mate to win her favors, swimming in circles and fluttering their fins as a sort of dance. If he does a satisfactory job, the female will allow her to accompany her for a few days, though he must be careful not to linger too long or he might end up nurturing her eggs as an unintended meal.

The powerful coronate leviathans are difficult to spot in the kelp forests where they hunt, despite their large size. They are easily fast enough to catch food during the day, but their real prowess comes at night, when they use the glowing sacs along their bodies to attract unwary fish and larger creatures that eat them. When something large enough comes along, the leviathans contract and extend their phosphorescent sacs to create pulsating displays of light. The light disorients the larger creature so the leviathan can rush up and swallow it whole. They grow large enough to eat sharks, dolphins, and even other species of leviathans, making them a hazard to anyone exploring the shallow coasts. While they seldom attack ships, they have been known to prey on unlucky sailors who find themselves in the water after a shipwreck.

Sprite art: Lazuli | Description: PKGriffin