Carvanha Line
Morphs [Oak Catalog #]
- Carvanha [#318]
- Sharpedo [#319]
Carvanha are small, sharp-toothed fish with blue upper bodies, red lower-bodies, and yellow fins with a yellow plus shaped marking on their chins.
Sharpedo are larger, with size ranging from slightly larger than their pre-evolutions to the size of a small car. They have navy blue bodies with white undersides, four fins but no caudal fins. A large x-shaped marking on the tops of their heads, and a distinctive torpedo shaped body.
Notable Biology
The most noticeable thing about the Carvanha family is that they do not have a proper swim-bladder and cannot float in the water naturally. Instead, they produce large amounts of oil from their livers in order to float. This oil is extremely viscous and high in omega-3 fatty acids, and has been used in various products, from nutrition pills, to make-up, to lubricants.
In addition, the skin of the Carvanha and Sharpedo has a sandpaper-like consistency, and is made up of tiny spines that flow in one direction in order to make it more aqua-dynamic. Indeed, Sharpedo leather is considered the finest and most durable leather available, and is very valuable. However, these very same properties can make it very painful to touch a Carvanha or Sharpedo carelessly.
One exclusive feature of Sharpedo is that it has a special water bladder in place of a caudal fin. The Pokemon takes large amounts of water into the bladder and then jettisons it at high pressure from its backside with a special sphincter muscle, propelling the Pokemon at high speeds through the water at up to 75 m/h. This process can be reversed and used to fire high-pressure water blasts from its mouth.
Habitat
Carvanha are almost exclusively fresh water creatures, preferring large rivers. Some sub-species of Sharpedo also live in fresh water, though most live in reefs, the open ocean, and occasionally in the deep sea.
Diet
As the name implies, Carvanha are entirely carnivorous, feeding mostly off of small fish. Nevertheless, legends have persisted that a group of Carvanha can, and will, strip the carcass of a Tauros (or even a human) to a skeleton in seconds. Reports have confirmed cases of this, but they are extremely rare and only occur when food supplies are very low.
Sharpedo, on the other hand, feed off larger fish, and open-ocean species (by far the largest) eat large marine animals. Seel and Dewgong are preferred choices.
Hazards
Though Sharpedo attacks DO occur, they are very rare (approx: 1 per year) and are usually because of humans provoking them or looking like a drowning Seel. Despite this it is wise to keep a healthy distance with the creature in the wild.
Sharpedo are not, despite popular opinion, as aggressive as they look and will not attack unless provoked. Carvanha, on the other hand, are very territorial and must be approached with caution.
Both morphs have extreme jaw strength, capable of tearing through metal, boat hulls, and human limbs with ease. Trainers are advised to proceed with extreme caution.
Courting
Sharpedo do not have a set mating schedule and breed at random. After conception, the female Sharpedo swims to fresh-water and drops off an egg-sac called a Mermaid's Purse near the shallows. These sacs can contain anywhere from 5 to 20 Carvanha. After hatching the Carvanha swim up-stream and live in fresh water until they evolve.
Social Structure
Carvanha tend to travel in disorganized swarms of about 10 to 25, to better catch larger prey. Sharpedo are generally solitary, but there are some sub species that travel in large schools.
In Human Culture
Both members of the evolutionary line have been reviled and feared by humans for their reputation as ruthless predators. Many horror movies have them as antagonists, though only one about a killer Sharpedo ever met with critical acclaim.
Credits
Original entry written by Neo_Crimson of The Pokedex Extended Fanon Edition. Carvanha, Sharpedo, Pokemon, and all related terms, characters, and productions are the property of Gamefreak and Nintendo.
