The Southern Ocean
The waters bordering Antarctica, New Zealand, Argentina, South Africa and Southern Australia have a wide array of strange and aggressive creatures.
Bloop. Notorious for its extremely loud, penetrating calls, which can be heard a great distance away. Also very notable for being the largest and heaviest animal of all time. The vocal apparatus allows it to make louder calls than any other animal, which this solitary whale uses to proclaim its territory and attract mates. A member of a distinct lineage of beaked whales, it supplements its diet of large deep-sea squid with great mouthfuls of krill strained with its interlocking, notched teeth. Ziphiidae incertae sedis. 50 meters long maximum, up to 250 tonnes.
Penry's Creature. A very large species of swimming Nudibranch, found mostly in the waters around South Africa and adjacent areas. Can become swollen with water as a defensive mechanism, if harassed by predators. 40 centimeters long maximum, weight un-recorded. Nudibranchia incertae sedis.
Southern Walrus. This sub-Antarctic beast, though closely resembling the Walrus, is actually a kind of archaic whale. Differing by being a nomadic species that mates in the water, it calves singly on secluded beaches such as those of the southern tip of New Zealand, the sub-Antarctic islands, and the islands in the strait of Magellan. Though possessing the tusks, mustache and lips of a walrus, it tends to feed by sucking up slow-swimming fish and soft-bodied invertebrates, instead of bivalves. Maximum length 3.7 meters, weight around 1.4 tons. Protocetidae.
Marakihau, or Parata are common southern whales which are related to the Bottlenose Whale, they most commonly breed in New Zealand waters, the Maori hold them in some significance. They are deep-diving suction feeders, which have large muscular lips and a tongue which can fold into a tubular shape to suck in prey. 18 meters, 15 tons. Ziphiidae.
Te Ika-a-Maui is an enormous fish of the open ocean, most common in the South Pacific and the northern reaches of the Southern Ocean. It holds particular significance to the Maori people of New Zealand, as the North Island is said to be the remains of one of these fish, which was caught and killed by Maui himself. 18 meters long 10 tons. Scombridae.
Te Wheke-a-Muturangi, Taumata-Feʻe-Faʻatupu-Hau, Tumu-Raʻi-Fenua, an enormous octopus venerated as a guardian of navigation routes across the South Pacific, as far south as New Zealand. Being an inhabitant of shallow seafloors out to a depth of 100 meters, it preys on many types of crustaceans and fish, and will attack small boats. 20 meters arm-span, 8 tons. Octopodidae.
Orange-breasted Penguin, an elusive kind of large penguin which roosts along the coast of the South Island of New Zealand. Closely related to the king penguin, it surpasses both that species and the emperor in size, but is most distinctive for its strikingly marked orange chest, and small feathery head-crest. Behaviourally it differs from the king in its preference for somewhat less-polar waters of New Zealand, and its habit of sheltering in lee of rocky crags and in sea caves, as opposed to more open areas of the seashore. 150 centimetres long, up to 50 kilograms in weight. Spheniscidae.
Myall Lakes Monster, known mainly from the coastal estuaries and lagoons of southeastern Australia, being well known to range out into nearshore waters in search of food. A rare example of a giant marine amphibian, a Triassic holdover. 7.5 meters long maximum, 600 kilograms average weight, Trematosauroidea.
The Deception Bay Serpent is common along the southern and south-eastern coats of Australia, being an archaic whale that feeds on slow-swimming invertebrates and fish. Its short face and knobbly skin are distinctive. 8 meters long, 6.5 tons. Basilosauridae.
Ningen are infamous creatures of ill omen to whalers, who view it as a vengeful whale-spirit. These whales are most often pure white, and are found mainly in Antarctic and subantarctic waters. When viewed near the surface they appear as a ghostly white shadow upon the darker waters below. 22 meters long, 45 tons. Balaenopteridae, very similar to Megaptera.
Antarctic Godzilla, Nankyoku no daikaijū, Kabagon. An enormous, deep-diving, blubbery kind of Archaeocete found commonly around Antarctica. This huge beast has been spied on numerous occasions by whaling vessels, most notably Japanese ones, that remark on its size. Indeed, it rivals that of almost any other whale. 27 meters long, 100 tons maximum. Basilosauridae.
Antarctic High-finned Whale, this large relative of the Pilot Whale and Orca is relatively shy and perfectly harmless. It prefers sub-antarctic waters where it hunts predominately for squid and shoaling fish, the tall dorsal fin is characteristic. 9 meters long, 10 tons, Delphinidae.
Southern Narwhals are in fact neither tusked nor true narwhals. They are a large porpoise which have a sword-like projection coming from their chin, which allows them to feed on bottom-dwelling prey. 3.5 meters long, 400 kilograms. Phocoenidae.
Camahueto are large archaic ungulates which are amphibious. Found exclusively along the coasts of Argentina, south to the Falklands, they inhabit coastal waters and estuaries, feeding on aquatic plants such as reeds, kelp and seaweed. The cranial horn is larger in males, and can be used defensively. 3 meters long, 2.5 tons. Toxodontidae.
Carbuncle, Carbunculo, this bivalve is usually found boring into volcanic rock or hardened clay. Hard to find and extract, it is notable for having a bioluminescent organ inside its mantle, which can shine a bright white light when it is startled. It may also produce pearls of an uncommon lustre. 15cm long. Pholadidae.
Rhinoceros Dolphin, a kind of fair-sized dolphin, unusual in having a smaller second dorsal fin closer to the head. 3 meters long, 160 kilograms. Delphinidae.
Giglioli’s Whale is a type of baleen whale which is common in the waters off southern South America. They are notable for having 2 large dorsal fins which give a distinctive profile. They are mainly solitary, and wary of boats, which they usually flee. 18 meters long, 17 tons. Cetotheriidae.
