Code Name: ‘Angler’
If it fits in its maw, it can and will eat it. “Anglers” have poor eyesight (compounded by their cloudy environments), so they rely on their bioluminescent growths as guides. Prey drawn to its front lure are swiftly eaten head-first, while those distracted by its tail are blindsided in a quick - often fatal - swipe before consumption. Its throat sack is capable of expanding up to five times its normal size.
Surprisingly, “Anglers” have two methods of hunting. Their routine involves either swimming near the bottom of a lake, or skimming the surface of a river. For surface-dwelling prey, “Anglers” can launch themselves with their powerful tails and arms.
Behavior: casual swimmer; ambush hunter; may surface to relax
Diet: anything drawn to its lures (typically fish or nocturnal animals)
Habitat: deep murky lakes or rivers
Intelligence: dull
Gills can breathe air as well as water.
Size comparison
Concept Evolution
2014-2016
2014: 'Angler' was initially designed during a college assignment. I wanted to fuse a crocodile with an angler fish.
A few more sketches where the atrophied legs appear. However, I was advised to remove them since the creature exclusively crawls on land with its front legs.
A finalized sketch for the assignment (left) that was later used for a digital painting in another class (right)
Apparently, 'Angler' was originally only 2 feet tall. I can't recall why.
I originally planned for 'Angler' to be pale white, but later opted for the color scheme seen in the biography.