| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Species | Mango marrowbreach ("Marrowbreach shark") |
| Type | Mobile |
| Category | Predators |
| Attitude | Aggressive |
| Biomes | Shallows, Plateaus, Graveyard |
| Scan Tool | Bioscanner |
The Marrowbreach is a large predatory lifeform that can be found throughout the Coral Gardens region.
Appearance
The Marrowbreach has a somewhat shark-like body shape and a counter-shading colouration, with a black dorsal side and a pale blue underside. It has paired pectoral fins and a single, narrow dorsal fin from the tip of which grows a long, tubular projection with a slightly bulbous tip that appears to produce bioluminescence. The caudal fin is pointed and teardrop shaped in profile.
The dark dorsal side is adorned with a bright orange band on either side of the body, running from behind the upper jaw to the tail. Further orange patterning is present on top of the head, with transverse orange stripes running backwards from around the middle of the upper jaw and continuing to around halfway up the dorsal fin. Similar orange colouration is present on the pectoral fins.
The mouth of the Marrowbreach is lined by corneous tissue that forms a beak-like structure, though appears visually indistinct from the rest of the skin. The inside of the mouth is bright blue and contains pairs of long conical teeth positioned centrally, with a particularly large pair of backwards pointing fangs at the front.
The Marrowbreach possesses small blue eyes with black pupils which are unusually situated upon the lower jaw. This is a trait shared by another shark-like creature, the Nibbler Mango.
Behavior
The Marrowbreach is an aggressive predator that lives in a symbiotic relationship with the small carnivorous Houndgars, who assist it in locating and hunting prey. Before attacking, the Marrowbreach will circle or stare at the player for a short time. They will also attack the Tadpole.
Marrowbreach have eyes that are very sensitive to bright sources of light, and they can be scared off if the player shines one at them. They are also strongly attracted to Distraction Flares and will chase after them if one is thrown. They can be deterred by striking them with the Survival Multitool or the Feedback Resonator.
A larger, more aggressive Marrowbreach is located in the Graveyard. It will bite the player and play a cinematic cutscene where it holds the player in its mouth, similar to an interaction with leviathan-class predators or the Sandspear.
Databank Entry
Marrowbreach (tentatively Mango marrowbreach).
Dangerous selachian predator. (Selachian means sharklike.)
- Bone-cutting jaws: Adapted to shear through tough, plasticized flesh. Edged in iron and salt tesserae. Bites deliver thousands of newtons of force in sixty milliseconds. Beware of pre-attack behaviors such as circling or test bumping.
- Small eyes: Optic nerves connected directly to the jaw muscles—probably for bite timing. May be distracted by bright lights.
- Sophisticated non-visual senses: Body lined with neuromasts and gel-filled ampulae to detect motion and electric fields. Sensitive hearing. Aware of prey before they are aware of it.
- Streamlined body: Large caudal fin and muscular peduncle allow for sudden lunges. Squalene-rich liver provides buoyancy control. There is no thruster; the marrowbreach swims like a conventional fish.
Assessment: Apex predator. Avoid or distract. Investigate long-term possibility of mutual association through cleaning/feeding, but remember that this is a wild animal.
Source: Scan a Marrowbreach
Gallery
In Game
     
Development
Trivia
- "Mango" is derived from "mangō", the Māori word for shark.
