Common Name: Mohsen’s Hitchhiker

Latin Name: Meiacanthus phoresia

Specimen Sex: Male

First Described: AD 2137

Description and Habitat: The first identified specimen of this very highly adaptive fish was collected serendipitously at the beginning 22nd century, as bycatch during ecosystem surveys taking place between routine ordinance explosions in the Strait of Hormuz. Due to the extreme hyper salinity, hostile naval activity and the thermally volatile nature of the shallow waters in this area, several marine animals have evolved remarkably robust survival adaptations, Meiacanthus phoresia perhaps with the most extreme. Having evolved from a genus of shallow water fang blenny, Mohsen’s Hitchhiker has highly modified mandibular teeth, referred to as tusks, and rather than impart venom like some of their relatives, their sole function is to latch on to much larger fish, a benefit for both protection and speedier transportation to deeper waters with less noise and seismic pressure pollution.

They have large eyes and wide mouths suited for bottom dwelling,

and most abundant in the deeper water in the Gulf of Oman, particularly the Makran Trench.

Reproduction: Rather than having strong site fidelity, Mohsen’s Hitchhikers travel widely, primarily to procreate. Once the male has found a suitable area to nest, perhaps a quiet rock crevice or small cave, they use their well-adapted swim bladder to attract passing females, by performing signal-jumps comprising of aggressive bobs and darts, often pausing mid-lunge to show off temporarily enhanced breeding colours. Once copulation is complete, females lay sticky, adhesive eggs on the hidden surfaces inside the nest, and a single male may mate with multiple females in his territory.

The eggs have a flexible incubation period depending on surrounding UNDEX (UNDerwater EXplosion) pressures (shock waves, bubble pulsation, bulk cavitation, acoustic energy) and the male will attempt to protect them by blocking the nest with small rocks. Continuously fanning the eggs to keep them covered in a rich supply of oxygen, offspring only hatch during a period of calm waters, giving them the best chance of facing the dangers of becoming free-swimming larvae. Having already developed eyes, they feed on microscopic plankton whilst drifting in the open water until their fins develop and their backbone begins to bend upward into its final shape, before sinking down to the ocean floor to search for a safe hole where they will continue development to adulthood when their tusks reach full length.

Life Span: 2 - 6 years.