Whalefish
| Whalefish | |
|---|---|
| |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | |
| Phylum: | Chordata
|
| Class: | Chondrichthyes
|
| Order: | Orectolobiformes
|
| Family: | Rhincodontidae
|
| Genus: | Rhincodon
|
| Species: | R. masculosus
|
| Binomial name | |
| Rhincodon maculosus Albertson, 1887
| |
The Whalefish (Rhincodon maculosus), also known as the Spotted Whale Shark, is a species of slow moving, filter feeding carpet shark native to most of the tropical oceans on earth. Despite their size, often exceeding 40ft in length, Whalefish are passive creatures that do not pose a threat to humans. Spotting a wild whalefish is considered extremely good luck in Libertas Omnium Maximus, and poaching or slaying a whalefish is a very serious offense. In Iustitia, many local native religious groups believe that whalefish protect the coastal waters of the Khersonsic peninsula from naval invaders, such as the Shenic raiders of the late 12th century.
Historical Accounts[edit | edit source]
In 1950, an amphora dating to the third century BC was uncovered during an archeological dig in the ancient city of Sarapola in the Prince Frederick island chain depicting what appears to be a massive, spotted fish. This is believed to be the earliest depiction of a whalefish. Whalefish seem to have been extremely important to many of the coastal pre-historic and proto-historic Khersonsic peoples. The Harrison-Becker Culture (500-150 BC) worshiped the whalefish among their pantheon of deities as a patron of fishermen and anglers. Throwing baskets of fruit into the sea was a regular tradition of the HB culture, meant as an offering to the great whalefish.
As the Galinios Sea became a significant maritime route during the 16th century, the legend of the whalefish morphed from one of protector and filler of nets to a vengeful devourer. In 1690, sailors aboard the frigate VSS Roanbrug reported that a giant whalefish said to be "300 or 400 feet in length" consumed a galleon of unknown origin right before their eyes. Word spread quickly, and the legend of the Whalefish as a sea monster quickly became known from Arizcara to Iustitia.