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Description
This has been a long time coming! I'm taking a little break from my 'useless' alien plans to work on some pieces that have been pushed to the wayside for far too long (now if only I could crank out my writing as efficiently). This piece in particular is part of 's personal Ben 10 Reboot and was originally conceptualized by our newest member, before being passed off to me for finality.

And here we have it!

Name: Fishfright

Species: Mershcegraron

Homeworld: Glebecoleon

Prey: Myrmedont (Sandbox 's species)

Powers/abilities: Fishfright has impressive digging capabilities and is able to shovel through large amounts of soft sediment, such as sand, with ease. It is able to dig through tough substances as well, but at a considerably slower pace.

Fishfright is capable of breathing while completely submerged, allowing it to remain underground indefinitely. Even when buried in sand, it is able to swallow large amounts of sediment and filter it out through its gills while retaining oxygen. In this way, combined with their digging prowess, they can tirelessly chase prey without ever emerging.

Mershcegrarons possess a large, glowing lure attached to the end of a long, dorsal spine that they use to lure in prey with. When hunting, they will completely bury themselves, leaving only the lure exposed and vaguely disguised as a tree. Since Myrmedonts are nocturnal and are attracted by bright lights at night, they are unwittingly drawn towards the glow produced by the lure until they come within striking distance.

Fishfright has an enormous, gaping maw that can expand to six times its resting position and is full of razor-sharp fangs.

In order to detect prey while buried, Mershcegraron's have a primitive, lateral line-like structure that can pick up the electrical impulses given off by their prey, similar to real-life sharks and fish.

Fishfright is also quite large, about the size of a truck, and can swallow smaller creatures and objects whole with ease.

Weaknesses: Fishfright is incapable of digging through solid rock or hard substances, such as concrete or asphalt.

Mershcegrarons are ambush predators by nature and rely heavily on patience and timing. If they miss and their prey escapes, they will only be able to pursue a short distance they tire out and must give up; they are much faster underground, however.

Mershcegrarons don't have the best eyesight and can be fooled into chasing or attacking electrical sources if their output is higher than that of their prey.

Etymology: Fishfright's name is a portmanteau of 'fish' and 'fright, referencing its appearance and predatory nature.

Trivia: Fishfright closely resembles real-world anglerfish and frogfish. These fish are famous for their lures, which they use to bring prey within striking distance, and the latter of the two is well-known for its ambushing behavior. Fishfright also borrows behaviors from stargazers and monkfish, two other species of fish that bury themselves in the sand and attract prey with specially-evolved lures.

The original concept for Fishfright allowed the creature the ability to summon and shoot water at its prey in order to discombobulate it, not unlike real-world archerfish, as well as the ability to fly and a flaming lure in order to attract prey. These features were removed due to Glebecoleon, the home world of both Sandbox and Fishfright, being a global desert with very little water to absorb and utilize; the flaming lure was removed in order to avoid clashing abilities and Fishfright's ability to fly was taken away in favor of fulfilling a previously empty slot for a subterranean predator.

Fishfright was also originally blue. This was going to be scrapped for colors that more closely resembled its desert habitat, but this concept was dropped in favor of the original, blue design in order to give Fishfright a reason to even bury themselves in the first place.

According to Ben, a Mershcegraron's breath smells "ten times worse" than Grandpa Max's cooking would be bad enough to knock over an elephant with a single whiff.

During the dry season on Glebecoleon, which takes up the majority of the planet's annual rotation, Mershcegraron practice nocturnal behavior and keep themselves buried in the sand in order to avoid the scorching temperatures; they can go for weeks, even months without eating anything. However, when the wet season rolls around about every five months, they become active throughout the day and will seize any opportunity to build up their fat reserves for when the dry season returns, not unlike their prey. Unlike the Myrmedonts however, they retain a strictly carnivorous diet throughout their entire lives.

In order to attract mates, female Mershcegraron will gather in large gullies full of softer, finer sand and scoop out nests that they line with stones and other interesting objects. To get the male's attention however, the females will participate in a jumping contest of sorts in which they will compete against one another to see who can jump not only the highest, but the longest as well; those can reach the top of the gully or even exceed it are incredibly desirable, especially if they do so multiple times.

Disclaimer: I do not own Ben 10.
Ben 10 is owned by Man of Action and Cartoon Network.
Fishfright is the collective property of , , and yours truly.
Do not use without any of our permission.

Description
This has been a long time coming! I'm taking a little break from my 'useless' alien plans to work on some pieces that have been pushed to the wayside for far too long (now if only I could crank out my writing as efficiently). This piece in particular is part of 's personal Ben 10 Reboot and was originally conceptualized by our newest member, before being passed off to me for finality.

And here we have it!

Name: Fishfright

Species: Mershcegraron

Homeworld: Glebecoleon

Prey: Myrmedont (Sandbox 's species)

Powers/abilities: Fishfright has impressive digging capabilities and is able to shovel through large amounts of soft sediment, such as sand, with ease. It is able to dig through tough substances as well, but at a considerably slower pace.

Fishfright is capable of breathing while completely submerged, allowing it to remain underground indefinitely. Even when buried in sand, it is able to swallow large amounts of sediment and filter it out through its gills while retaining oxygen. In this way, combined with their digging prowess, they can tirelessly chase prey without ever emerging.

Mershcegrarons possess a large, glowing lure attached to the end of a long, dorsal spine that they use to lure in prey with. When hunting, they will completely bury themselves, leaving only the lure exposed and vaguely disguised as a tree. Since Myrmedonts are nocturnal and are attracted by bright lights at night, they are unwittingly drawn towards the glow produced by the lure until they come within striking distance.

Fishfright has an enormous, gaping maw that can expand to six times its resting position and is full of razor-sharp fangs.

In order to detect prey while buried, Mershcegraron's have a primitive, lateral line-like structure that can pick up the electrical impulses given off by their prey, similar to real-life sharks and fish.

Fishfright is also quite large, about the size of a truck, and can swallow smaller creatures and objects whole with ease.

Weaknesses: Fishfright is incapable of digging through solid rock or hard substances, such as concrete or asphalt.

Mershcegrarons are ambush predators by nature and rely heavily on patience and timing. If they miss and their prey escapes, they will only be able to pursue a short distance they tire out and must give up; they are much faster underground, however.

Mershcegrarons don't have the best eyesight and can be fooled into chasing or attacking electrical sources if their output is higher than that of their prey.

Etymology: Fishfright's name is a portmanteau of 'fish' and 'fright, referencing its appearance and predatory nature.

Trivia: Fishfright closely resembles real-world anglerfish and frogfish. These fish are famous for their lures, which they use to bring prey within striking distance, and the latter of the two is well-known for its ambushing behavior. Fishfright also borrows behaviors from stargazers and monkfish, two other species of fish that bury themselves in the sand and attract prey with specially-evolved lures.

The original concept for Fishfright allowed the creature the ability to summon and shoot water at its prey in order to discombobulate it, not unlike real-world archerfish, as well as the ability to fly and a flaming lure in order to attract prey. These features were removed due to Glebecoleon, the home world of both Sandbox and Fishfright, being a global desert with very little water to absorb and utilize; the flaming lure was removed in order to avoid clashing abilities and Fishfright's ability to fly was taken away in favor of fulfilling a previously empty slot for a subterranean predator.

Fishfright was also originally blue. This was going to be scrapped for colors that more closely resembled its desert habitat, but this concept was dropped in favor of the original, blue design in order to give Fishfright a reason to even bury themselves in the first place.

According to Ben, a Mershcegraron's breath smells "ten times worse" than Grandpa Max's cooking would be bad enough to knock over an elephant with a single whiff.

During the dry season on Glebecoleon, which takes up the majority of the planet's annual rotation, Mershcegraron practice nocturnal behavior and keep themselves buried in the sand in order to avoid the scorching temperatures; they can go for weeks, even months without eating anything. However, when the wet season rolls around about every five months, they become active throughout the day and will seize any opportunity to build up their fat reserves for when the dry season returns, not unlike their prey. Unlike the Myrmedonts however, they retain a strictly carnivorous diet throughout their entire lives.

In order to attract mates, female Mershcegraron will gather in large gullies full of softer, finer sand and scoop out nests that they line with stones and other interesting objects. To get the male's attention however, the females will participate in a jumping contest of sorts in which they will compete against one another to see who can jump not only the highest, but the longest as well; those can reach the top of the gully or even exceed it are incredibly desirable, especially if they do so multiple times.

Disclaimer: I do not own Ben 10.
Ben 10 is owned by Man of Action and Cartoon Network.
Fishfright is the collective property of , , and yours truly.
Do not use without any of our permission.