SaltWater catfish:
WIP

Welcome to the Home of the SaltWater CatfishSaltWater Catfish are for the time being a Closed Species
There is 1 way of receiving one:
1. Comissioning for a Custom Catfish

Anatomy

Body Shape

The Saltwater Catfish are a hybrid species composed of a domestic house cat and a fish.The Saltwater Catfish stand 4 to 5 feet tall in anthro form and the size of a large house cat in feral form. They have a set of fins either on their sides or on the neckThey can have any size and shaped ears and tails common to the feline species.

Fins

The Saltwater Catfish sports:
1. Two fins on their head right behind the ears
2. A fin on each limb
3. A fin down the back
4. Webbed toes
5. Two fins on either side of the tail tip, similar to a dolphin tail.

Markings and Colors

Their colors can be any range of a typical housecat or markings of a big cat, but usually are darker in color.These fins can range from black to darker color depending on the color of their pendant they have been fused with. They tend to be larger than Freshwater Catfish's fins.The only exception to the fins is that they cannot be brightly colored.

Bioluminescence

The Saltwater Catfish have bioluminescence to light up their way as they travel deep under the ocean waves.The lines of their bioluminescence run down their backs, up their limbs, and down the tail.

Lore

Origins

How long the species has existed is unknown, although many believe them to be an ancient species, brought to the land
by ancient magic.They are brought to life by magical pendants enchanted to morph a cat into a
Saltwater Catfish.The first documentation of a Saltwater Catfish is unknown. The species commonly lives in
areas of deep seas and oceans.

Physiology

The Saltwater Catfish still resemble many traits of cats. They enjoy finding and basking in warm spots, especially during the summer. They will lay and bask in the sun for hours and often regenerate a majority of their mental energy and magic through sleep. In order to live happily, a Freshwater Catfish must have a sufficient amount of sleep. Due to being a deep sea species, they will spend the majority of their time closer to the bottom of the ocean, if not basking in the sun.
Due to originally being normal cats, Catfish kittens are also born as normal cats. They will be housed in Catfish-made cave that have a dry air pocket with a water entrance to protect the kittens. When they become of age, at about 2 months old, they will be gifted a pendant that was made by the parents, passed down in the clan or found in the wild. This transforms them into Catfish and allows them to leave the den.The species, due to being built partially of fish, have the ability to breathe underwater with ease. Their gills help them breathe underwater, just the same as a fish would. The Saltwater Catfish, although part cat, adore swimming. They love spending their freetime racing through ocean currents against other Freshwater Catfish in the area.

Pendants & Magic

Saltwater Catfish pendants exist in
nature, but very rarely; the cause of why these exist are unknown. It is said that ancient magic created the pendants which can be found out in various places.The most common places the pendants are found are near natural water sources, especially rivers or waterfalls. Cats will find the pendants and, as a cat would, play with the pendant and fuse themselves into a Saltwater Catfish. A few hundred of these pendants were created and placed out into the wild. A human can also find the pendant and place it on a cat to fuse it into a
Saltwater Catfish.Saltwater Catfish pendants can be made of many different materials and often found attached to a string or chain. The pendants are most commonly found made of rocks and raw crystals, although rarely can be found in the form of metals, cut gemstones, or opal. The pendants can take on any shape and are usually adorned with other things like feathers, leaves, and even herbs.A Saltwater Catfish’s fins are based on the color and formation of the pendant, each one unique in its own way. The length and size of the fins are also affected by the pendant.
In order to fuse a feline into a Saltwater Catfish, the pendant must touch a feline. The feline will then be enveloped in a bright light that matches their pendant, and they are fused into the Saltwater Catfish. Saltwater Catfish gain the ability to speak and perform water-based magic once fused.The strength of a Saltwater Catfish’s magic is dependent upon the material their pendant is made of; for example, a Saltwater Catfish whose pendant is made of gold will have the ability to summon water while one with a stone pendant can simply manipulate small amounts of water.Most often, the species has simple water magic which allows them to adapt and control magic around them. However, they can possess rarer elemental magics. Earth is the next least rare of their magic, while Fire is the rarest, and Air a median. Their pendant color and fin color reflects their magic; Freshwater Catfish with water magic will have tones of blue while a rare fire-wielder will have orange or red.The usage of their magic entirely depends on how much they practice the magic. There is no one trait which causes them to be born with a talent for magic. Although a Catfish can naturally have an affinity and enjoy using magic more, they are not born with the sole talent to be able to control their power.The element which the Saltwater Catfish’s magic is decided is the atmosphere around which their pendant is found. Hence, rarely you will find fire within or near water, so fire Catfish are incredibly rare.

Culture

Saltwater Catfish often have small bags, backpacks, satchels, and other clothing that is lined with a material as well as armor. Freshwater Catfish are natural collectors, especially with stones. A Saltwater Catfish will always have stones and shells on them to use to open though foods.They are usually trusting of other Saltwater Catfish but are slow to warm up to each other. You will rarely meet a friendly Saltwater Catfish, as they are shy and elusive.The Saltwater Catfish are also natural adapters. They easily adapt to any surroundings and species, but they do not like being around other species. They are interested in the stories of other species, curious souls. Like cats, the Freshwater Catfish explore and ease their curiosity by paws-on experiences, even if this is jumping right into something they probably should not.The Saltwater Catfish are natural warriors and strategists. Although Saltwater Catfish have existed since ancient times, they are not known for their intelligence. Many Saltwater Catfish
follow their own intuition and head instead of the logic around them. They love creating weapons and armor, especially based on their own pendants.Although the Saltwater Catfish can speak and communicate with any human if needed, they do not wield the power to talk to any other species or animal. They are incredibly good with words and language, advanced in storytelling and communication but rarely like communicate with humans or Freshwater Catfish.The Saltwater Catfish have a natural diet. They eat anything they come across in the dark depths of the ocean, often fish, squids, and crustaceans. They will not refuse to eat birds or mammals if they come across them, but do occasionally create strong bonds with specific fish.The Saltwater Catfish will often live in small tribes around their body of water. The tribes consist of two to ten Saltwater Catfish. These tribes act as a family, where all the Saltwater Catfish inside them are incredibly closely bonded.Saltwater Catfish also seek out pendants to create more Saltwater Catfish. They see it as an honor to raise and help another Saltwater Catfish spring to life. They seek to build the numbers of Saltwater Catfish as their numbers are scarce.There is no one way the tribes are built. Each tribe is unique in its hierarchy and structure. Some
act by a strict pack-like hierarchy, while others view each Saltwater Catfish as equal. Often there be conflict between the tribes, leading to many Catfish to have scars from territorial fights. The Saltwater Catfish are known to be territorial or aggressive over where they stay, fighting off other deep sea creatures away from their homes.Saltwater Catfish are collectors. They enjoy collecting small, shiny things and make nests out of those things inside their caves. Some of the things they like collecting are shells, rocks, stones, and other trinkets they can get their paws on. Many Saltwater Catfish are known to have a vast collection of these things and many specialize in collecting a certain item. It is seen as an honor for a Catfish to offer them a piece of their collection, or as a form of courting.Saltwater Catfish can communicate in a variety of languages. All Saltwater Catfish are created with the ability to speak Meowthite, a language specifically for their kind. Not many
outsiders understand their language and the Saltwater Catfish have used the language to protect themselves and their culture.However, Saltwater Catfish tend to be clever and curious, therefore able to pick up other languages quite easily. Most Saltwater Catfish communicate and bond with others of their kind easier than other species. Although not opposed to other species, the Catfish hold a bond to their culture which they consider to be special and important. When seeing another Catfish, they will quickly bond and form a friendship.

Adopts

Catfish are $35 (+$20 if you wish a back view) and come with a simple ref sheet for the front view and pendant.

Build Guide

The Base: The body

The Body should share features with the domestic house cat. Catfish while standing on hind legs stand between 4 and 5 ft tall. The tail and ears can share features with other Felidae family members like show bobtails, rounded lion ears, serval ear tips, or hairless skin. The sclera are typically black or dark in color.

Fins: Where on the Body

The Freshwater Catfish sports:
1. Two fins on their head right behind the ears
2. A fin on each limb
3. A fin down the back
4. Webbed toes
5. Two fins on either side of the tail tip, similar to a dolphin tail.
Note: It is extremely rare for a catfish to have more fins than listed.

Colors and Markings

Markings can be inspired by any of the animals in the Felidae family.Body and Marking colors should be natural colors (ie, whites, browns, oranges, blacks, and grey) no uncolors should be on the body other than possibly the eyes.

Fins: Shape and Color

The fins on a Saltwater Catfish are typically darker or duller compared to their Freshwater counterparts but can be any shade of color and can be up to 3 colors at once.Eye color doesn't have to match the fins but should be similar.The shape of the fins can be inspired by anything as long as head fins have four segments and limb fins have 3-4 segments. They are typically longer than their Freshwater counterparts.

Pendants

Each Catfish has a unique pendant made of rocks and raw crystals, metals, cut gemstones, or opals. A catfish is always wearing thier necklace as they are the source of thier magic and what makes them catfish!

Bioluminescence

The Bioluminescence is usually a similar color to the eye color.The lines of bioluminescence follows down the spine and tail, spreading outward. The thickness and pattern of the lines differs from catfish to catfish.The eyes glow as well, making sight in the deep waters easier.