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Description

The smaller and more ancient species that make up the Planae Family live in shallow, coastal waters, and their vision is better than that of other Thalassids (which is why the skin around their reproductive organs becomes brightly colored when mating season approaches). Most use their tails (whose nostrils can seal to keep water out of the lungs) to achieve propulsion, either pushing side to side with the laterally flattened appendage, or undulating an extended flap up and down. Those that do use their flipper-like legs to swim spend most of their time floating just beneath the surface, breathing through an extended tube on their tail until they dive to catch prey that has swum close.

Description

The smaller and more ancient species that make up the Planae Family live in shallow, coastal waters, and their vision is better than that of other Thalassids (which is why the skin around their reproductive organs becomes brightly colored when mating season approaches). Most use their tails (whose nostrils can seal to keep water out of the lungs) to achieve propulsion, either pushing side to side with the laterally flattened appendage, or undulating an extended flap up and down. Those that do use their flipper-like legs to swim spend most of their time floating just beneath the surface, breathing through an extended tube on their tail until they dive to catch prey that has swum close.