Common Vlagop

The common vlagop (Veleovoltus communis) is one of several species in the genus Veleovoltus that can be found in the Vyaris Ocean, but as its name suggests it is the most common. 

This small nienktvis often occurs in huge shoals of several thousand strong and undertakes long seasonal migrations between the continents of Miesjeta, Guralta and southern Tlèëa. Curiously, the seasonal behavior of this species is largely restricted to the populations that live north of the equator, while the populations south of the equator tend to be more sedentary. As of yet, no solid explanation for this phenomenon has been offered.

As small and abundant planktivores, these conodonts are near the base of many food-chains where they permanently occur and often become seasonal feasts along their migration route.

Being small than a human hand on average, there is a great many predators that will happily make a meal out of a vlagop.

This includes the native peoples of Eryobis, who often harvest these small fish by the dozens by casting nets. Human explorers and researchers are also no strangers to eating vlagops. These creatures are so common in the Vyaris Ocean that even our colonists are allowed to occasionally catch them.

One characteristic of vlagop that immediately catches one's eye is the "dorsal fin" that goes from the mouth to the second gillslit. This "fin" is actually a membrane that stretches from a single large cartilage reinforced barbel on the upper lip that permanently stands upright.

It is thought that this fin serves to stabilize the vlagop as it swims, although it does appear that there are surprisingly many small muscles attached to this fin, which could indicate that it might also serve as a rudder that works in tandem with the terminal posterior fin.