Anatomy

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Body Shape

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The Freshwater Catfish are a hybrid species composed of a domestic house cat and a fish.The Freshwater Catfish stand 3 to 4 feet tall in anthro form and the size of a typical 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

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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.

Markings and Colors

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Their colors can be any range of a typical housecat or markings of a big cat.These fins can range from any bright color depending on the color of their pendant they have been fused with.The only exception to the fins is that they cannot be dark or dull colored.

Lore

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• Origins
• Physiology
• Pendants & Magic
• Culture
• SaltWater Catfish

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
Freshwater Catfish.The first documentation of a Freshwater Catfish is unknown. The species commonly lives in
areas of freshwater like lakes, ponds, rivers, and streams.

Physiology

The Freshwater 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 originally being normal cats, Catfish kittens are also born as normal cats. They will be housed in otter or beaver-like dens 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.Although the species does excellently during Spring, Summer, and Autumn, they somewhat struggle during the winter. Depending on the climate of the area they live in, many Freshwater Catfish are forced to go into a partial hibernation where they will hide themselves out from nature for the entirety of the season. Since Freshwater Catfish are part fish, their fins have a tendency to grow cold quickly and do not cope well with freezing temperatures. Most of them do not fall asleep for long periods like a natural hibernation, but instead choose to isolate themselves inside a shelter where they can remain warm.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 Freshwater Catfish, although part cat, adore swimming. They love spending their freetime racing through rivers and lakes against other Freshwater Catfish in the area.

Pendants & Magic

Freshwater 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 Freshwater 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
Freshwater Catfish.Freshwater 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 Freshwater 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 Freshwater 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 Freshwater Catfish. Freshwater Catfish gain the ability to speak and perform water-based magic once fused.The strength of a Freshwater Catfish’s magic is dependent upon the material their pendant is made of; for example, a Freshwater 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 Freshwater 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

Freshwater Catfish often have small bags, backpacks, satchels, and other clothing that is lined with a material to carry fish with them. Freshwater Catfish are natural collectors, especially with fish. A Freshwater Catfish will always have a fish or two with them in order to give to anyone they deem worthy. They are incredibly generous with their materials and will happily give to others who help them or befriend them. If you have befriended a Freshwater Catfish, you will know when they gift you a scaly friend.The Freshwater Catfish are known to be a happy, generous, and positive species. They are always willing to lend a paw whenever needed, especially if they can do so with their water magic. They are usually trusting and have an optimistic attitude toward those they meet. You will rarely meet a hostile Freshwater Catfish, as they also forgive easily.The Freshwater Catfish are also natural adapters. They easily adapt to any surroundings and species. They do not mind being around other species, even if those species are not species regular cats would get along with. 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 Freshwater Catfish are natural artists and intuitive. Although Freshwater Catfish have existed since ancient times, they are not known for their intelligence. Many Freshwater Catfish follow their own intuition and head instead of the logic around them. They love creating art and color, especially based on their own pendants.Although the Freshwater Catfish can speak and communicate with any human if needed, they also wield the power to talk to any species or animal. They are known as the communicators of nature, delivering messages to and from various species. They are incredibly good with words and language, advanced in storytelling and communication.The Freshwater Catfish have a natural diet. They eat an abundance of plants, especially plants found in rivers or lakes, and occasionally fish and reptiles like snakes and frogs. They refuse to eat other mammals as they befriend them and occasionally create strong bonds with specific fish.The Freshwater Catfish will often live in small tribes around their body of water. The tribes consist of two to ten Freshwater Catfish. These tribes act as a family, where all the Freshwater Catfish inside them are incredibly closely bonded. Although Freshwater Catfish cannot breed, some exist newly and do not know much about the world until taught by other Freshwater Catfish.Freshwater Catfish also seek out pendants to create more Freshwater Catfish. They will happily raise and help another Freshwater Catfish spring to life. They seek to build the numbers of Freshwater Catfish, and more importantly, create more Freshwater Catfish.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 Freshwater Catfish as equal. Rarely will there be conflict between the tribes. The Freshwater Catfish are not known to be territorial or aggressive over where they stay and are respectful to other creatures that also reside in their area.Freshwater Catfish are collectors. They enjoy collecting small, shiny things and make nests out of those things. Some of the things they like collecting are shells, rocks, stones, and other trinkets they can get their paws on. Many Freshwater Catfish are known to have a vast collection of these things and many specialize in collecting a certain item. They will often trade these items with one another and have a secret stash of trinkets they collect.Freshwater Catfish can communicate in a variety of languages. All Freshwater Catfish are created with the ability to speak Meowthite, a language specifically for their kind. Not many
outsiders understand their language and the Freshwater Catfish have used the language to protect themselves and their culture.However, Freshwater Catfish tend to be clever and curious, therefore able to pick up other languages quite easily. Most Freshwater 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.

SaltWater catfish

The only species the Freshwater Catfish refuse to interact with are the Saltwater Catfish.The Saltwater Catfish have a similar nature to the Freshwater Catfish. They befriend and help sailors through the nights with their bioluminescence, often guiding ships to safety in the midst of storms.The Saltwater Catfish, however, are known to be incredibly pretentious. Their magic is their luminescence, found in ornate patterns across their bodies. The Saltwater Catfish are aware of their power, and due to their braggy nature, the Freshwater Catfish cannot stand the other
tribe.Saltwater Catfish also have a reputation of being unfriendly around humans. Unlike the Freshwater Catfish, they do not befriend other species as commonly. They are extremely elusive and shy.Freshwater Catfish are natural protectors of nature, forests, and rivers. Many of them do interaction with humans, and other species. Because of the Saltwater Catfish tendency to not trust them, the Freshwater Catfish are naturally uneasy around them.The two species generally avoid each other at all
costs.

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Adopts

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Catfish are $45 (+$10 if you wish a for a finished ref).

Build Guide

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Fins: Where on the Body

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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. Rare traits can appear but must be discussed before approval.

Fins: Shape and Color

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The fins can be any vibrant and gemstone 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.

River Delta

When making your own catfish please do not make a catfish with more than the 2 head fins like River Delta.She is my personal catfish and she was made to be different than the rest.

Gallery

Note: Some older reference sheets do not have pendants as they were not required, but all newer catfish require one.

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