Loðsilungur

In the 19th century, Americans and Canadians began importing and releasing several fish into the wild, most from northern Europe. [source] Within Icelandic waters, the rare fur-bearing trout generally laid their eggs among those of the brown trout. Found above instead of under the gravel, those who sought brown trout eggs accidentally gathered the other's young; identical in appearance, the unknown, unstudied species was carried away without notice.

Raised as game fish or part of aquaculture, animals that had never encountered each other in the wild were suddenly sharing space. Fish enthusiasts also kept multiple species in the same tank or pond, hoping to cross-breed them. Some of these attempts were successful; likewise, new species resulted from the animals' newfound proximity throughout the continent. Because of this, there are many hybrid trout in North America: tiger, splake, cutbow, and palomino. [source]

Fur-bearing trout are also hybrids; like the cutbow, their hybridization occurred naturally, and they are flourishing hybrids. A rarity, these animals can successfully breed, the next generation able to bear young and repeat the cycle; many hybrids, like mules, are wholly unable to reproduce. Unlike the cutbow, the fur-bearing trout originates far from North America, even though it is most numerous here. It is the result of interbreeding between two species of fish in Iceland: the brown trout and the Loðsilungur ( LAHD-sill-UHN-grr ).

Born in freshwater, some brown trout migrate once reaching maturity; traveling to the ocean, they enter a "sea trout" phase. Their internal and exterior bodies transform as they swim into saltwater, growing larger and silvery. The animals have migrated, morphed this way in the past, and continue to do so today.

A couple thousand years ago, their migration matched the spawn of another fish; in the North Atlantic Ocean, year after year, the shaggy and brown trout crossed paths. Breeding off the coast, female Loðsilungur released reproductive hormones into the waters; the chemicals initiated a frenzy of spawning activity in males of their own species - and the migratory male brown trout.

Fighting against the larger, more aggressive Loðsilungur, few reached any eggs - but those that did produced hybrids. With only a dozen or fewer fertilizing eggs each season, hybrid populations gradually rose. Over time, brown trout migration and the shaggy trout's spawn changed, ending their period of reproductive intermingling. The two can still be observed swimming in the same area or even cluster; as their spawns take them either inland or deep into the ocean, interbreeding no longer occurs.

The fishes' short rendevous produced a community of viable "shaggy-brown trout"; they eventually became a distinct species: the fur-bearing trout. Losing many Loðsilungur traits and developing new ones of their own, the fish saw a temporary population explosion in North America before dwindling worldwide. Today, however, they are more numerous than the hated and feared Loðsilungur.

According to legend, the Loðsilungur suddenly appeared in our world and overran rivers and lakes; an invention of giants and demons, the inedible fish were meant to punish humanity for their evils. Swimming and hiding among other trout, if a man ate this fish and survived, he would become pregnant, growing an infant within his scrotum; in nine months, the genitals would be cut to free the child. This, however, has not been observed in modern times.

Separated into two species (the bearded shaggy trout and all-shaggy trout), the animals grow thick, red hair on their lower jaw and neck or delicate, translucent hair on their sides and fins. Unlike the fur-bearing trout, Loðsilungur are never described with endearment or humor; they are reportedly strange and ugly. To our surprise, the organisms have no distinguishing features besides hair to differentiate them from mundane trout; we believe their threatening nature and dark ties are responsible for their reputation instead of "ugly" animals' usual ghoulish or alien characteristics.

Fur-bearing trout descend from the bearded fish, displaying a thicker, vibrant coat. Both are easily identifiable in and out of the water. All-shaggy fish, however, are tricky. Similar to the secretions used to transport eggs by fur-bearing trout, Loðsilungur produce and release a tacky chemical year-round - and theirs is toxic. Clinging to the body and hair, and transported by minuscule veins throughout the body, if ingested, the substance causes a painful death. In all-shaggy trout, this toxin also makes their hair invisible underwater. Because of the potential hazards of eating one, it is essential to check fish before eating them; you can do this by killing, rinsing, and holding them underwater before consumption. As their body ceases to secrete the toxin after death, the washed hair will become visible: thin, white, fuzzy tendrils underwater. Death does no good above ground for identification; the hair being delicate and pale, it lies flat and even against its sticky body, completely imperceivable.

Loðsilungur of either type cannot be eaten under any circumstances by any organism, with a few sea creatures being the exception. Throughout history, they have been confused with common trout species, moldy fish, and diseased animals, causing unfortunate deaths and exterminations of trout. Documented cases of Loðsilungur consumption have expressed a 100% fatality rate. Here are a few notable cases found by Lycaon:

STORIES COMING SOON

The study of the fur-bearing trout has helped us understand the Loðsilungur and provide a contrast between the two animals. Fur-bearing and shaggy trout are often lumped together and treated as interchangeable terms for the same creature, which is simply untrue. Both differ greatly from the other.

Aside from different hair growth locations, Loðsilungur grow fur as juveniles and keep it their entire lives; it is thought that fur-bearing trout exchanged permanent coats for growing hair all over their body. Fur-bearing trout rarely venture out to sea, breed only in freshwater, and no longer display red in their fur; these animals are non-toxic and have been safely eaten, though they were described as having a stringy, unappealing texture. Loðsilungur have much shorter lives of 2 - 3 years; when compared to the fur-bearing trout, it is thought that their briefer lifespans may be influenced by more rapid maturities, aggressive mating practices, dangerous hatcheries, stress put on the body by chemical and hair production, and their larger sizes.

After mating in February, a third or more perish, either from injuries or overexertion. In the middle or latter part of this month, they are known to wash up on shore; they are not scavenged as other fish, creating a foul scene. For an unknown reason, the animals continue to thrash after death; even once their flesh visibly deteriorates, their bodies may flop weakly or wiggle their fins. Their death throes lessen over time, are strongest on the first day, and can last up to a week. Canines and birds never fall for this trick. In fact, they refuse to dwell near Loðsilungur corpses, sensing a danger invisible to others.

In modern times, the number of shaggy fish washing ashore is less than ten per year, a sign of the population's dire numbers. While a lessoning danger is typically a positive, it is sad to possibly see the end of such a strangely captivating fish.

If you'd like to learn more about these animals, visit the Ballyraven Cryptid Wildlife Protection Agency website, or ask one of the staff a question at inthefieldpod on Instagram.

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