Influences: Maraquan Pets

The Maraquan Acara is based on the common octopus. Octopodes usually have 8 tentacles with suckers that they use to cling to things and help them move around or catch prey. They're usually shy and only come out at night. The common octopus can grow to about a meter in length. When they are scared or startled, octopodes can eject dark ink into the water so they can escape.

Maraquan Aishas appear to be based on the legendary mermaids of folklore, a theory strengthened by the appearances of Caylis and Isca in the Curse of Maraqua plot. The seashell necklace replacing the usual Aisha collar is a unique touch among Maraquan pets.

The Maraquan Blumaroo is, indeed, based off of the common seahorse. There are 32 species of seahorse in the world. The largest species is 30 cm, or around 1 foot, in length. All sea horses belong to the genus of hippocampus (scientific classification), which plays a role in the inspiration for the Maraquan Uni.

The Maraquan Bori does not appear to be directly based off of any sea creature. If you have an idea of what TNT's inspiration was - let us know! Note: We've already ruled out the Axolotl so please consider that before sending in tips! Thanks =)

Whitespotted Boxfish (Ostracion meleagris) served as the inspiration for the Maraquan Bruce. These colourful fish are native to coral reefs of the Indian and Pacific Oceans. The colour of the Bruce specifically corresponds to that of adult males of the species. While some aquarists may like to keep one, they're considered a difficult fish - they release toxins when stressed, which are known to kill off other fish in the area.

The Maraquan Buzz looks very much like a lobster. Lobsters have large claws, which are actually not used to swim with. Their claws are used to catch food such as mussels, clams and crabs. When feeding on these prey, their claws come in very handy in breaking open the shells protecting them. When in danger, lobsters use their tails to swim backwards vigorously.

The Maraquan Chia is based on the sea apple (Pseudocolochirus violaceus), a type of sea cucumber found in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. Specifically, it seems to be based on the Australian variety, which has a similar colour. The tentacles on the top are used to feed on plankton, the sea apple's diet. They have tube feet that allow them to move about.

The Maraquan Chomby looks like it came straight from Scotland! That is, if it is a model of the famous Loch Ness monster, Nessie. Nessie is apparently a plesiosaur dinosaur that still lives in the Loch Ness of Scotland, Europe. Many sightings have been made of her apparent existence, but no hard, scientific evidence has been discovered. Does Nessie exist? Or has a strange optical illusion been witnessed by many people over years and years?

The Maraquan Cybunny does not appear to be directly based off of any sea creature. If you have an idea of what TNT's inspiration was - let us know!

The Maraquan Draik appears to be somewhat based on the koi carp species of fish, most commonly associated with East Asia. The influence may be due to an old Chinese legend from the Han dynasty, where any koi that successfully climbs the rapids of China's Yellow River would become a dragon. It also appears to have taken influence from lionfish, particularly the Red lionfish (Pterois volitans), a species of brightly striped fish native to the Indo-Pacific.

It is only fitting that the Maraquan Elephante, being one of the largest species of Neopets, is also the largest Maraquan animal and made to look like a blue whale. The blue whale is not only the largest whale on Earth, but the largest mammal. The blue whale's diet consists mainly of krill, a small sea-dwelling plankton, and it is estimated that a blue whale can eat four million krill per day! That would be a lot of peanuts!

It is possible that the Maraquan Eyrie is based off the Sea-griffin, a creature that sometimes appears in heraldry as having the top half of a griffin, and the lower half of a fish. It was most notably used in Pomerania, a historical region on the border between modern day Germany and Poland.

The Maraquan Flotsam is somewhat oddly based off hermit crabs, a family of crabs that have adapted to live in scavenged mollusc shells for protection. The shell of the Maraquan Flotsam appears to be some form of conch shell, belonging to a type of sea snail. It is covered with seaweed. The inspiration for the Maraquan Flotsam's look can seem very strange, as Flotsams have no similarity to crabs and the Maraquan Flotsam itself only shares the distinctive Flotsam mouth. However, there is a species of crab known as the flotsam crab (Planes cyaneus), otherwise known as the columbus crab. These crabs are known to cling to driftwood and other pieces of flotsam, and may have served as the initial idea to base the Maraquan Flotsam on a crab. However, flotsam crabs are 'true' crabs, and not closely related to hermit crabs in that way, and look markedly different.

The Maraquan Gelert's frill appears similar to those sported by many species of eel, though it is difficult to pin the look down to any one member of the family.

The Maraquan Gelert alternate Aquatic Pet Style is based on an old, unreleased version of the Maraquan Gelert. It is more closely based on an octopus, with long suckered tentacles replacing it's limbs. However, strickly speaking it is not an octopus, as between the six legs, ears, and tail, it actually has nine appendages.

The Maraquan Gnorbu is inspired by a design from the Neopets user, narutoluvr935. It is based on the jellyfish, specifically a mix of the Black sea nettle (Chrysaora achlyos) and the Mauve stinger (Pelagia noctiluca) due to the pink-purple colour of its tentacles. The former are rarely sighted off the coast of California during red tides, while the latter are found widely across the world's oceans, but are more concentrated in the warm waters of the North Atlantic, and are bioluminescent.

The Maraquan Grarrl... the terror of the deep! It is modeled after the Great White Shark, which are an average length of 15 feet, and have teeth that are as sharp as a regular kitchen knife. Capable of detecting electrical fields that us humans give off and being able to literally smell out its prey, the great white shark is a formidable creature of the deep. You don't want to meet up with a Maraquan Grarrl while taking a swim at the beach!

The Maraquan Grundo does not appear to be directly based off of any sea creature. If you have an idea of what TNT's inspiration was - let us know!

While at first glance the Maraquan Hissi appears to be based on an eel, astute Neopians have pointed out that it in fact more closely resembles the giant oarfish, particularly with its unique colours. These fish have been known to grow upwards of 36 feet long, and are believed to be the source of many "sea serpent" sightings.

The Maraquan Ixi is most probably based on the sea dragon, which is related to the sea horse. They have random appendages that camouflage them in the kelp and other plants. Sea dragons move very slowly and are found mostly around Australia. They are rather rare and could become endangered if aquariums continue capturing them. A fully grown sea dragon is about 18 inches long and they live for about 2 years.

The Maraquan Jetsam is based on the anglerfish, and like several other Maraquan pets is the result of TNT taking inspiration from a fan creation (in this case the colour scheme was changed from red/yellow to blue). Although the anglerfish is a large family, the Maraquan Jetsam is most likely based on the common longray seadevil, which is widespread in many of Earth's oceans. These deep sea anglerfish that typically live in near darkness are known for their bioluminescent lures that hang in front of their heads.

The Maraquan JubJub, though not a fish, is an underwater dweller. This JubJub is inspired by the ever-colourful, invertebrate coral. Most of a coral's colour, which can span the entire colour spectrum, comes from the algae that lives inside or very near to it. An individual coral "stem", just one of the blue tubes on the JubJub's head, is called a polyp and is made up of three layers. The outer protective layer, like our nails, the middle softer layer, like flesh, and the inner layer, like our stomachs.

The Maraquan Kacheek looks very much like a goldfish (Carassius auratus). The goldfish was one of the earliest fish to be domesticated and is one of the most commonly kept aquarium fish today. Part of the carp family, the goldfish is, more specifically, a domesticated version of a less-colourful carp native to east Asia. The Maraquan Kacheek appears to specifically based on Fantail goldfish, which have a segmented tail.

Ophiotaurus was a creature in Greek mythology that was said to have the front of a bull and the tail of a serpent. This relatively obscure creature had only one contemporary reference that survived to the modern day, but got a bit of a signal boost when it appeared in the popular Percy Jackson & the Olympians book series. This most recent appearance may have been what inspired the artist; either way, the reference seems deliberate. The Maraquan Kau keeps its horns and most of the front of its body remains unchanged from a normal Kau. The back half, however, quickly morphs into a tail more suited to a fish or marine serpent.

The Maraquan Kiko is based on pearl oysters, otherwise known as pinctada. As part of ongoing efforts to include community designs in official colours, TNT used an existing design as inspiration for the Maraquan Kiko. Unlike real oysters, where a pearl is created as an immune response to an irritating substance and isn't part of the creature, with the Maraquan Kiko the pearl itself is the Neopet. The shell, which would usually be the actual sea creature, is instead a wearable and not part of the Neopet's body. As an extra touch, instead of the usual plaster, this Kiko has a starfish (Fromia monilis) stuck on its head.

The Maraquan Koi appears to be based on the lionfish, otherwise known as Pterois. Specifically it appears to be based on the colours of the red lionfish (Pterois volitans). Lionfish are known for their venomous fins, which are dangerous enough to cause death to human children in some cases. They are native to the Indian and Pacific oceans. The Maraquan Koi is based on a fan design.

Maraquan Korbats most resemble manta rays. Manta ray "wing" spans can be up to 20 feet, allowing them to fly through the water like birds. They mostly live in the tropical region of the ocean, from north Mexico to South Chile. There are no predators to the manta ray other than large sharks, and they are a small threat to humans, eating only plankton.

The Maraquan Kougra is possibly based on the heraldic Sea-Lion, a mythical creature with the torso of a lion and the tail of a fish. The Sea-Lion is commonly found in the heraldry of the Philippines. A similar mythical creature known as a Merlion is the official mascot of Singapore.

It is possible that the Maraquan Krawk may take inspiration from species of large prehistoric repiles such as Mosasaurs or the Mesosaurus. These creatures lived in the oceans during the same periods that dinosaurs roamed the Earth, and are often conflated with them, but they are not actually dinosaurs themselves.

It is possible the Maraquan Kyrii is based on the Exquisite firefish (Nemateleotris exquisita), a species of dartfish found in the Red Sea, due to the similar colours of the two. It is a relative of the Elegant firefish, which is popular in aquariums.

The Maraquan Lenny seems to be based on the exocoetidae family, more commonly known as flying fish. In order to avoid predators, flying fish launch themselves out of the water and glide short distances. However, some flying fish have been seen to glide above the water for up to 45 seconds at a time!

The Maraquan Lupe is fashioned in the likeness of a sea lion. These sea mammals have short fur, external ear flaps, and strong front flippers. Much like dogs, sea lions can be trained to do tricks or to assist in rescue operations. Wild sea lions can become aggressive if their territory is encroached on, however!

The Maraquan Lutari is based on the axolotl, sometimes known as the Mexican walking fish. However, that name is a bit misleading as they are amphibians rather than fish. They are a relative of the tiger salamander, but stay in a juvenile form that most other amphibians grow out of. As a departure from normal, TNT used a fan-made design as inspiration, gaining permission from the artist dialasong, and crediting them when the colour was announced in the news.

As you may have guessed, the Maraquan Meerca is a puffer fish! Puffer fish inhale large amounts of water and "puff" themselves up to ward off a predator. There are over 150 known species of puffer fish in the world. They are extremely poisonous and can give off a poison that disrupts the nervous system. Despite this, they are a delicacy in Japan, and only registered chefs that have undergone a special test can prepare them for consumption.

The Maraquan Moehog does not appear to be directly based off of any sea creature. If you have an idea of what TNT's inspiration was - let us know!

Everyone's had some pet sea monkeys, right? Well then you're sure to recognize the Maraquan Mynci! It's pink colour, strange tail, and considering it's a monkey, Mynci are most likely your Neopian version of the popular sea monkey.

The Maraquan Nimmo is based on the Japanese spider crab (Macrocheira kaempferi), found in the waters around Japan. They can grow to a leg span of almost 4 metres, the largest of any crab on the planet, and fitting for the colour given the Nimmo's naturally long limbs.

The Maraquan Ogrin, like the Maraquan Buzz, is modeled after the American lobster. Somewhat disconcertingly, though, the Ogrin appears to have been cooked. American lobsters in the wild are rarely red and only change colour when boiled. Their carapaces contain a chemical related to the one that makes carrots orange, but they contain other pigments as well that allow them to blend in with their marine environment. The red chemical, however, is the only one that doesn't break down when exposed to strong heat, leaving the lobster on your dinner plate, like the Maraquan Ogrin, a bright tasty red. Additionally, parts of the Maraquan Ogrin resemble the antennae of a mantis shrimp, and its limbs may be influenced by the rainbow crab or Robber crab.

The Maraquan Poogle looks very much like a hammerhead shark. Hammerheads are so named due to their rather oddly-shaped heads and are found in tropical waters around the world. They will eat pretty much any sea animal that crosses its path, so if I were a Maraquan Korbat, I'd be steering well clear!

The Maraquan Pteri doesn't appear to be closely based on any fish, but it may be a heavily modified version of the Regal Tang (Paracanthurus hepatus), a species of fish native to the Indo-Pacific. This species of fish is most famous for the character of Dory in the Pixar Finding Nemo film series.

The Maraquan Quiggle appears to draw on the frog inspirations of the Quiggle species, and seems to be based on the American toad (Anaxyrus americanus), native to North America. They tend to be spread across the eastern states of the United States and the east of Canada.

The Maraquan Ruki appears to be based on the alpheidae family, commonly known as snapping shrimp or pistol shrimp. While some liberties have been taken with the design, it retains the large claws that the family is known for, used to hunt. These creatures are famous for their ability to snap their claws closed at high speeds, producing a shock wave capable of stunning prey.

The Maraquan Scorchio does not appear to be directly based off of any sea creature. If you have an idea of what TNT's inspiration was - let us know!

The Maraquan Shoyru is arguably one of the more impressive Maraquan pets. The sea turtle, which the Maraquan Shoyru was taken from, has the same flippers which substitute the Shoyru's wings so well. There is also the fact that some species of sea turtle have the same cap that a Shoyru has on top of its head. When sea turtles lay their eggs, they lay them on the shore and bury them in the sand. Once the turtles hatch, they crawl back into the sea to brave the deep waters and grow into adults. Only about one fifth of the hatchlings laid make it back to the sea, though

The Maraquan Skeith does not appear to be directly based off of any sea creature. If you have an idea of what TNT's inspiration was - let us know!

The Maraquan Techo does not appear to be directly based off of any sea creature. If you have an idea of what TNT's inspiration was - let us know!

The Maraquan Tonu resembles a cross between a narwhal and a walrus, both of which are actually types of mammals. The narwhal belongs to the Monodontidae family, and is one of only two whales that are actually in that family. Narwhals are famous for their large tusks, which are actually overgrown incisors. Walruses are also famous for their tusks, only they have two instead of one. Again, these tusks are actually just long canines. The narwhal and walrus are two pretty awesome marine mammals, and merging them is recipe for pure awesome, as is what we get with the Maraquan Tonu.

The Maraquan Uni is modeled off of a Greek creature called the hippocampus. You may recognize this name from the Maraquan Blumaroo's description - it comes from the genus of hippocampus, meaning horse-like sea monster. The front part of a hippocampus was horse-like, whereas the back was fish-like. One of them even pulled Poseidon's chariot!

The Maraquan Usul is based on the sea snail. Like regular land snails, sea snails are very slow movers. Most eat plants and krill, and are (sadly) often food for other animals higher up the food chain. Watch out below!

The Maraquan Vandagyre is based on a design by the Neopets user lonesome_666. It is based on the sea angel (Gymnosomata), a type of free swimming sea slug that are widely distributed across Earth's oceans. They are known for their transluscent appearance, and wing-like appendages that they flap in the water.

Like the Maraquan Ixi, the Maraquan Varwolf appears to be based on the leafy seadragon. Often called 'leafies', they are the marine emblem of South Australia. The Maraquan Varwolf is currently only available as a Pet Style and not as a paintable option.

Unsurprisingly, the Maraquan Wocky is based on the catfish. Catfish comprise the Siluriformes family, a group of freshwater and coastal bottom-dwelling fish found around the world. Most catfish sport the distinctive whiskerlike barbels for which they are named, which allow them to taste and smell their environment. The Maraquan Wocky appears to be based on the redtail catfish (Phractocephalus hemioliopterus), which is native to South America.

The Maraquan Xweetok is likely influence by the chromodoris genus of the nudibranch - another way of saying a very colourful sea slug! Chromodoris are a form of dorid nudibranchs, which means that their colourful plume (that lovely orange 'tail' the Xweetok has) is centered on the tail-end. The other family of nudibranch (aeolid) has plumes all across its body, instead of just one 'tail' cluster. Nudibranchs are often very colourful in order to camouflage themselves in their surroundings - preventing them from being eaten by other sea creatures. Many of them can also release acid or toxins from their skin, just in case the predators manage to find them! It's possible that the Xweetok is more narrowly based on Chromodoris annae, due to the specific patterns it has.

The manatee inspired the Maraquan Yurble. The manatee is also known as the sea cow, so it's surprising TNT did not use the manatee as the model for the Maraquan Kau. Manatees, along with their close relatives the dugongs, comprise the sirenians, named after their supposed resemblance to mermaids - at least, to sailors seeing them from a distance after a long time at sea! Manatees are notable for their short shouts and paddle-like tails.

The Maraquan Zafara does not appear to be directly based off of any sea creature. If you have an idea of what TNT's inspiration was - let us know!