More visual development for my book project.

This little swimming alien has evolved from a land living animal similar to this. [link]

About 1 foot in length, this creature travels in schools, hunting fast swimming prey. Instead of using its four jaws to catch food, the first pair of limbs have evolved into raptorial appendages. These are tucked in under the mouth, ready to strike out at soft bodied food. The mouth cavity contains a complex beak to process prey and can also serve as a food storage organ, so that parents can bring food back to their communal creches.

Two large nostrils on the top of the head can extend fleshy air tubes, as these aliens cannot breath water. Evolved from a creature with four eyes, the upper two have greatly reduced in size and can detect threats, whilst the lower pair face forwards for accurate depth perception when hunting.

Intelligent social animals, they live in family groups which travel together, all members taking turns at protecting and feeding the vulnerable young.