World's Hardest Creature XI - 2nd Round - Black Swallower v Orca
To the deep! The 2nd tie of the 2nd round sees us venturing to the depths for what promises to be an enthralling encounter. Orca, a WHC veteran finds itself up against a new face and one which set the competition ablaze in the group stages. Strength meets pure mentalism in this unpredictable battle.
Black Swallower - Group A winner with 24 votes - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_swallower
What defines hard? Is it power? Strength? Cunning? An ability to tolerate environments that shrink the balls of less hardy creatures? WHC has always had high regard for those that get punchy when there is absolutely no need to and for those that put themselves in harm's way for the hell of it. And applying that core principle it seems that WHC might have found a new talisman in the form of the Black Swallower. The BS brings a freakish evolutionary trick to this year's tournament and one that captured the imagination in the group stages. It's small: no more than ten inches long and yet... it features articulated jaws and an extendable stomach that allow it to eat prey twice its size or ten times its mass. That's not far off you or I tucking into an American Bison in one gulp. The Swallower has been known to eat itself to death by gorging on prey it is unable to digest before decomposition sets in, at which point it bobs to the surface in a ball of gas. Even allowing for the weird s*** that goes on way down in the ocean this is odd, satisfyingly mental stuff.
Orca - Group B 4th place with 14 votes - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Killer_whale
Orca edged out the Mantis Shrimp for the final berth in Group B but came in well behind the Croc, Hippo and Grasshopper Mouse. Despite the colossal difference in size, group stage votes suggest that the Orca is going to need to find something extra in its locker to progress. A sophisticated hunter, the Orca can hunt in packs and, in a noble WHC tradition, is prepared to take on actual whales, including the Sperm and Blue variety on special occasions. The Orca is a carnivore with a capital C, tucking into sharks, rays, dugongs, sea turtles and many, many more. Brute force perhaps but no less impressive for it.
To the deep! The 2nd tie of the 2nd round sees us venturing to the depths for what promises to be an enthralling encounter. Orca, a WHC veteran finds itself up against a new face and one which set the competition ablaze in the group stages. Strength meets pure mentalism in this unpredictable battle.
Black Swallower - Group A winner with 24 votes - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_swallower
What defines hard? Is it power? Strength? Cunning? An ability to tolerate environments that shrink the balls of less hardy creatures? WHC has always had high regard for those that get punchy when there is absolutely no need to and for those that put themselves in harm's way for the hell of it. And applying that core principle it seems that WHC might have found a new talisman in the form of the Black Swallower. The BS brings a freakish evolutionary trick to this year's tournament and one that captured the imagination in the group stages. It's small: no more than ten inches long and yet... it features articulated jaws and an extendable stomach that allow it to eat prey twice its size or ten times its mass. That's not far off you or I tucking into an American Bison in one gulp. The Swallower has been known to eat itself to death by gorging on prey it is unable to digest before decomposition sets in, at which point it bobs to the surface in a ball of gas. Even allowing for the weird s*** that goes on way down in the ocean this is odd, satisfyingly mental stuff.
Orca - Group B 4th place with 14 votes - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Killer_whale
Orca edged out the Mantis Shrimp for the final berth in Group B but came in well behind the Croc, Hippo and Grasshopper Mouse. Despite the colossal difference in size, group stage votes suggest that the Orca is going to need to find something extra in its locker to progress. A sophisticated hunter, the Orca can hunt in packs and, in a noble WHC tradition, is prepared to take on actual whales, including the Sperm and Blue variety on special occasions. The Orca is a carnivore with a capital C, tucking into sharks, rays, dugongs, sea turtles and many, many more. Brute force perhaps but no less impressive for it.
