Nerve Eater Salamander

[Urodela Phrenesia]

The Nerve Eater Salamander slinks in the darkness of drowned cave systems, congregating where tight corridors connect to larger cavernous spaces. It is evolved to utilize pitch darkness in preservation and self defense.
The salamanders intestines contain a large amount of the luciferase enzyme, which, upon damage to the organism, releases into its system. This produces a bioluminescent response in the protrusions on its back that blinds and disorients potential predators. As such circumstances might be fatal for the organism anyway, it has developed a vestigial set of intestines extending outside through the mouth and back through the animals underside into the intestinal tract. As a threat response, the salamander bites into its own intestines, triggering the enzyme release to ward away predators.

Sculpted in Zbrush, textured in Substance Painter, assembled in Blender.