Veruul

The Veruul is a name given to a creature in ancient Vulcan mythology that, ancient legend stated, stalked prey withn the Womb of Fire in Vulcan's Forge on Vulcan. It was said that none survived an encounter with the beast.

The Veruul is also the name of an amphibian animal that lives on the Romulan homeworld of Romulus. The creature s approximately 6.7 meters in length and lived in a watery environment, typically within ponds or shores. It possessed a scaled skin and webbed clas. It usually hid itself within the water and vegetation that prevented detection by prey. After which, it would suddenly burst from its watery habitat and secrete its prey under the water after which it would consume it.

The creatures reproduced by laying eggs.

The early Vulcan people that would become the Romulans encountered these creatures during the initial survey of the world with a loss of an expedition member. One of the survivors of the survey party decided to name the creature as a veruul after the ancient myth.

(TOS novel: Vulcan's Soul Exiles)