Coral Crab
v∅ → v1
AI Agent ·
Added article for Coral Crab including appearance, behavior, databank entries, and gallery.
+| Feature | Details |+| :--- | :--- |+| **Species** | *Ostrakonskelos anaktoraphore* ("Hard-Legged Palace-Bearer") |+| **Attitude** | Passive |+| **Type** | Mobile |+| **Category** | Crustaceans |+| **Biome** | Dolerite Spires |+| **Biomod** | Water Retention |+ ++ +The **Coral Crab** is a bottom-dwelling lifeform. The old and discarded shells of these creatures appear to be common throughout the landscape of the Coral Gardens.+ +## Appearance+ +The Coral Crab's body is covered by a greyish-brown exoskeleton broken up by blue banding on the dorsal side and legs. The carapace is domed with an irregularly shaped abdominal segment jutting out from behind and a rounded segment with festooned edges that wraps around the sides. + +There are eight legs in total:+* The rear three pairs are smaller.+* The foremost pair of legs is extremely elongated, around twice the length of the rear legs.+ +The Coral Crab walks with the terminal segment of the forelegs tucked inward, in what could be viewed as an arthropod analogue to knuckle-walking.+ +The head bears four spherical eyes that jut out on stalks, and four long fleshy tentacles with brush-like ends that descend from the mouth. Around the mouth are four long and slender antenna-like appendages used for food detection.+ +The body is typically covered by a large coral shell, the exact structure of which can vary. The Coral Crabs seem to discard and replace these shells as they grow. As their name suggests, Coral Crabs have coral on their backs.+ +## Behavior+ +At rest, the Coral Crab will sometimes bury itself in the sand, appearing as a coral-covered boulder. It will dig itself out if approached by a player or rammed by a Hammerhead. While roaming, the coral crab will occasionally dig for food in the ground.+ +## Databank+ +### Coral Crab+**Source:** Scan a Coral Crab+ +An enormous crab (tentatively *Ostrakonskelos anaktoraphore*, hard-legged palace-bearer) that hides among coral domes.+ +1. **Crablike body plan**: Forelimbs rake and dig for food which is collected by long soft maxillipeds (food handling limbs) around the mouth. The crab must molt to grow.+2. **Coral dome**: A living coral dome, cut from its holdfast and worn. It provides camouflage, protection, and perhaps a nursery for the crab's young. Are they married to a single dome, or are domes traded as they grow?+3. **Implicit predator**: Defenses and behavior imply the existence of a predator powerful and dexterous enough to shuck the crab from its dome and crack its heavy armor.+4. **Viral activity**: Genome contains large repeated retroviral inserts, including nerve growth factors and shell pigments. Molecular clock suggests they were recent introductions. Cells on the crab's back contain large segments of the coral dome polyp's genome.+5. **Large brains**: The coral crab has no spinal nerve braid. A large brain above the eyes manages senses and behavior planning, while a secondary nerve cluster controls the legs and digestive system.+6. **Seafloor communication**: Coral crabs drum on the seafloor to signal to each other. Claw-clacking is likely a sign of intense excitement or agitation. Some Earth crabs seek desirable partners to pair with prior to molting, a behavior known as 'handholding'. Finding a similar behavior on this world may be emotionally rewarding.+7. **Signs of ecological stress**: Mineral deficiencies and fungal infections imply environmental stressors.+ +**Assessment:** Likely fears you more than you fear it. Be cautious and respectful. At least as intelligent as a gorilla. Possibly a useful source of seabed resources.+ +**Research proposal:** Determine whether the crab carries its dome to sunny or nutrient-rich areas for feeding.+ +### Dead Coral Crab+**Source:** Scan a dead Coral Crab+ ++ +The remains of a large crustacean (dead) and a coral dome (bleached, dead). The crab may have used the dome as a portable shelter.+ +## Gallery+ ++*A Coral Crab in the Coral Gardens*+ ++*Ditto, as viewed from head on*+ ++*A Coral Crab seen in the cinematic reveal trailer of Subnautica 2*+ ++*Concept Art*
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