Periscopic Clowncrab

 | Feature | Details | | :--- | :--- | | **Species** | *Ostrakonskelos periskopion* ("Hard-legged periscope") | | **Attitude** | Passive | | **Type** | Mobile | | **Category** | Foragers | | **Biome** | Shallows, Necrolei Hills |   ![Periscopic Clowncrab](Periscopic_Clowncrab.png)   The **Periscopic Clowncrab** is a small, camouflaged lifeform that hides amongst the grass-like gorgonians of the Coral Gardens.   ## Appearance+  At night, the tips of the crab's eye stalks will glow, giving a white texture to them while retaining the black iris.  -A cosmetic variant of the creature can be found in the Necrolei Hills. This variant shares the same databank entry but is predominantly blue in color.+A cosmetic variant of the creature can be found in the **Necrolei Hills**, which shares the same databank entry but is predominantly blue in color.   ![Orange Variant](Periscopic_Clowncrab.png) ![Blue Variant](Periscopic_Clowncrab_Necrolei_Hills.png)   ## Behavior+  Periscopic Clowncrabs can be seen wandering around the seafloor in the Coral Gardens region, usually looming in dense patches of anemones that match their body color. They can be found alone, as well as in small groups. The Clowncrabs are passive and curious, and will stare at the Player if they are approached.   ## Databank-**Ostrakonskelos periskopion**, the hard-legged periscope. A social crab that shelters among stinging anemones.  -1. **Reduced body**: The clowncrab's single-segment body is an illusion. The multiple segments of other Protean arthropods are still present, nested inside. When the clowncrab molts, it sheds its internal shells through its digestive tract.-2. **Regenerative eyestalk**: Enormous eyestalks mimic the surrounding anemones. If bitten off by a predator, each stalk is packed with unspecialized cells that quickly regenerate missing eyes. If the stalks grow too long, the clowncrab will trim them to avoid drawing attention.-3. **Anemone tender**: The clowncrab provides a valuable service to sessile anemones by ranging out to forage, returning nutrients in its molt and waste. It also grooms the anemones to clean parasites and infections.-4. **Fecund stalk**: The third stalk behind the eyes is a reproductive organ. The same unspecialized cells used to heal the eyestalks become eggs or sperm. Sperm is released into the seawater, while eggs are deposited among anemones.- -**Assessment**: Sign of a healthy anemone field.- -> *Caught script hook in allocated memory for command >> generate-databank "Clowncrab" >> echo \memory-carve -signature=0xSEABEEF5 >> restore-remarks*+> **Periscopic Clowncrab** >-> **Remark A.** Centipede! I think the PDA got this thing's anatomy and reproduction completely wrong. I swear I've seen centipedes — a bunch of clowncrabs linked up in a train. I think they grow as a single, segmented organism and then each segment splits off into its own crab. And then maybe they hook up again later? It wouldn't be the weirdest thing we've seen. [metadata author=K. "Wander" Wangmo]+> *Ostrakonskelos periskopion*, the hard-legged periscope. A social crab that shelters among stinging anemones.+>+> **1. Reduced body**+> The clowncrab's single-segment body is an illusion. The multiple segments of other Protean arthropods are still present, nested inside. When the clowncrab molts, it sheds its internal shells through its digestive tract.+>+> **2. Regenerative eyestalk**+> Enormous eyestalks mimic the surrounding raions. If bitten off by a predator, each stalk is packed with unspecialized cells that quickly regenerate missing eyes. If the stalks grow too long, the clowncrab will trim them to avoid drawing attention.+>+> **3. Raion tender**+> The clowncrab provides a valuable service to sessile raions by ranging out to forage, returning nutrients in its molt and waste. It also grooms the raions to clean parasites and infections.+>+> **4. Fecund stalk**+> The third stalk behind the eyes is a reproductive organ. The same unspecialized cells used to heal the eyestalks become eggs or sperm. Sperm is released into the seawater, while eggs are deposited among raions.+>+> **Assessment:** sign of a healthy raion field.+>+> *“Caught script hook in allocated memory for command >> generate-databank "Clowncrab" >> echo \memory-carve -signature=0xSEABEEF5 >> restore-remarks”*+>+> **Remark A.** Centipede! I think the PDA got this thing's anatomy and reproduction completely wrong. I swear I've seen centipedes — a bunch of clowncrabs linked up in a train. I think they grow as a single, segmented organism and then each segment splits off into its own crab. And then maybe they hook up again later? It wouldn't be the weirdest thing we've seen. — *K. "Wander" Wangmo*   ## Gallery+  ### In Game+  ![Bioluminescence at night](Crab1.png) ![Closeup of the Shallows variant](Crab2.png) ![Periscopic Clowncrab camouflaging with grass](Crab3.png) ![A Periscopic Clowncrab cleaning its eye stalk](Crab4.png) ![A small group of Periscopic Clowncrabs](Crab5.png) ![Front view of the Periscopic Clowncrab variant found in the Necrolei Hills](Periscopic_Clowncrab_variant_.webp) ![Necrolei Hills variant side view](Clowncrab_variant_side.webp)   ## Trivia+  * The Periscopic Clowncrab was first revealed in the Subnautica discord server in an image posted by lead developer Anthony Gallegos. * There is a variation of the Periscopic Clowncrab within the Necrolei Hills.