Periscopic Clowncrab

 | Feature | Details | | :--- | :--- | | **Species** | *Ostrakonskelos periskopion* ("Hard-legged periscope") | | **Attitude** | Passive | | **Type** | Mobile | | **Category** | Foragers | | **Biome** | Shallows, Necrolei Hills | | **Scan Tool** | Bioscanner |   ![Periscopic Clowncrab Render](Periscopic Clowncrab Render.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.+The periscopic clowncrab possesses a smooth, hard-shelled body with a white underbelly. The top of its body is covered in orange polygons that create veins of white.   -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.+*   **Reproductive Organ:** A smooth, orange, stalk-like organ lies in the upper middle of its body.+*   **Eyestalks:** Two smooth, orange eye-stalks are positioned at the front top of the body, featuring a small red-orange gradient. Each stalk ends in a large, ovular black iris facing forward.+*   **Mandibles:** Two crab-claw-like vertical mandibles are located at the front, orange at the top and white at the bottom.+*   **Limbs:** +    *   **Front Limbs (Arms):** Located below the mandibles, these have two joints creating a triangular dent. They feature an orange stripe on top, an orange ring before the second joint, and are white elsewhere. They end in a thick, singular yellow claw.+    *   **Back Limbs:** Stretching backwards behind the arms, these are fully white, vertically flat, and also tipped with a yellow claw.  +### Bioluminescence and Variants+At night, the tips of the clowncrab's eyestalks glow cyan, mimicking the glow of the anemone they hide in, though the irises remain visible.+ +A light-blue to purple variant can be found in the **Necrolei Hills**, where it camouflages itself within the biome's lavender anemones.+  ![Orange Variant](Periscopic Clowncrab Render.png) ![Blue Variant](Periscopic Clowncrab Necrolei Hills Render.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.+Periscopic Clowncrabs wander the seafloor in the **Coral Gardens** region, typically loitering in dense patches of anemones that match their body color. They can be found alone or in small groups. These creatures are passive and curious; they will stare at the player if approached.   ## Databank Entry   > **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*+> *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)+![Front view of the Necrolei Hills variant](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.+*   The Periscopic Clowncrab was first revealed in the Subnautica Discord server in an image posted by lead developer Anthony Gallegos.+*   There is a distinct variation of the Periscopic Clowncrab within the **Necrolei Hills**.