Scythe Lobster

A large carnivorous creature that burrows into the ground in order to catch its prey, preferring to live in large open areas of the Forests. They use their large paddle-shaped tails in order to burrow into the sand, while their legs are more useful for walking. While experienced hunters in the ground, they don't fare as well against swimming creatures from above.

Basic Information

Anatomy

This creature has a long slender body covered in spiny exoskeletal plates. It has eight spindly legs, the front two of which are built like scythes, and the hind pair longer and bulkier than the rest. Its head consists of two sharp protrusions with six eyes positioned near the top of the head, right below a smaller protrusion.

Genetics and Reproduction

Male individuals of this species will fight each other over the right to mate, jumping onto their opponent's back, and attempting to pierce their head with their scythe-shaped forelimbs. The one that loses the brawl is usually left to die where he is, but it is no guarantee. Once the mother's eggs are laid, the father will then leave her in search of either food or other mates. The mother will bury herself in the sand with her legs clutching the eggs to her stomach, starving herself to protect them until they hatch.

Growth Rate & Stages

Mother Scythe Lobsters will normally be dead when their young hatch, prompting them to feed off of her corpse to give them a boost of energy to survive out in the world. As the young grow, they'll stay buried just underneath the sand, feeding off of small fish and the occasional egg they find on their travels. Their shells will also take on a more solid color, and their scythe-shaped forelimbs will become much more pronounced. As they near adulthood, these creatures will shift to burying themselves upside down, and lying in wait for prey to pass by.

Ecology and Habitats

Scythe Lobsters prowl the very bottom of the Forests, and because they can't swim, they'll crawl over any surface they can, constantly searching for a good area to make their territory. They have been observed getting into conflicts with other members of their species, usually ones that intrude upon their territory. They also tend to leave large holes in the ground after hunting.

Dietary Needs and Habits

Scythe Lobsters will feed on Probefish, Petrazoans, and Spikefish. When hunting, they'll completely bury themselves under the sand, with their undersides facing up. When a prey item passes over their stomachs, they curl themselves over the prey, impaling it with their forelimbs in the process. When dealing with Petrazoans in particular, these creature have to be careful to pierce their undersides before they can squirm away.

Biological Cycle

These lobsters' forelimbs will naturally dull, and they make habits of sharpening them on nearby rocks to combat this. It has been thought the many of the grooves found in the rocks of their habitat are caused by these creatures' sharpening practices.

Additional Information

Perception and Sensory Capabilities

Scythe Lobsters don't rely too heavily on sight, and instead use their senses of smell and touch, especially handy when hunting. When buried in the sand, it curls its walking legs into its body, only leaving the small hairs on its legs unconcealed. When a prey item passes over the tips of its legs, the lobster strikes with its forelimbs.

History

Scythe Lobsters were among the first successful species in the kelp Forests, inhabiting the region before it turned into a kelp forest. After excessive plant growth destroyed the lobsters' initial habitats, they decreased in numbers, but would find a wider variety of prey to hunt when the ecosystem further grew. Over time, they have learned to live in virtually any environment, be it dense kelp groupings, or large open sandbeds.

Scientific Name

Acanthacaris asseribus

Lifespan

Unknown

Average Weight

620 lbs.

Average Length

12 ft.

Average Physique

Slender

Body Tint, Colouring and Marking

Dark red-brown

Geographic Distribution

• The Kelp Forests

Average Intelligence
Fairly low