Junk Crab

Junk Crabs are man-sized hermit crabs with a preternatural talent for tinkering. Their shells aren't actually shells, but are a personalized construction of cobbled together junk of which they take much pride. They are always on the lookout for unique scraps they can add, and their sense of aesthetics is at odds with most other sentient species.
They make the best mechanics and repairmen so long as you don't care about configuration management. They don't care too much about keeping things to original specifications or even using proper parts, and will never settle for returning anything to the way it was. On the other hand, when they do work on something, they will undoubtedly improve it somehow. Good luck trying to find anyone else who understands what they've done, however.

Basic Information

Anatomy

Equipped with Four legs, two arms, eyes on stalks and antennae, they look very much like hermit crabs. Their exposed Bodies have an exoskeleton, but the majority of their vital organs are in flexible, muscled, protruding bodies without an exoskeleton. They protect this with their "shell." They have another pair of limbs located nearest this unarmored portion of their body (for a total of eight limbs). They use these legs and the muscles of their unarmored body to keep hold of their "shells." Rarely will anyone see thewm outside of their shell, except when maintaining it.

Dietary Needs and Habits

Junk crabs happily eat submerged vegetation, and will leave nets and traps about their territories to catch fish for eating. But their favorite meal on Rifts earth is cheese and eggs.

Additional Information

Perception and Sensory Capabilities

Junk Crabs are quipped with chemoreceptors so they can sense changes in water chemistry, and when above ground can detect aerosols and chemical trails.
On Rifts Earth, Junk Crabs have been able to manifest telemechanics abilities, being able to understand the workings of and operate even unfamiliar machines. The most powerful and sensitive can actually connect to and interface with machines, vehicles and devices psionically.

Civilization and Culture

Common Taboos

(Saying anything without first beginning with a satus et finem phrase and ending with the phrase is an unthinkable act and is treated as one of the rudest things a Junk Crab can do.
(think of Chantho from Doctor Who series 3 ep 11 "Utopia")
If an outsider uses the satus et finem phrasing peculiar to Junk Crabs when dealing with them, it will be received most favorably.