Giant Mantis Shrimp

by Richard Whitcombe via Shutterstock

The strange and vibrantly colored mantis shrimp is usually a small if beautiful crustacean. As with many species of Orentia however, living and breeding in close proximity to magic has created a sub-species of abnormal size. These giant mantis shrimp are about the size of a small dog and can grow to 3 or four feet long. These shrimp posess colorful shells, the patterns upon which they can change to suit their needs, and large, incredibly powerful eyes that can see things few other mortal creatures will ever glimpse.
As with normal mantis shrimp, giant mantis shrimp come in two main varieties: the sickle-clawed ambusher and the hammer-clawed forager. The sickle-clawed species makes its home in sandy areas where it can easily create a burrow in the sand which it treats as both its home and a hiding spot for ambushing prey. The hammer-clawed species on the other hand, prefers rocky seafloors and reefs. It makes its living by cracking open the shells of other crustaceans with its powerful claws, which it also uses to bash apart burrows in the rock for shelter.
Giant mantis shrimp, like their smaller compatriots, are highly agressive and will often spar with other members of its species. Beware their claws; though they may appear as ordinary crustacean weapons, their musculature allows the shrimp to strike with terrifying speed and power for something its size.

Classification: crustacean.
Diet: carnivore.
Lifespan: 6 to 8 years.
Native Habitat: sandy or rocky sunlit seafloors, usually in tropical seas around the Emerald Sea.