Trident Scorpion

Disclaimer: The Trident scorpion is a fictional eurypterid from Keenan Taylor's Tales of Kaimere

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Earth Ancestor: Scorpiones sp.

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Arthropoda

Class: Chelicerata

Order: Scorpiones

Family: Unknown

Genus: Unknown

Species: Unknown

### Description

The most common of known world sea scorpions is the Trident Scorpion, characterized by their green coloration, upturned tails, and trident shaped abdomen, they are one of the largest arthropods in Kaimere, reaching sizes of nearly 7 ft. Trident scorpions, as their name suggests, are most well known for their trident shaped abdomen, which like true scorpions injects venom into their prey. Trident Scorpions are primarily benthic creature, but are proficient swimmers, they have powerful fluked tails as well as specialized back legs used for both direction and speed, and are also surprisingly powerful, able to propel the animal far into the water column in a matter of milliseconds. Most of their lives are spent in the inland sea, hunting and scavenging. They need to be in cold waters to molt, and will often migrate to the straight between Pakardia and the shallow sea so the cold summer currents will facilitate shedding and there will be an abundance of prey brought by upwells to rapidly bulk up before their new hardened carapace forms. They are vulnerable at this time, but often predators would rather hunt the bounty of confused fish thrown north by upwells rather than bother with an especially irritable and venomous scorpion. Most adult trident scorpions only molt every two to three years, typically alternating with mating. Trident scorpions hunt by waiting for prey to get close, then grappling them with powerful claws holding them steady, then injected their victim with a potent venom, and due to their speed, this range can be especially far into the water column.

### Habitat

Shallow waters of the known world and beyond.

### Phylogeny

Trident Scorpions are likely the most basal species of sea scorpion in the known world, looking fairly similar to their descendants from the First Dynasty over 400 mya.

### Ontogeny

  Trident scorpions are monogamous, and partners will remain together from mating until the young are at least a year old. Courtship and mating occurs in the inland sea, often shortly after their molt is complete. They usually seek a freshwater habitat and go upriver. When they find a suitable place, usually a flowing river with a still portion nearby, the female will give birth to around a dozen offspring. The male will mostly defend their inlet and hunt, although they do alternate roles from time to time. Both parents are especially territorial and aggressive at this time.

    After around six months, once the young are able to fend for themselves and have completed their first molt, the family moves downstream. They will often remain together for another few months in the inland sea, although some family units break apart as soon as they reach the salt water. Each individual has a lot of bulking up to do either in preparation for a molt, to mate again, or simply to grow. In some instances young choose to remain in freshwater for a few years, molding and growing there instead, although this is mostly done in colder waters and they must still travel out to saline waters after molting to calcify their shells.

### Human Relations

Trident Scorpions are of notable danger to humans, and can take down full grown Kaimerans are a short struggle, in Kaimeran Folklore they are depicted as givers and takers of life.