Sclerocephalus

## Sclerocephalus lutus

Latest Mutations: Bigger, Muddy Brown, Cephalothorax Carapace

At dusk and dawn, this arthropod is an effective hunter but during the day it relies on remaining hidden to survive while it rests and waits for prime hunting time. The muddy colour is to help it blend in with the riverbed and the cephalothorax carapace gives extra protection should it be attacked.

Status: Unlisted

Habitat: Freshwater & Brackish Water in Tropical Very Humid Barrens, Tropical Monsoon Barrens, Tropical Wet-Dry Barrens, Tropical Winter Semi-Arid Barrens, Tropical Arid Barrens, Subtropical Very Humid Barrens, Subtropical Monsoon Barrens, Subtropical Wet-Dry Barrens, Subtropical Winter Semi-Arid Barrens, Subtropical Arid Barrens, Subtropical Very Arid Barrens, Warm Continental Arid Barrens, Warm Continental Very Arid Barrens, Warm Continental Arid Barrens, Subpolar Moderate Continental Arid Barrens

Niche: Predator, Herbivore

Size: 13cm (length)

Nutritional Need: (134NP/10) x 20/10 = 14.8NP

Food / Oxygen Requirement: (14.8 x 0.6) x 0.9 = 8NP / 14.8NP

Abilities: Anti-Freeze. Buoyancy. Circulation, Large-Body. Excretion, Liquid. All High Pressures Intolerant. Moults. Osmoregulation, Variable (Brackish, Freshwater). Penetrates Toughness 2. Rolls Up. Taste, Bitter. UV Resistance, High.

Perception: Chemoreception 2 (Detects chemicals 5m away from the front). Night Vision 1 (Can see at light level 2). Peripheral Vision (Clear sight to the side). Sight 2 (Clear sight to the side, Blue and Green Perception).

Stats: Coordination 1. Desiccation Resistance 2. Dexterity 1. Digestion 2.2 (Digests Meat, 12% off). Filtration 0. Flexibility -0.5. Immunity 1. Intelligence 1. Jumping 1. Respiration 0.5 (Ram Ventilation). Stamina 1.5. Strength 0.5. Support 1.5. Swim Speed 1.7. Toughness 4 (head carapace) / 3. Walk Speed 1.5.

Intelligence / Behaviour: Processes information and responds based on fixed behaviours. When feeling pain; roll up into a ball. When hungry; look or sense for algae or animals. In Early Spring, when ready to reproduce, move to brackish water and gather in specific breeding sites (+1 Evolution) and then sense for pheromones of opposite sex and move towards them, then attempt to mate with the source.

External Features: About nine segments of a calcified, chitin exoskeleton cover the cylindrical, slightly rounded body, and connected by a flexible tissue. A calcified carapace covers the head. The pigments are muddy-brown. The exoskeleton covers the skin. A pair of mandibles lay on either side of the mouth. There are also chemoreceptors on the front and at the side of the head are a large pair of lens eyes, then a pair of compound eyes both with blue and green receptor cells. On each segment of the middle exoskeleton is a pair of jointed legs, adding up to five. The first pair are chelipeds which ends in long, serrated pincers (chela). The next four pairs of legs are lined with paddles up until the tip. At the end is a fan tail, extended from the exoskeleton, with a hyponome below.

Internal Features: The hyponome does not form much of a chamber. Spiracles dotted along the body contain gills. The mouth leads to a tube that reaches the stomach, which connects to the coiled intestines and this to the anus. A brain in the head connects to a nerve cord, which is connected to nerves that spread across the body like rungs of a ladder. Blood vessels cross all over the body. The blood is blue because it contains hemocyanin; it also contains anti-freeze glycoproteins. A muscular system exists in the body. There is a nephridium, a swim bladder and a sexual organ. A bitter fluid is produced by a sac.

Reproduction: Sexual, Ovuliparity (External Fertilisation). 1,000 eggs per spawning. Hermaphroditism.

Castes/Phases: Male & Female until late life (Identical) (+1 Evolution)

Locomotion: Walking. Paddling. Hyponome Cruising.

External Features: Segments of calcified, chitin exoskeleton, carapace (14NP, +4 Toughness, +2 Desiccation Resistance, +1 Support, +1 Immunity, -0.5 Flexibility, +Moults, +Rolls Up). Muddy-brown (2NP, +High UV Resistance). Mandibles (4NP, +1 Dexterity, -1 Filtration, +Penetrates Toughness 2, Weapon). Mouth (+1 Filtration). Chemoreceptors (2NP, +2 Chemoreception). Large lens eyes, compound eyes with blue and green receptor cells (10NP, +2 Sight, +1 Peripheral Vision, +1 Night Vision, +Blue and Green perception). Legs, chela, paddles (4NP, +1 Walk Speed, +1 Jumping, +1 Dexterity, -0.3 Swim Speed, +Walks, +Paddles, +Penetrates Toughness 2, Weapon). Fan tail (4NP, +1 Swim Speed, +Paddles). Hyponome (3NP, +0.5 Swim Speed, Hyponome Cruising).

Internal Features: Aquatic Spiracles (2NP, +0.5 Respiration, +0.5 Stamina, +Ram Ventilation). Stomach (7NP, +1 Digestion, +Digests Meat). Coiled intestines (7NP, +1.2 Digestion). Brain (11NP, +1 Intelligence). Nerve cord (11NP, +1 Coordination). Blood vessels (7NP, +1 Stamina, +Large-Body Circulation). Anti-freeze glycoproteins (2NP, +Anti-Freeze). Muscular system (7NP, +0.5 Support, +0.5 Strength, +0.5 Walk Speed, +0.5 Swim Speed). Nephridium (19NP, +Liquid Excretion, +Variable Osmoregulation). Swim bladder (7NP, +Buoyancy, +All High Pressures Intolerant). Sexual organ (7NP). Bitter fluid sac (4NP, +Bitter Taste).

Temporal Range: R.190 - Present (Astathean Stage of the Oliverian)

Distribution: Tartarus

Lifespan: 1 - 2 years

Predecessor: Megalops venatus

Classification: Gempliaoirinae (sf), Gempliaoridae (f)

Discoverer: StealthStyle

## Sclerocephalus nocturnus

Latest Mutations: Change to Rod Cells

This is an arthropod with a carapace over the head. It is specialised for hunting at night and lives throughout freshwater systems on Tartarus.

Status: Unlisted

Habitat: Brackish Water and Freshwater in Tropical Very Humid Barrens, Tropical Monsoon Barrens, Tropical Wet-Dry Barrens, Tropical Winter Semi-Arid Barrens, Tropical Arid Barrens, Subtropical Very Humid Barrens, Subtropical Monsoon Barrens, Subtropical Wet-Dry Barrens, Subtropical Winter Semi-Arid Barrens, Subtropical Arid Barrens, Subtropical Very Arid Barrens, Temperate Oceanic Summer Semi-Arid Barrens, Temperate Continental Arid Barrens, Subpolar Temperate Oceanic Humid Barrens

Niche: Predator

Size: 10cm

Nutritional Need: 201 x 10/100 = 20.1NP.

Food / Oxygen Requirement: 20.1 x 0.25 = 5NP per round (Needs to intake 5/0.7 = 7.1NP per round)/ 20.1 x 0.9 = 18NP

Characteristics: Anti-Freeze. Foul Taste. Inflexible. Intolerant of more than low pressure. Large-Body Circulation. Liquid Excretion. Low Pressure Tolerance. Moults. Osmoregulation (Brackish Salinity, Freshwater). Solid Excretion.

Perception: Sight 2 (sees clearly up to 5m away at the sides, blue and green perception, monocular vision). Chemoreception 2 (chemicals 5m from mouth). Wide Vision 1 (wide field of view from sides that catches peripheral movement, monocular vision). Night Vision 2.

Stats: Buoyancy 1 (Adjustable Buoyancy). Coordination 2. Desiccation Resistance 1. Dexterity 1. Digestion 2 (100% Meat, Digests 70%). Evolution 1 (4 votes). Filtration 0. Immunity 2. Jumping 1. Pierce Strength 4. Reach 1. Respiration 2 (Stationary Respiration, 10% off). Stamina 4. Strength 1. Support 2. Swim Speed 1.7. Toughness 3 (Carapace = 3.5). UV Resistance 2. Walk Speed 1.5.

Intelligence / Behaviour: Stimulus Response. Subconscious Functions. Body Movement Control. Tiredness = rest. Hunger hormones = move around. Pain = roll up. Adult = Release mating hormones. Mating hormones = move. Mating hormones + own species chemicals = reproduce. Move signal in water = hyponome boost and paddle with fan tail. Move signal against a surface = walk. ??? = move towards, close cheliped over it. Daylight = rest against the floor.

External Features: It has a cylindrical body which has a calcified, calcite exoskeleton in fourteen plates with joint tissue in between, although the first two plates are fused into a carapace. The skin underneath has muddy-brown melanin pigmentation. One pair of legs have chela on the end. In front of the circular mouth is are mandibles and around it are a few chemoreceptors. On either side of the head is a large camera eye with calcite lens that changes shape, containing almost all rod cells, and has no blind spot and a typical apposition compound eye, which contains blue and green cone cells. Not including the chelipeds, it has four pairs of paddle-lined legs, one to a segment, with gills at the top of each leg. The rear of the body has a fan tail and below that a hyponome.

Internal Features: The body is segmented and contains fourteen segments. It has aquatic spiracles. Blood vessels travel past every cell, carrying blue blood caused by hemocyanin. An anti-freeze xylomannan fatty acid and polysaccharide is in the blood. The body is supported by a system of muscles. It has a sex-appropriate gonad and a large protonephridium. There is a enclosed, one-chambered swim bladder in the dorsal side. There is a monogastric digestive system. A gland releases a foul fluid into the body fluids. Ganglia in the head lead into a dual dorsal nerve cord that has many nerves branching off.

Reproduction: Sexual Reproduction. External Fertilisation. 1,000 eggs per spawning.

Castes/Phases: Genders.

Locomotion: Active (20NP). Paddling, Hyponome Boosting. Walking.

External Features: Calcified Exoskeleton w/ carapace (10NP, +3.5 Toughness, +1 Desiccation Resistance, +2 Support, -1 Respiration, -1 Stamina, +Moults, +Inflexible, -Cutaneous Respiration, -Permeable Skin, -Wriggling). Skin (3NP, +1 Immunity, +1 Respiration, +1 Stamina, +Stationary Respiration, +Cutaneous Respiration, +Permeable Skin). Dark Pigmentation (2NP, +3 UV Resistance, +0.5 Warming). Serrated Chela (5NP, +1 Dexterity, +3 Pierce Strength, +1 Reach, +1 Sharpness). Mandibles (5NP, +3 Pierce Strength, +1 Digestion, +1 Dexterity, +1 Reach, -1 Filtration). Mouth (0NP, +1 Filtration). Chemoreceptors (2NP, +2 Chemoreception). Large Camera Eye w/ all rod cells (11NP, +2 Sight, +2 Night Vision, +Monocular Vision). Compound Eye w/ blue and green cone cells (11NP, +1 Wide Vision, +1 Sight, +Monocular Vision, +Blue Perception). Paddle-Lined Legs (5NP, +1 Walk Speed, +1 Jumping, -0.3 Swim Speed, +Walking, +Paddling). External Gills (4NP, +1 Respiration, +1 Stamina, +Stationary Respiration, +Only Works Underwater). Fan Tail (4NP, +1 Swim Speed, +Paddling). Hyponome (7NP, +0.5 Swim Speed, +Hyponome Boosting, +Only Works Underwater).

Internal Features: Piezolytes (5NP, +Low Pressure Tolerance). Closed Circulatory System (10NP, +2 Stamina, +Large-Body Circulation). Anti-Freeze Compound (2NP, +Anti-Freeze). Aquatic Spiracles (0NP, +1 Respiration, +1 Stamina, +Ram Ventilation, +Only Works Underwater). Muscular System (7NP, +1 Strength, +0.5 Walk Speed, +0.5 Swim Speed, +Wriggling). Sexual Caste Gonads (7NP, +1 Evolution, +Sexual Reproduction, +Genders, +External Fertilization). Swim Bladder (7NP, +1 Buoyancy, +Adjustable Buoyancy, +Intolerant of more than Low Pressure). Large Nephridium (19NP, +Liquid Excretion, +Osmoregulation). Monogastric Digestive System (19NP, +1 Meat Digestion, +1 Veg Protein Digestion, +1 Immunity, +Solid Excretion). Foul Fluid Gland (7NP, +Foul Taste). Centralised Nervous System (19NP, +2 Coordination, +Stimulus Response, +Subconscious Functions, +Body Movement Control).

Temporal Range: R.211 - Present (Agentian Stage of the Oliverian)

Distribution: Tartarus

Lifespan: 1-2 years

Predecessor: Sclerocephalus brachius

Classification:

Discoverer: StealthStyle

## Sclerocephalus branchius

Latest Mutations: Smaller, External Gills

Status: Unlisted

Habitat: Brackish Water and Freshwater in Tropical Very Humid Barrens, Tropical Monsoon Barrens, Tropical Wet-Dry Barrens, Tropical Winter Semi-Arid Barrens, Tropical Arid Barrens, Subtropical Very Humid Barrens, Subtropical Monsoon Barrens, Subtropical Wet-Dry Barrens, Subtropical Winter Semi-Arid Barrens, Subtropical Arid Barrens, Subtropical Very Arid Barrens, Temperate Oceanic Summer Semi-Arid Barrens, Temperate Continental Arid Barrens, Subpolar Temperate Oceanic Humid Barrens

Niche: Predator

Size: 10cm

Nutritional Need: 201 x 10/100 = 20.1NP.

Food / Oxygen Requirement: 20.1 x 0.25 = 5NP per round (Needs to intake 5/0.7 = 7.1NP per round)/ 20.1 x 0.9 = 18NP

Characteristics: Anti-Freeze. Foul Taste. Inflexible. Intolerant of more than low pressure. Large-Body Circulation. Liquid Excretion. Low Pressure Tolerance. Moults. Osmoregulation (Brackish Salinity, Freshwater). Solid Excretion.

Perception: Sight 2 (sees clearly up to 5m away at the sides, blue and green perception, monocular vision). Chemoreception 2 (chemicals 5m from mouth). Wide Vision 1 (wide field of view from sides that catches peripheral movement, monocular vision).

Stats: Buoyancy 1 (Adjustable Buoyancy). Coordination 2. Desiccation Resistance 1. Dexterity 1. Digestion 2 (100% Meat, Digests 70%). Evolution 1 (4 votes). Filtration 0. Immunity 2. Jumping 1. Pierce Strength 4. Reach 1. Respiration 2 (Stationary Respiration, 10% off). Stamina 4. Strength 1. Support 2. Swim Speed 1.7. Toughness 3 (Carapace = 3.5). UV Resistance 2. Walk Speed 1.5.

Intelligence / Behaviour: Stimulus Response. Subconscious Functions. Body Movement Control. Tiredness = rest. Hunger hormones = move around. Pain = roll up. Adult = Release mating hormones. Mating hormones = move. Mating hormones + own species chemicals = reproduce. Move signal in water = hyponome boost and paddle with fan tail. Move signal against a surface = walk. ??? = move towards, close cheliped over it. Daylight = rest against the floor.

External Features: It has a cylindrical body which has a calcified, calcite exoskeleton in fourteen plates with joint tissue in between, although the first two plates are fused into a carapace. The skin underneath has muddy-brown melanin pigmentation. One pair of legs have chela on the end. In front of the circular mouth is are mandibles and around it are a few chemoreceptors. On either side of the head is a large camera eye with calcite lens that changes shape and has no blind spot and a typical apposition compound eye, which both contain blue and green cone cells. Not including the chelipeds, it has four pairs of paddle-lined legs, one to a segment, with gills at the top of each leg. The rear of the body has a fan tail and below that a hyponome.

Internal Features: The body is segmented and contains fourteen segments. It has aquatic spiracles. Blood vessels travel past every cell, carrying blue blood caused by hemocyanin. An anti-freeze xylomannan fatty acid and polysaccharide is in the blood. The body is supported by a system of muscles. It has a sex-appropriate gonad and a large protonephridium. There is a enclosed, one-chambered swim bladder in the dorsal side. There is a monogastric digestive system. A gland releases a foul fluid into the body fluids. Ganglia in the head lead into a dual dorsal nerve cord that has many nerves branching off.

Reproduction: Sexual Reproduction. External Fertilisation. 1,000 eggs per spawning.

Castes/Phases: Genders.

Locomotion: Active (20NP). Paddling, Hyponome Boosting. Walking.

External Features: Calcified Exoskeleton w/ carapace (10NP, +3.5 Toughness, +1 Desiccation Resistance, +2 Support, -1 Respiration, -1 Stamina, +Moults, +Inflexible, -Cutaneous Respiration, -Permeable Skin, -Wriggling). Skin (3NP, +1 Immunity, +1 Respiration, +1 Stamina, +Stationary Respiration, +Cutaneous Respiration, +Permeable Skin). Dark Pigmentation (2NP, +3 UV Resistance, +0.5 Warming). Serrated Chela (5NP, +1 Dexterity, +3 Pierce Strength, +1 Reach, +1 Sharpness). Mandibles (5NP, +3 Pierce Strength, +1 Digestion, +1 Dexterity, +1 Reach, -1 Filtration). Mouth (0NP, +1 Filtration). Chemoreceptors (2NP, +2 Chemoreception). Large Camera Eye w/ blue and green cone cells (11NP, +2 Sight, +1 Night Vision, +Monocular Vision, +Blue Perception, +Green Perception). Compound Eye w/ blue and green cone cells (11NP, +1 Wide Vision, +1 Sight, +Monocular Vision, +Blue Perception). Paddle-Lined Legs (5NP, +1 Walk Speed, +1 Jumping, -0.3 Swim Speed, +Walking, +Paddling). External Gills (4NP, +1 Respiration, +1 Stamina, +Stationary Respiration, +Only Works Underwater). Fan Tail (4NP, +1 Swim Speed, +Paddling). Hyponome (7NP, +0.5 Swim Speed, +Hyponome Boosting, +Only Works Underwater).

Internal Features: Piezolytes (5NP, +Low Pressure Tolerance). Closed Circulatory System (10NP, +2 Stamina, +Large-Body Circulation). Anti-Freeze Compound (2NP, +Anti-Freeze). Aquatic Spiracles (0NP, +1 Respiration, +1 Stamina, +Ram Ventilation, +Only Works Underwater). Muscular System (7NP, +1 Strength, +0.5 Walk Speed, +0.5 Swim Speed, +Wriggling). Sexual Caste Gonads (7NP, +1 Evolution, +Sexual Reproduction, +Genders, +External Fertilization). Swim Bladder (7NP, +1 Buoyancy, +Adjustable Buoyancy, +Intolerant of more than Low Pressure). Large Nephridium (19NP, +Liquid Excretion, +Osmoregulation). Monogastric Digestive System (19NP, +1 Meat Digestion, +1 Veg Protein Digestion, +1 Immunity, +Solid Excretion). Foul Fluid Gland (7NP, +Foul Taste). Centralised Nervous System (19NP, +2 Coordination, +Stimulus Response, +Subconscious Functions, +Body Movement Control).

Temporal Range: R.197 - Present (Astathean Stage of the Oliverian)

Distribution: Tartarus

Lifespan: 1-2 years

Predecessor: Sclerocephalus lutus

Classification: Sclerocephalusinae (sf), Gempliaoridae (f)

Discoverer: StealthStyle

## Sclerocephalus crassocnemus

Latest Mutations: Brown

This is a nocturnal predatory arthropod with a heavily defended head. It lives throughout Tartarus.

Status: Unlisted

Habitat: Freshwater & Brackish Water in Subpolar Oceanic Warm Temperate Summer Semi-Arid Barrens, Subpolar Continental Warm Temperate Arid Barrens, Subpolar Continental Warm Temperate Very Arid Barrens, Polar Oceanic Cool Temperate Humid Barrens, Polar Continental Cool Temperate Winter Semi-Arid Barrens, Polar Continental Cold Temperate Winter Semi-Arid Barrens

Niche: Predator

Diet: Any fresh meat it can get

Size: 10cm (length - head to end)

Nutritional Need: 189 x 8/100 = 15NP.

Food / Oxygen Requirement: 15 x 0.25 = 3.8NP per round (Needs to intake 3.8/0.7 = 4.8NP per round)/ 15 x 0.9 = NP.

Abilities: Anti-Freeze. Exothermic. Foul Taste. Large-Body Circulation. Liquid Excretion. Low Pressure Tolerance. Moults. Osmoregulation (Freshwater). Solid Excretion.

Perception: Sight 2 (sees clearly up to 5m away at the front and sides, blue and green perception, side monocular vision, front binocular vision). Chemoreception 2 (chemicals 5m from mouth). Wide Vision 1 (wide field of view from sides that catches peripheral movement, monocular vision). Night Vision 1.

Stats: Buoyancy 1 (Adjustable Buoyancy). Coordination 2. Desiccation Resistance 1. Dexterity 1. Digestion 2 (100% Plants, Digests 70%). Evolution 1. Filtration 1. Immunity 1. Jumping 1. Pierce Strength 3. Reach 1. Respiration 2 (Ram Ventilation, Stationary Respiration). Sharpness 1. Stamina 3. Strength 1. Support 2. Swim Speed 1.7. Toughness 2.5. UV Resistance 3. Walk Speed 1.5.

Intelligence / Behaviour: 1. Hungry > Search for food. 2. Food > Attack with mandibles and chela. 3.  Tired > Rest. 4. Pain > Swim Away. 5. Maturity > Reproduce.

External Features: A highly jointed, calcified exoskeleton with nine segments covers the the skin, which contains brown melanin pigments. The first two plates are fused into a carapace. Around the mouth is a pair of horizontal mandibles and a circle of chemoreceptors. It has two large eyes (camera eyes with calcite lenses that change shape and that have no blind spot) on either side of the head. Behind these on each side is a (typical apposition) compound eye. Blue and green come cells can be found in all these eyes. Two chelipeds with claws are held at the front of the body and there are four pairs of paddle-lined legs with external gills at the top of each leg. The rear of the body has an exoskeleton fantail and below that a hyponome.

Internal Features: Each cell in the body contains a relatively small number of piezolytes. Spiracles lead into water-filled tubes. Glands near the skin secrete a foul fluid. Blood vessels run all throughout the body and in these vessels is an antifreeze (xylomannan fatty acid and polysaccharide). A system of muscles stretches across the body. Near the lower wall can be found the gonads as well as the large protonephridium and near the upper wall is the enclosed swim bladder. Through the mostly lower half runs the monogastric digestive system, from the mouth through the tubes to the stomach and intestines. Ganglia in the head connect to a dual nerve cord along the dorsal half, which has many nerves branching off it to encompass the whole body.

Reproduction: Sexual Reproduction. External Fertilisation. 1,000 eggs per spawning.

Castes/Phases: Almost identical male and females.

Locomotion: Active (20NP). Paddles with legs, swimmerets and fan tail, boosts with hyponome.

External Features: Highly Jointed Calcified Exoskeleton w/ Carapace (10NP, +2.5 Toughness, +1 Desiccation Resistance, +2 Support, -1 Respiration, -1 Stamina, +Moults, -Cutaneous Respiration, -Permeable Skin, -Wriggling). Skin (3NP, +1 Immunity, +1 Respiration, +1 Stamina, +Stationary Respiration, +Cutaneous Respiration, +Permeable Skin). Dark Pigmentation (2NP, +3 UV Resistance). Mandibles (5NP, +3 Pierce Strength, +1 Digestion, +1 Dexterity, +1 Reach). Mouth (0NP, +1 Filtration). Chemoreceptors (2NP, +2 Chemoreception). Large Camera Eyes w/ blue and green cone cells (11NP, +2 Sight, +1 Night Vision, +Monocular Vision, +Binocular Vision, +Blue Perception, +Green Perception). Compound Eyes w/ blue and green cone cells (11NP, +1 Wide Vision, +1 Sight, +Monocular Vision, +Blue Perception, +Green Perception). Serrated Chela (5NP, +1 Dexterity, +3 Pierce Strength, +1 Reach, +1 Sharpness). External Gills (4NP, +1 Respiration, +1 Stamina, +Stationary Respiration). Legs w/ paddles (5NP, +1 Walk Speed, +1 Jumping, -0.3 Swim Speed, +Paddling, +Walking). Fan Tail (4NP, +1 Swim Speed). Hyponome (7NP, +0.5 Swim Speed).

Internal Features: Piezolytes (5NP, +Low Pressure Tolerance). Spiracles (0NP, +1 Respiration, +1 Stamina, +Ram Ventilation). Foul Fluid Gland (7NP, +Foul Taste). Closed Circulatory System (10NP, +1 Stamina, +Large-Body Circulation). Anti-Freeze Compound (2NP, +Anti-Freeze). Muscular System (7NP, +1 Strength, +0.5 Walk Speed, +0.5 Swim Speed, +Wriggling). Gonads (7NP, +1 Evolution, +Sexual Reproduction, +Sexes, +External Fertilization). Swim Bladder (7NP, +1 Buoyancy, +Adjustable Buoyancy). Large Nephridium (19NP, +Liquid Excretion, +Osmoregulation). Monogastric Digestive System (19NP, +1 Meat Digestion, +1 Veg Digestion, +1 Immunity, +Solid Excretion). Centralised Nervous System (19NP, +2 Coordination).

Temporal Range: R.225 - Present (Atrobocean Stage of the Oliverian)

Distribution: Kommos

Lifespan: 2 years

Predecessor: Sclerocephalus branchius

Classification: Sclerocephalusinae (sf), Gempliaridae (f)

Discoverer: StealthStyle

## Sclerocephalus obscurus

Latest Mutations: Black, Bigger

This is a nocturnal predatory arthropod with a heavily defended head. It lives throughout Tartarus.

Status: Unlisted

Habitat: Freshwater & Brackish Water in Subpolar Oceanic Warm Temperate Summer Semi-Arid Barrens, Subpolar Continental Warm Temperate Arid Barrens, Subpolar Continental Warm Temperate Very Arid Barrens, Polar Oceanic Cool Temperate Humid Barrens, Polar Continental Cool Temperate Winter Semi-Arid Barrens, Polar Continental Cold Temperate Winter Semi-Arid Barrens

Niche: Predator, Opportunistic Scavenger

Diet: Any fresh meat it can get

Size: 15cm (length - head to end)

Nutritional Need: 189 x 8/100 = 15NP.

Food / Oxygen Requirement: 15 x 0.25 = 3.8NP per round (Needs to intake 3.8/0.7 = 4.8NP per round)/ 15 x 0.9 = NP.

Abilities: Anti-Freeze. Exothermic. Foul Taste. Large-Body Circulation. Liquid Excretion. Low Pressure Tolerance. Moults. Osmoregulation (Freshwater). Solid Excretion.

Perception: Sight 2 (sees clearly up to 5m away at the front and sides, blue and green perception, side monocular vision, front binocular vision). Chemoreception 2 (chemicals 5m from mouth). Wide Vision 1 (wide field of view from sides that catches peripheral movement, monocular vision). Night Vision 1.

Stats: Buoyancy 1 (Adjustable Buoyancy). Coordination 2. Desiccation Resistance 1. Dexterity 1. Digestion 2 (100% Plants, Digests 70%). Evolution 1. Filtration 1. Immunity 1. Jumping 1. Pierce Strength 3. Reach 1. Respiration 2 (Ram Ventilation, Stationary Ventilation, 10% off). Sharpness 1. Stamina 3. Strength 1. Support 2. Swim Speed 1.7. Toughness 2.5. UV Resistance 3. Walk Speed 1.5.

Intelligence / Behaviour: 1. Hungry > Search for food. 2. Food > Attack with mandibles and chela. 3.  Tired > Rest. 4. Pain > Swim Away. 5. Maturity > Reproduce.

External Features: A highly jointed, calcified exoskeleton with nine segments covers the the skin, which contains black melanin pigments. The first two plates are fused into a carapace. Around the mouth is a pair of horizontal mandibles and a circle of chemoreceptors. It has two large eyes (camera eyes with calcite lenses that change shape and that have no blind spot) on either side of the head. They contain only rod cells. Behind these on each side is a (typical apposition) compound eye. Blue and green come cells can be found in these eyes. Two chelipeds with claws are held at the front of the body and there are four pairs of paddle-lined legs with external gills at the top of each leg. The rear of the body has an exoskeleton fantail and below that a hyponome.

Internal Features: Each cell in the body contains a relatively small number of piezolytes. Spiracles lead into water-filled tubes. Glands near the skin secrete a foul fluid. Blood vessels run all throughout the body and in these vessels is an antifreeze (xylomannan fatty acid and polysaccharide). A system of muscles stretches across the body. Near the lower wall can be found the gonads as well as the large protonephridium and near the upper wall is the enclosed swim bladder. Through the mostly lower half runs the monogastric digestive system, from the mouth through the tubes to the stomach and intestines. Ganglia in the head connect to a dual nerve cord along the dorsal half, which has many nerves branching off it to encompass the whole body.

Reproduction: Sexual Reproduction. External Fertilisation. 1,000 eggs per spawning.

Castes/Phases: Almost identical male and females.

Locomotion: Active (20NP). Paddles with legs, swimmerets and fan tail, boosts with hyponome.

External Features: Highly Jointed Calcified Exoskeleton w/ Carapace (10NP, +2.5 Toughness, +1 Desiccation Resistance, +2 Support, -1 Respiration, -1 Stamina, +Moults, -Cutaneous Respiration, -Permeable Skin, -Wriggling). Skin (3NP, +1 Immunity, +1 Respiration, +1 Stamina, +Stationary Respiration, +Cutaneous Respiration, +Permeable Skin). Dark Pigmentation (2NP, +3 UV Resistance). Mandibles (5NP, +3 Pierce Strength, +1 Digestion, +1 Dexterity, +1 Reach). Mouth (0NP, +1 Filtration). Chemoreceptors (2NP, +2 Chemoreception). Large Camera Eyes w/ all rod cells (11NP, +2 Sight, +2 Night Vision, +Monocular Vision, +Binocular Vision). Compound Eyes w/ blue and green cone cells (11NP, +1 Wide Vision, +1 Sight, +Monocular Vision, +Blue Perception, +Green Perception). Serrated Chela (5NP, +1 Dexterity, +3 Pierce Strength, +1 Reach, +1 Sharpness). Legs w/ paddles (5NP, +1 Walk Speed, +1 Jumping, -0.3 Swim Speed, +Paddling, +Walking). External Gills (4NP, +1 Respiration, +1 Stamina, +Stationary Respiration). Fan Tail (4NP, +1 Swim Speed). Hyponome (7NP, +0.5 Swim Speed).

Internal Features: Piezolytes (5NP, +Low Pressure Tolerance). Spiracles (0NP, +1 Respiration, +1 Stamina, +Ram Ventilation). Foul Fluid Gland (7NP, +Foul Taste). Closed Circulatory System (10NP, +1 Stamina, +Large-Body Circulation). Anti-Freeze Compound (2NP, +Anti-Freeze). Muscular System (7NP, +1 Strength, +0.5 Walk Speed, +0.5 Swim Speed, +Wriggling). Gonads (7NP, +1 Evolution, +Sexual Reproduction, +Sexes, +External Fertilization). Swim Bladder (7NP, +1 Buoyancy, +Adjustable Buoyancy). Large Nephridium (19NP, +Liquid Excretion, +Osmoregulation). Monogastric Digestive System (19NP, +1 Meat Digestion, +1 Veg Digestion, +1 Immunity, +Solid Excretion). Centralised Nervous System (19NP, +2 Coordination).

Temporal Range: R.225 - Present (Atrobocean Stage of the Oliverian)

Distribution: Tartarus

Lifespan: 1 - 2 years

Predecessor: Sclerocephalus nocturnus

Classification: Sclerocephalusinae (sf), Gempliaoridae (f)

Discoverer: StealthStyle