Crystal Fortress Scuttlecrab

The crystal fortress scuttlecrab is a split species of the crystal scuttlecrab. The crystal fortress scuttlecrab's ancestor started to use actual crystal rootgrass as a disguise; over time, this crystal flora was able to stay alive on them. The crystal flora started to exchange nutrients with the crystal scuttlecrab, to help its mobile spore disperser. Soon special offshoots of crystal rootgrass started to target crystal scuttlecrabs as a destination for their spores to grow on. These crystal flora started to grow thicker photosynthetic layers, to protect the crystal scuttlecrabs that they relied on. In exchange for these defenses, these scuttlecrabs would seek out these new crystal flora to allow their spores to grow on themselves. They would also provide the crystal flora with extra nutrients to aid them. The end result was the crystal fortress scuttlecrab. It starts out as a smooth green scuttlecrab, who seek out adults of their species to gain their scuttlecrab crystal's spores. A large wide growth of the exoskeleton spreads out over the body and serves as a platform for crystals to grow. When they start to grow, the consumer part of the crystal flora anchor themselves deep into the host's body, then a whole system of crystals grows and covers its back. The crystal fortress scuttlecrab's shell provides an effective defensive shield, but gets heavier with age. Its legs are thicker and stronger to bear more weight, but is still quite slow. When the crystal fortress scuttlecrab eats, it provides nutrients to itself and the scuttlecrab crystal. The crystal flora in turn absorb excess nutrients from the scuttlecrab part, then provides nutrients from photosynthesis to itself and the scuttlecrab part. This creates a cycle in which both gain nutrition from each other and give nutrients to each other. The crystal fortress scuttlecrabs' main enemies now are herbivores like its ancestor. Herbivores will sometimes eat the thick crystal layers of the crystal flora on its back. Its ancestor will also eat its crystal layers and the consumer part. As well as this it also has to protect itself from carnivores too. It mainly uses camouflage but can defend itself very well. To defend itself it lets the weight of the shell drop and it grips the ground with its legs. It peeks out from underneath at its attacker, and lurches quickly in its direction if it comes in range. The scuttlecrab crystal are almost all photosynthetic layers, so they are very hard. They also have sharp points and edges. They don't break easily, so they can scratch and pierce the attacker. The hard back shell is also hard to break through if the crystals are removed. The crystal fortress scuttlecrab reproduces in the same way as its ancestor, but it must also seek out members of its own species to obtain spores to grow scuttlecrab crystal.