Scuttlecrab Crystal

The scuttlecrab crystal has adapted to a life attached to the crystal fortress scuttlecrab. They split from their ancestor and are specialized to live only on crystal fortress scuttlecrabs. They have very thick photosynthetic layers to protect their host species, while the consumer part is deeply rooted to exchange the energy gained through photosynthesis for nutrients from the host's feeding. The scuttlecrab crystal also protects its host by growing into a defensive shell on its carapace. The scuttlecrab crystal can only reproduce when crystal fortress scuttlecrabs come into contact with each other. They produce spores that only grow if on the back of a crystal fortress scuttlecrab adult or young. Young crystal fortress scuttlecrabs gain their first scuttlecrab crystals from larger adults. The spores grow very quickly to defend its host as soon as possible.