Siltsifting Scuttler

Splitting from its ancestor, the siltsifting scuttler has adapted to life beneath the sand, digging about in search of particles of food that should wind up there. As they sift through the sand, they aerate it and loosen it as well, preventing it from becoming anoxic. Not very picky feeders, they'll eat just about anything they come across, especially if it should be a fresh corpse. When this occurs, these scuttlers will swarm out of the sand and gorge themselves. It is during these times that they will also mate, releasing clouds of genetic material. They soon combine, yielding tiny planktonic larvae that will remain afloat in the upper water column for several weeks. During this time they develop further and further, until eventually they become too heavy to remain floating and sink to the sea floor. Once this happens, they will quickly bury themselves, beginning the life cycle once again.