Bubbleweed Scuttler

Splitting from its ancestor, the bubbleweed scuttler has evolved to live on, thrive upon, and remain hidden amongst marine bubbleweeds. Sharing a close evolutionary history with the hitchhiker scuttler, the bubbleweed scuttler has evolved a similar morphology, save for lacking a hard shell. Instead its backside has become large and bulgy, as well as developing a coloration very similar to that of the bubbles of the bubbleweed. Thus they are able to hide undetected while crawling up and down the stalks, freezing only to feed or when they sense something potentially dangerous swimming near them. When all is safe, they will happily cut their way into the surrounding flora and feed on the softer, more nutritious innards. Eggs are laid underneath the 'leaves', and they will then hopefully survive and hatch within a few weeks. After they do, they mature rapidly and are soon able to breed within a months time. Such a fast growth rate requires a high metabolism, thus this species of scuttler rarely lives to beyond a ripe old age of half a year.