Crystank Shell

The crystank shell is a hybrid of the flashwalker crystal and the crystalwalker crystal. It replaced both ancestors and spread throughout southern Drake. It lives symbiotically with the crystank walker and the crystank flasprout. The crystank flaspouts live within the pores of the outer photosynthetic crystals. They release a chemical in which causes them to flash and scare off predators. These chemicals are triggered by the crystank walker's own chemical which notifies the crystank shell to make its chemical.

It also has a symbiotic relationship with the crystank walker. It will absorb its blood with its fungi-like roots and get nutrients from it. While other roots will feed into the digestive system of the crystal walker and give it sugars to help feed it. It makes these sugars by photosynthesis of its green chitin shell.

They also produce spores which attach to the eggs of the crystank walker. This makes sure both species start their symbiotic relationship at birth. Neither can survive on their own however they typically gain crystank flasprouts later when the crystank walker find more of their species.

Their new shell-like shape is stronger than either one of its ancestors and can withstand the attacks of predators. This is important in protecting its host. It is light weight for its size and is very porous yet strong. If it grows too big for the crystank walker carry it will secret an enzyme to stop it from growing anymore.

The red fungi inside have very much integrated into the nervous system of the crystank walker to the extent it can actually enhance the neural capacity of its host. Since its host can no longer see it has developed light sensors on the front part of the outer shell. These primitive eyes are save under a transparent chitin holes. The red-fungi and the host's tissues are very similar since they both shared a common ancestor.