Shell-riding Shocker
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The Shell-riding Shocker split from its ancestor, the Carnivorescooter. The lengthening of its limbs followed with the reduplication of the two digits in the Seascooter made way for another innovation: the evolution of jointed arms with opposing digit pairs capable of grasping prey in a vise-like grip. Moreover, due to a series of mutations, the digits now sport claws of the same material makeup as the spines lining its back, enabling this species to pin its prey into its grasp. These new adaptations move this species into strict carnivory from the facultative omnivory of its ancestor.
As an obligate carnivore, it utilizes a number of hunting strategies to catch its quarry, the vast majority of which take place near the sea floor. Utilizing a twin, split pupil in its single eyeball (which became sunk into the head, providing better streamlining), it examines very closely movement and patterns in the sand that stand out. Once detected, it will slowly swim—propelled by a weak, rudimentary tail—towards the prey item. It will then slowly reach with one of its arms. When felt, the prey item will be grabbed with its clawed, vise-like hand, and it will predictably resist.
This is then dealt with using a shocking new adaptation: as the spines lining the back shock potential predators, so do the claws for potential prey; when a resisting victim is grasped, it is shocked to immobilization or even death before being ripped apart by the numerous sharp teeth lining the mouth and devoured. When and whether this is used depends not only on how vigorous the prey's movements are, but also its size, for easy pickings like the Urmelia are simply grabbed and chomped.
Occasionally, it behaves as a pursuit predator, breast-stroking towards fleeing fast prey, then attempting to snatch them and shock them. It will even go as far as reaching inside other organisms to catch them; when pursuing a Sheltered Gilltail during crepuscular hours, for example, it will pursue them all the way to their home Crusicruge, reaching inside to grab and shock it. This, however, also takes the life of the Crusicruge itself, though that matters nothing to this predator as it scarfs down its prize.
The electrocuting claws are not the only thing that makes this species terrifying. The claws also benefit this species by enabling them to hold onto surfaces—namely, the shells of Tilepillars. Individuals can hitch rides on the backs of mature Tilepillars, carrying them wherever they go, including to the temperate coasts as they undertake their reproductive migrations. The result is a greatly expanded range where they exercise their electrifying reign of terror over the benthic, benthic-adjacent and burrowing organisms throughout. Armed with their defensive spines starkly advertised with a bright, equally electric shade of blue by the membrane binding them, they unimpededly carry out their rampage through Sagan 4's southern temperate and polar coasts and shallows, spreading like bright blue, aquatic wildfire.
Note
- The folds along this creature's neck are just that, and are not gills.