Crustacea
If one walks on the beaches of either world, one may find traces of the very familiar crustaceans. The crustaceans, a large group of arthropods, defined mainly by their strong sheels. As a subphylum, they are very diverse, ranging from barnacles to crabs to isopods and waterfleas
Branchipoda (Waterfleas, Triops, Sea Monkeys)
Remipedia
Cephalocarida
Maxillopoda (Barnacles, Copepods)
Ostracoda (Ostracods)
Malacostraca (Crabs, lobsters, shrimp, krill, woodlice, isopods, sandhoppers and mantis shrimps)
Skarabs (Coenobitidae)
The family that spawned the slightly detestable and destructive robber crabs in our timeline, have spawned something altogether more ferocious in the alternate world. As opposed to their coconut eating alternatives, the Skarabs are pure carnivores. Found mainly in Africa, with only one species, the Boneym Skarab, found outside of the continent, in the area that held Mesopotamia.
Skarabs are ambush predators, attacking prey in a manner resembling phytosaurs and HE's crocodilians, lunging from the water and dragging their victim in. Though the giant Imhotep Skarab can grow over a metre long, most only tackle small prey, normally mammals, younginiformes, prolacertiformes and small birds.
Imhotep Skarab (Fluvorapens Caputidorsum)
Largest of the Skarabs, capable of growing up to 1.2 metres long with tail outstretched, and named for the fearsome skull-like markings on their backs, these animals are voracious hunters. One of the major predators of African waterways, and found almost anywhere there is water in sub-Saharan Africa, they share a similar attack style to Malagsy and Khepri Skarabs, that is seizing prey and dragging it underwater to drown in their vice-like claws. They are one of the few Skarabs able to attack animals bigger than 70 cm. Despite their hard shells, their size means if they shed their exoskeleton at once they would become a formless blob, so they shed different parts of their bodies at different times, and mate whilst in such weakness.
Malagsy Skarab (Fluvorapens Madagascaria)
Capable of growing almost as large as their mainland cousins, the 0.9 metre long Malagsy Skarabs are one of the largest aquatic predators of the island, being only beaten by the Madagascan River Beast and the Casket-Fish. Another of the 'seizers', it is not unknown for them to attempt bold attempts to attack hatchling Madagascan Praetorians, though this normally results in a messy death at the hands of the enraged parents. Normally, however, their attentions focus on smaller, less aggressive prey.
Boneym Skarab (Fluvorapens Babylonias)
The most northerly of all the Skarabs, and the largest to be found north of the Sahara, these Iraqi ambushers are named both for the fact that they were first discovered in the Euphrates river and that their gurgling cries sound disturbingly similiar to the slightly infamous song by Boney M. Growing only to around 50 centimetres, these creatures are still capable of dragging a bird, bat or lizardlike underwater in a manner similar to a Rugger Skarab.
Giger's Skarab (Fluvorapens Faciacomplexus)
Often sited as the most disturbing of all Skarabs, the Giger's Skarab, or Facehugger shows a very bizarre form of attack. As opposed to the attacks that pull prey into the water, Giger's Skarabs, via a combination of powerful legs and tailbeats and a jet of water ejected from their backsides, are capable of launching themselves with considerable force at a prey items head, which they will then clamp onto, and begin to devour and dismember whilst the poor unfortunate is still alive. The mass and biting claws of the Facehugger often tend to overbalance the victim, and send it tumbling into the water where it drowns. Giger's Skarabs seem to have rather poor judgment, and one DW zoologist got the image of a life time when he saw a fully grown Judgment-Ammit lift its head from the river growling with a Facehugger furiously attacking its nose.
Rugger Skarab (Fluvorapens Harpasta)
The third largest Skarab and probably the most boisterous of the family, is named both for its aggression and peculiar attack style. Rugger Skarabs are known to defend their patch of river zealously, quite happily charging bull Petsuchi who have got too close to their territory. As for their attack style, it differs from the relatively straightforward attacks of 'seizers' and 'facehuggers' in that the Rugger Skarab will launch itself at the side of the prey and attempt to throw it into the river, in a manner not dissimilar to Rugby players. Growing up to around 72 centimetres in overall length seeing a Rugger Skarab perform their famous tackle is quite spectacular. Strangely, they are noted to be rather hygienic, clearing away algae and old skeletons.
Lector's Skarab (Fluvorapens Cannabiliis)
Named for an only-once documented incident where are larger Lector's Skarab exhibited cannibalism on a smaller one, not to mention the bizare and slightly eerie chittering sound they make from time to time (normally when in a position to make a DW zoologist to jump, it would seem), public opinion is rather low of these creatures. Despite their substantial ability for hygiene, similar to that of Rugger Skarabs, Lector's are known to be very indiscriminate about prey items; most small things that come within their reach are fair game, a field that includes the digits of unwary explorers, large quasibirds, and even, it would seem, River-trotters feet, suggesting that they have very poor eyesight, and are incapable of noticing what the 'prey' is attatched to.
Khepri Scarab (Fluvorapens Solasalutens)
The smallest of Skarabs, and the only one not named after something either detestable of with a rather violent background, khepris earn their rather quant scientific name for the fact that every morning, these tiny, fist sized Skarabs crawl out of the water and wave their claws at the rising sun, before returning to the depths. As opposed to their very close relatives, they act more like HE's pirahna or loach than crocodilians, and can be found scouring the bottom of rivers ins sizeable swarms and stripping all the flesh from any carcass they find, and are also capable of, with a lot of time and effort, smashing bone to eat the marrow. Unsurprisingly, they form a large part of the diets of many of the relatively larger aquatic creatures found in Africa. Also unlike their cousins, their range is not barricaded by the Sahara; somehow they have managed to cross it, and can be found all the way to where the Suez Canal is now, where they rather abruptly stop.
Isopoda (Woodlice, The Orrin)
Orrin (Bathynomus Pirata)
It seems the depths of DW are filled with monsters. Recently discovered creatures such as Y Ddraig Gochs, Krakens and Voracious Ornlu-fish boggle the mind and show brilliant examples of the phenomena known as deep-sea gigantism. Though perhaps not as disturbing as the giant hagfish, or as awe-inspiring as the titanic squid, the Orrin is still magnificent in its own way. Growing up to around 60 centimetres long, this large creature has been seen on most of the DS expeditions, even the rather illfated DWE-DS-13 foray. Heavily built, these creatures of the abyss are more than capable of searching endlessly for snall prey and carcasses, which they can easily break into using the powerful second claws, which are similar to a mantis shrimp. Their first arms have developed into a set of fearsome stabbing claws which they use to hunt ratfish, small squid, and even hagfish, impaling them before bludgeoning them senseless. It is this generalisation that seems to make them so successful; unlike Krakens or Ornlu-fish, these creatures seem to be very common, although this could be due to the fact that other deep-sea beasts tend to be very elusive. However, information is still lacking on breeding and young life, so we can only guess these are similar to other, smaller isopods.
Branchipoda (Waterfleas, Triops, Sea Monkeys)
Remipedia
Cephalocarida
Maxillopoda (Barnacles, Copepods)
Ostracoda (Ostracods)
Malacostraca (Crabs, lobsters, shrimp, krill, woodlice, isopods, sandhoppers and mantis shrimps)
Skarabs (Coenobitidae)
The family that spawned the slightly detestable and destructive robber crabs in our timeline, have spawned something altogether more ferocious in the alternate world. As opposed to their coconut eating alternatives, the Skarabs are pure carnivores. Found mainly in Africa, with only one species, the Boneym Skarab, found outside of the continent, in the area that held Mesopotamia.
Skarabs are ambush predators, attacking prey in a manner resembling phytosaurs and HE's crocodilians, lunging from the water and dragging their victim in. Though the giant Imhotep Skarab can grow over a metre long, most only tackle small prey, normally mammals, younginiformes, prolacertiformes and small birds.
Imhotep Skarab (Fluvorapens Caputidorsum)
Largest of the Skarabs, capable of growing up to 1.2 metres long with tail outstretched, and named for the fearsome skull-like markings on their backs, these animals are voracious hunters. One of the major predators of African waterways, and found almost anywhere there is water in sub-Saharan Africa, they share a similar attack style to Malagsy and Khepri Skarabs, that is seizing prey and dragging it underwater to drown in their vice-like claws. They are one of the few Skarabs able to attack animals bigger than 70 cm. Despite their hard shells, their size means if they shed their exoskeleton at once they would become a formless blob, so they shed different parts of their bodies at different times, and mate whilst in such weakness.
Malagsy Skarab (Fluvorapens Madagascaria)
Capable of growing almost as large as their mainland cousins, the 0.9 metre long Malagsy Skarabs are one of the largest aquatic predators of the island, being only beaten by the Madagascan River Beast and the Casket-Fish. Another of the 'seizers', it is not unknown for them to attempt bold attempts to attack hatchling Madagascan Praetorians, though this normally results in a messy death at the hands of the enraged parents. Normally, however, their attentions focus on smaller, less aggressive prey.
Boneym Skarab (Fluvorapens Babylonias)
The most northerly of all the Skarabs, and the largest to be found north of the Sahara, these Iraqi ambushers are named both for the fact that they were first discovered in the Euphrates river and that their gurgling cries sound disturbingly similiar to the slightly infamous song by Boney M. Growing only to around 50 centimetres, these creatures are still capable of dragging a bird, bat or lizardlike underwater in a manner similar to a Rugger Skarab.
Giger's Skarab (Fluvorapens Faciacomplexus)
Often sited as the most disturbing of all Skarabs, the Giger's Skarab, or Facehugger shows a very bizarre form of attack. As opposed to the attacks that pull prey into the water, Giger's Skarabs, via a combination of powerful legs and tailbeats and a jet of water ejected from their backsides, are capable of launching themselves with considerable force at a prey items head, which they will then clamp onto, and begin to devour and dismember whilst the poor unfortunate is still alive. The mass and biting claws of the Facehugger often tend to overbalance the victim, and send it tumbling into the water where it drowns. Giger's Skarabs seem to have rather poor judgment, and one DW zoologist got the image of a life time when he saw a fully grown Judgment-Ammit lift its head from the river growling with a Facehugger furiously attacking its nose.
Rugger Skarab (Fluvorapens Harpasta)
The third largest Skarab and probably the most boisterous of the family, is named both for its aggression and peculiar attack style. Rugger Skarabs are known to defend their patch of river zealously, quite happily charging bull Petsuchi who have got too close to their territory. As for their attack style, it differs from the relatively straightforward attacks of 'seizers' and 'facehuggers' in that the Rugger Skarab will launch itself at the side of the prey and attempt to throw it into the river, in a manner not dissimilar to Rugby players. Growing up to around 72 centimetres in overall length seeing a Rugger Skarab perform their famous tackle is quite spectacular. Strangely, they are noted to be rather hygienic, clearing away algae and old skeletons.
Lector's Skarab (Fluvorapens Cannabiliis)
Named for an only-once documented incident where are larger Lector's Skarab exhibited cannibalism on a smaller one, not to mention the bizare and slightly eerie chittering sound they make from time to time (normally when in a position to make a DW zoologist to jump, it would seem), public opinion is rather low of these creatures. Despite their substantial ability for hygiene, similar to that of Rugger Skarabs, Lector's are known to be very indiscriminate about prey items; most small things that come within their reach are fair game, a field that includes the digits of unwary explorers, large quasibirds, and even, it would seem, River-trotters feet, suggesting that they have very poor eyesight, and are incapable of noticing what the 'prey' is attatched to.
Khepri Scarab (Fluvorapens Solasalutens)
The smallest of Skarabs, and the only one not named after something either detestable of with a rather violent background, khepris earn their rather quant scientific name for the fact that every morning, these tiny, fist sized Skarabs crawl out of the water and wave their claws at the rising sun, before returning to the depths. As opposed to their very close relatives, they act more like HE's pirahna or loach than crocodilians, and can be found scouring the bottom of rivers ins sizeable swarms and stripping all the flesh from any carcass they find, and are also capable of, with a lot of time and effort, smashing bone to eat the marrow. Unsurprisingly, they form a large part of the diets of many of the relatively larger aquatic creatures found in Africa. Also unlike their cousins, their range is not barricaded by the Sahara; somehow they have managed to cross it, and can be found all the way to where the Suez Canal is now, where they rather abruptly stop.
Isopoda (Woodlice, The Orrin)
Orrin (Bathynomus Pirata)
It seems the depths of DW are filled with monsters. Recently discovered creatures such as Y Ddraig Gochs, Krakens and Voracious Ornlu-fish boggle the mind and show brilliant examples of the phenomena known as deep-sea gigantism. Though perhaps not as disturbing as the giant hagfish, or as awe-inspiring as the titanic squid, the Orrin is still magnificent in its own way. Growing up to around 60 centimetres long, this large creature has been seen on most of the DS expeditions, even the rather illfated DWE-DS-13 foray. Heavily built, these creatures of the abyss are more than capable of searching endlessly for snall prey and carcasses, which they can easily break into using the powerful second claws, which are similar to a mantis shrimp. Their first arms have developed into a set of fearsome stabbing claws which they use to hunt ratfish, small squid, and even hagfish, impaling them before bludgeoning them senseless. It is this generalisation that seems to make them so successful; unlike Krakens or Ornlu-fish, these creatures seem to be very common, although this could be due to the fact that other deep-sea beasts tend to be very elusive. However, information is still lacking on breeding and young life, so we can only guess these are similar to other, smaller isopods.