Slate Glowclaw

Slate Glowclaw
Creator	Zenith
Information
Status	Extant
Common Name(s)	Slate Glowclaw
Zones	11
Roles	Base-consumer
Classification
Genus	Macrobrachium
Species	Macrobrachium lumupeses
Evolution
Date	November 2nd, 2019
Ancestor	Macrobrachium casperpygmeus
Descendants	No results

Adaptations: M. lumupeses evolved from populations of M. casperpygmeus that diffused closer and closer to Zone 11, gradually adapting to the colder and colder water. They've developed several adaptations to dealing with cold water, such as developing a black coloring in order to soak up more sunlight. They spend their time feeding on T. ebonae. They've also developed a bulkier body, grown to 10 cm, and now possess an insulating layer of fat within their exoskeleton. Individuals of M. lumupeses also live independently to put less strain on their single food source. Slate Glowclaws have also developed localized areas of their exoskeleton that glow, in order to use less energy.

Diet: M. lumupeses main foodsource is T. ebonae, though they can feed on biofilm with the hairs on their claws.

Reproduction: M. lumupeses live solitarially, and only glow when mating season (the warmest months of summer in the northern hemisphere) comes around. The claws of mature individuals begin to glow passively with a yellow light (less area than their ancestors, because the energy to glow must be conserved in this cold environment), which they use to find each other. Once a potential mate has been found, they flash red lights at each other to ensure the other is a viable mate. (This process ensures that the genes of both individuals are good enough to be passed on, by displaying that the individual's genes are good enough for them to have enough extra energy to use on displays such as these). The female carries ~10 dark colored eggs, fewer than their ancestor, to put less strain on their sole food source. When they hatch, they leave their mother and begin their solitary lifestyle. About 2/3rds of them will reach maturity, while the other 1/3rd will freeze to death in the frigid waters of Zone 11, either by running out of energy or wandering into the cold shallows.