Abyssal Shieldrimp
Descended from populations of Limulus diminutus that got washed down into the depths of zone 24, these sukopods adapted to live within the depths and ended up outlasting their ancestor.
8 centimeters long
In many ways, the ancestors of the Abyssal Shieldrimp (Limulus abyssalis) were already adapted to living in the depths. While other creatures either graze upon the local chemotrophs or actively hunt down any muscals they can find, the Abyssal Shieldrimp can make a living by picking out any organic matter found in the sea floor, from marine snow to microbial species to eggs buried in the sediment, though they will also feed on carrion if they come across it. Since they lack eyes, the Abyssal Shieldrimp relies upon detecting vibrations through mechanoreceptors located within the grooves on the dorsum of the first segment to detect predators. If they do detect someone moving above them, the Abyssal Shieldrimp will bury itself into the substrate and hide. Chemoreceptors on the limbs help guide the Abyssal Shieldrimp towards potential sources of food as well as finding potential mates. The several pairs of gills on the second segment get as much oxygen as they can from the water, which is highly advantageous in the depths where oxygen levels are often poor.
Females lay over 300 eggs within the substrate while a male will follow her to fertilize the eggs as they are laid. While many of these eggs will die, often getting consumed by adult Abyssal Shieldrimp, they grow quickly and hatch within about a week. If no males are around to fertilize the eggs, the female Abyssal Shieldrimp can commit parthenogenesis, with the eggs hatching as exact clones of their mother.
