Broom Sandwich-Shrimp

Broom Sandwich-Shrimp
Creator	Spinoyonyx
Information
Status	Extant
Common Name(s)	Broom Sandwich-Shrimp
Zones	12
Roles	Base-Consumer, Detritivore
Classification
Genus	Pterygotus
Species	Pterygotus filtascopanensis
Evolution
Date	May 25th, 2022
Ancestor	Pterygotus filterensizzi
Descendants	No results

Small populations of Pterygotus filterensizzi lived zone 12 and gave rise a new species living in sandy areas. The 1 foot sukopods use their bristle-like front limbs to filter sand and water for detritus and microbes. They have longer front limbs and bristles for higher surface area collection. Their last 3 non-swimming legs got smaller to be more streamline for swimming while the front 2 legs remain the same to be used to climb onto surfaces or rest. They are a light brown sand color.

P. filtascopanensis are endemic to only shallow parts of sandy areas such as beaches near the islands or coast lines to avoid predators (0-500m depth). They live in shoals of 6-12. During molting or breeding they will crawl onto land as a group, to ensure safety in numbers, however this is when P. sandapygmeus are able to take advantage of the soft shelled P. filtascopanensis and eat them. For smaller predators they are able to defend themselves using spikes on their but their priority is to flee. The second pair of top eyes allows them to see potential threats from above. The head and first body segment split apart to allow the organism to pull its body out during molting.

When breeding, they will lay in clutches of 20-50 on shorelines and leave the eggs. Males gather at a females waiting for them to release their eggs which the males will immediately try to fertilize. Young would then start their natural instincts of feeding in the bottom column sweeping any detritus that the filtering helixes have not eaten.