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Description
Looking at illustrations of the Shrimp Stalk should give you a pretty big clue on where these critters are found. Bamboo forests and Deep Thickets are the places they call home, as you could say they fit right in there! Though they are far from any beach or ocean, these creatures are crustaceans, which is why they have "Shrimp" in the name! This species has gone fully terrestrial, sticking to the bamboo forests and only interacting with water when they drink rainwater or dew! In these tight green labyrinths, their long thin body is perfect for navigating and slipping through the thickets. This ease of travel isn't shown very well when you actually see them crawl, as their bodies are arranged a bit odd. Their limbs for movement are located near their head and near their abdomen, with nothing in between. The appendages you see scattered along their midsection are meant for sensory purposes, and don't do so well with walking. To move, they crawl along like inchworms, stretching their front out first, grabbing hold, then pulling their rear ends forward to start all over again. It certainly isn't graceful, but it gets the job done. Besides, Shrimp Stalks are not creatures that like to do a lot of moving, as they are better suited for the "sit-and-wait" lifestyle!

When they locate a good spot, the Shrimp Stalk will plant its rear limbs into the earth and stretch the rest of the body straight up. They make themselves perfectly vertical and stick their feathered limbs out at different angles. Once set up, they lock everything into place and remain perfectly still, making them blend right in with the surrounding bamboo. With a length of around twelve feet, them standing straight up causes their head and front limbs to vanish into the canopy, while their lower appendages mimic leaves. In this state, it is incredibly difficult to pick a Shrimp Stalk out from the scenery, which is exactly what they want. They are ambush predators that wait for prey to walk by, then they fold their bodies down upon them and strike with barbed mantis-like claws! Sharp limbs will dispatch prey and then they will feed. I imagine the sound of a twelve foot tall, razor clawed crustacean may sound terrifying, but do not fear! Despite their size, Shrimp Stalks prefer to hunt smaller prey. Bamboo rats and monkeys are often targeted, as well as other small mammals and reptiles. The reason you don't see these towering creatures attack an elephant or even a human is because their bodies are not that strong or durable. Being designed to blend in with bamboo means you need a very thin body, which can be easily damaged in a struggle. The Shrimp Stalk wants prey that can be taken out in seconds, as a prolonged fight means a high chance they will be critically injured. The other reason they go after small critters is so that they can actually pick up their meal and lift it high in the air. Grasping it in their front limbs and stretching towards the heavens means that they get to eat without worries of someone sneaking in for the steal. They will gnaw away at the carcass, and when they are done they will use their bendy bodies to whip the husk away from them. Chucking their leftovers may seem odd, but do remember that these are ambush predators. You can't exactly dump corpses at your feet and expect prey to think you are just a harmless piece of bamboo.

This camouflage isn't just for ambushing prey, but it is also good for hiding from predators. Their thin bodies can be vulnerable to powerful foes and their limbs don't allow them to run, so their best bet is to hide in plain sight. Predators, like Bamboo Snipes, will have a hard time spotting them, and are often tempted by heftier prey. If their disguise fails and an attack occurs, they can defend themselves with their many claws and sharp bits. Their tall and bendy bodies can help them strike weak points in a predators defenses, like arching downward to tear away at an exposed back. Such retaliations aren't always successful, as they can receive debilitating injuries pretty quick when faced with an aggressive enemy, so this stresses how important it is that they don't get spotted in the first place.

Encounters with Shrimp Stalks are quite rare for folks who live near these forests, despite the plentiful number of these crustaceans. This is because the shrimps do not view humans and other similar-sized creatures as prey, but rather see them as a threat. This causes them to remain perfectly still, which usually ends with the ignorant traveler walking right past them. I know it fooled me for quite some time! I had to have a guide show me the signs and details to look for to spot one of these creatures, or else I would have spent days searching with no avail! Locals also have no reason to seek out Shrimp Stalks because they have very little meat and any useful bits you could get from them is easily gained by cutting down regular bamboo. Speaking of harvesting bamboo, it is usual during these times when interactions can occur. If someone is not paying attention as they are hacking down stalks, they may accidentally take a swing at a Shrimp Stalk. Though they do not wish to eat humans, they will strike back if they are attacked, accident or no. This usually results in a flurry of angry claws and a cutter stumbling away with a torn up hide. When this occurs, the cutters usually leave the shrimp alone and move elsewhere, as there is nothing to gain from a risky kill. The other interesting thing to note is that Shrimp Stalks are probably one of the creatures responsible for horror stories that come from these forests and Deep Thickets. Tales of the bamboo moving as if it were alive, yep, that's a Shrimp Stalk! Or those bizarre stories of blood raining from the sky? Probably one of these fellas feeding on prey and spilling some on travelers below! So be careful where you are walking and working when out in those forests. Moving in for a closer view when a Shrimp Stalk is feeding is a good recipe for getting blood on your notes and a face full of something nasty!

Chlora Myron

Dryad Natural Historian

--------------------------------------------------------------

Always looking to put unusual critters in weird environments, especially biomes that aren't the usual forest, desert, ice and ocean. Skeleton shrimps are pretty cool, but that slender body can be used in other ways!

Description
Looking at illustrations of the Shrimp Stalk should give you a pretty big clue on where these critters are found. Bamboo forests and Deep Thickets are the places they call home, as you could say they fit right in there! Though they are far from any beach or ocean, these creatures are crustaceans, which is why they have "Shrimp" in the name! This species has gone fully terrestrial, sticking to the bamboo forests and only interacting with water when they drink rainwater or dew! In these tight green labyrinths, their long thin body is perfect for navigating and slipping through the thickets. This ease of travel isn't shown very well when you actually see them crawl, as their bodies are arranged a bit odd. Their limbs for movement are located near their head and near their abdomen, with nothing in between. The appendages you see scattered along their midsection are meant for sensory purposes, and don't do so well with walking. To move, they crawl along like inchworms, stretching their front out first, grabbing hold, then pulling their rear ends forward to start all over again. It certainly isn't graceful, but it gets the job done. Besides, Shrimp Stalks are not creatures that like to do a lot of moving, as they are better suited for the "sit-and-wait" lifestyle!

When they locate a good spot, the Shrimp Stalk will plant its rear limbs into the earth and stretch the rest of the body straight up. They make themselves perfectly vertical and stick their feathered limbs out at different angles. Once set up, they lock everything into place and remain perfectly still, making them blend right in with the surrounding bamboo. With a length of around twelve feet, them standing straight up causes their head and front limbs to vanish into the canopy, while their lower appendages mimic leaves. In this state, it is incredibly difficult to pick a Shrimp Stalk out from the scenery, which is exactly what they want. They are ambush predators that wait for prey to walk by, then they fold their bodies down upon them and strike with barbed mantis-like claws! Sharp limbs will dispatch prey and then they will feed. I imagine the sound of a twelve foot tall, razor clawed crustacean may sound terrifying, but do not fear! Despite their size, Shrimp Stalks prefer to hunt smaller prey. Bamboo rats and monkeys are often targeted, as well as other small mammals and reptiles. The reason you don't see these towering creatures attack an elephant or even a human is because their bodies are not that strong or durable. Being designed to blend in with bamboo means you need a very thin body, which can be easily damaged in a struggle. The Shrimp Stalk wants prey that can be taken out in seconds, as a prolonged fight means a high chance they will be critically injured. The other reason they go after small critters is so that they can actually pick up their meal and lift it high in the air. Grasping it in their front limbs and stretching towards the heavens means that they get to eat without worries of someone sneaking in for the steal. They will gnaw away at the carcass, and when they are done they will use their bendy bodies to whip the husk away from them. Chucking their leftovers may seem odd, but do remember that these are ambush predators. You can't exactly dump corpses at your feet and expect prey to think you are just a harmless piece of bamboo.

This camouflage isn't just for ambushing prey, but it is also good for hiding from predators. Their thin bodies can be vulnerable to powerful foes and their limbs don't allow them to run, so their best bet is to hide in plain sight. Predators, like Bamboo Snipes, will have a hard time spotting them, and are often tempted by heftier prey. If their disguise fails and an attack occurs, they can defend themselves with their many claws and sharp bits. Their tall and bendy bodies can help them strike weak points in a predators defenses, like arching downward to tear away at an exposed back. Such retaliations aren't always successful, as they can receive debilitating injuries pretty quick when faced with an aggressive enemy, so this stresses how important it is that they don't get spotted in the first place.

Encounters with Shrimp Stalks are quite rare for folks who live near these forests, despite the plentiful number of these crustaceans. This is because the shrimps do not view humans and other similar-sized creatures as prey, but rather see them as a threat. This causes them to remain perfectly still, which usually ends with the ignorant traveler walking right past them. I know it fooled me for quite some time! I had to have a guide show me the signs and details to look for to spot one of these creatures, or else I would have spent days searching with no avail! Locals also have no reason to seek out Shrimp Stalks because they have very little meat and any useful bits you could get from them is easily gained by cutting down regular bamboo. Speaking of harvesting bamboo, it is usual during these times when interactions can occur. If someone is not paying attention as they are hacking down stalks, they may accidentally take a swing at a Shrimp Stalk. Though they do not wish to eat humans, they will strike back if they are attacked, accident or no. This usually results in a flurry of angry claws and a cutter stumbling away with a torn up hide. When this occurs, the cutters usually leave the shrimp alone and move elsewhere, as there is nothing to gain from a risky kill. The other interesting thing to note is that Shrimp Stalks are probably one of the creatures responsible for horror stories that come from these forests and Deep Thickets. Tales of the bamboo moving as if it were alive, yep, that's a Shrimp Stalk! Or those bizarre stories of blood raining from the sky? Probably one of these fellas feeding on prey and spilling some on travelers below! So be careful where you are walking and working when out in those forests. Moving in for a closer view when a Shrimp Stalk is feeding is a good recipe for getting blood on your notes and a face full of something nasty!

Chlora Myron

Dryad Natural Historian

--------------------------------------------------------------

Always looking to put unusual critters in weird environments, especially biomes that aren't the usual forest, desert, ice and ocean. Skeleton shrimps are pretty cool, but that slender body can be used in other ways!