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           V  

Documentation Area

Document Path: /doc/monsters/giant_crab

Name:
	Giant Crab  (Lesser Animal)

Stats:
	No. Appearing  : 2-12
	Climate/Terrain: Any seashore
	Frequency      : Rare
	Organization   : Nil
	Activity Cycle : Any
	Diet           : Omnivore

Description:
	Giant crabs look just like regular crabs except for their enormous
	size. They come in a variety of colors, such as reds, browns and grays.
	They have eyes set on stalks, which enable them to see around corners
	and onto ledges. Their bodies are covered by a large chitinous shell.
	Crabs are distingushed by their scuttling, sideways mode of locomotion.

Combat:
	Always hungry, crabs prefer to sneak up upon their prey and catch it
	in their pincers, dismembering and eating it. Once they have caught
	something edible, they start to eat it, unless they are attacked. If a
	crab finds its meal in question, it attempts to scuttle off with the
	prize, prehaps to its den.

Habitat/Society:
	The giant crab lives on the shoreline, searching beaches for food and
	venturing into the water in search of fish and other aquatic life. It
	is well adapted to this sort of life, since it is able to breathe both
	air and water. Giant crabs frequently feed on large dead fish and other
	carrion washed up on the shore. They operate equally well on land and
	in the water. Giant crabs sometimes burrow into the sand during the
	day, emerging only at dusk and dawn to feed. At these times the beach
	is alive not only with the giant crabs, but with their tiny cousins as
	well. The giants may also hunt during the day and night.

	The crab exists only on the most basic instinctive level, and is in-
	terested solely in survival. Crabs mate in the autumn and males at-
	tempt to mate with as many females as they can. Females bury their eggs
	in the sand. The eggs hatch the following spring; few hatchlings sur-
	vive to reach maturity. Nature has forced the giant crabs to become
	flexible eaters, always willing to try new food sources.

Ecology:
	The giant crab performs a useful ecological function in keeping the
	seashores free of large carrion that would otherwise rot. On the shore,
	it is hunted by the ultimate predators - humans and demihumans - for
	its superb meat and hard chitinous shell, which is prized by some for
	making armour and shields.