Decapoidian

The Decapoidian

Decapodus terriblis

First described c. 23rd Century CE 

Biology: Decapoidians are difficult to describe in terms which are fully analogous to any earth species.  Their life-cycle consists of 11 major stages of increasing complexity, resulting in their becoming clearly more analogous to crustaceans, mollusks, and amphibians. Growth and development seems to be principally accomplished through molting and molting occurs not only between stages but within certain stages (particularly their fully sentient adult stage). They seem to begin life as cold-blooded creatures but as they grow larger and more mature they become more clearly warm-blooded, though whether their endothermy is true warm-bloodedness or more a product of their size is a matter of some debate.

Reproduction among decapoidians is a classic spawning model - males display on carefully constructed nests attempting to sway a female.  The display is not merely behavioral but also is clearly physiological, involving the release of sexual hormones that increase strength and aggressiveness while also triggering the decapoidian male's breeding crest to unfurl for display (and an artificial increase in apparent size).  If a female is induced to breed the couple enter the water and the two genders release there respective reproductive jellies - upon fertilization the new organisms settle on sturdy rocks and the first stage of decapoidian existance begins, essentially a coral or sponge analog stage.  Upon successfully mating decapoidians die, leaving their progeny to fend for themselves throughout their pre-sentient lives.

Decapoidians are incredibly adaptable creatures.  They are able to process oxygen from fresh and salt waters and from free air and are absolutely omnivorious able to eat virtually any living matter using common organic chemicals, including those in a state of extreme decomposition, though their preference is for sea-life.  They are often quite intelligent, but their atypical biomorphology leads them to have difficulty comprehending non-decapoidian biologies.  They are able to replace most of their organs and to live for long periods of time without them, the result in part of their organs being frequently duplicated and of many of their organs duplicating other organs functions.  They are immensely strong and their claws are capable of both handling tools and snapping through metal, the result of mono-molecular edgings that behave differently at different angles of interaction.  Their shells, while removable, are also incredibly strong and cushioning.

Decapoidians are a pearl producing species, a side effect of their bodies' efforts to process dirt or sand consumed while eating other matter. They also produce ink in the event of extreme emotions, a classical defense mechanism similar to those employed by many species of mollusk on Earth.

Astro-Geography: The Decapoidians are the dominant species of the world Decapoid 10, a habitable moon of the Decapoid system which itself has a satellite.  This world is covered with vast oceans, punctuated by semi-permanent islands which are sandy and crushed by the world's huge tides, a product of complex gravitational relationship between Decapoid 10, the gas giant it orbits, and the assortment of other moons in the system.

Polity-Economy-Society: Decapoidians are a highly dispersed species, having immigrated throughout the Milky Way galaxy, including Earth, and have taken on political and economic roles of every description in their adopted homes.  The political system of Decapoid 10, however, is an elected imperial system, essentially a more populist form of the medieval Holy Roman Empire, while its economy seems to share much in common with state-directed forms of capitalism found in mid-Twentieth Century Europe and Latin America or contemporary China.  Mating seems to only occur on Decapoid 10 meaning that emigrants still must return to their homeworld if they hope to achieve biological success.

Given that decapoidians die upon mating celibacy is essential in all political and religious leadership positions, often causing the lines between the two to blur.

While decapoidians usually resolve their disputes through ordered and institutionalized mechanisms they sometimes withdraw to a traditional form of combat known as Claw-Plach, essentially a form of stylized trial by combat in which classical weapons are allowed, though decapoids, armed as they are with vicious claws, sometimes opt for simple claw-to-claw combat.