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Deviation Actions
Description
At the size of a small car, Autars are the largest of Aquila’s true arthropods, pushing the boundaries for invertebrate size to their limits. Found in the warm tropical waters of the Maraud Gulf, they tend to occupy water no deeper than 20 meters, where food is plentiful and massive predators all but non-existent.
Weighing in at over a tonne, Autars are rooted to the sea floor by their dense exoskeleton. Their great size and weight extinguishes any prospect of swimming, so unlike many of their relatives, their pleopods (small legs generally used for swimming), have adapted for the purpose of brooding eggs. On the end of their tails sits a pair of sensory antennae that appear to be used to detect ocean currents.
Although generally impervious to the movement of water, the strongest currents have been know to flip over Autars onto their backs. Defenseless, they are quickly eaten by small scavengers and other predators. Avoiding storms is therefore vital to their survival, and they tend to escape very strong currents by moving to deeper water until the storm passes. However, such a strategy carries its own set of risks risks. Autars have been known to slide down steep banks or simply drop off the edge of sheer sea walls when escaping storms. Far too heavy to swim, the poor animal bounces down the slope or sinks into the abyss, generally suffering serious injury upon impact with the ocean floor. Should they be caught in a tropical storm before they are able to shuffle to deeper, calmer water, the timid giants hunker down in the sand and hope for the best.
Shuffling along the sea floor on eight stumpy legs gives these animals a rather slow and lethargic appearance, but they are capable of surprising speed, moving their massive claws slowly before shooting them out at rocks, plants, other Autars, and occasionally human divers that have strayed too close. Such encounters were the cause of many broken bones and serious injuries in the early days of human exploration. Luckily, no fatalities have been recorded. Such reactions do not appear aggressive but merely inquisitive, like a large child playing too rough with a household pet. Rather dimwitted and timid, Autars would let go once the unfortunate diver’s colleagues harassed the animal, causing them to activate their secondary defense mechanism.
When faced with the threat of predators, as accidentally triggered in human encounters, Autars slam their shells into the soft sand, their great weight trapping anything trying to grab their vulnerable underside. Predators have occasionally been spotted with crushed mandibles within the vicinity of Autars, and it is hypothesized that these animals suffered such injuries in unsuccessful attacks. Not an unreasonable assumption, since human weapons have been smashed under many an Autar’s shell in an attempt to free their colleagues.
Being omnivorous, they have occasionally been observed scavenging, but for the most part Autars eat the plentiful kelp-like ocean plants abundant in their shallow water environment, as well as the endemic colonies of sea urchins that cover the sea floor like corals, hard as rock. Using their massive claws, they crack open the urchins’ shells to feast on the insides. The sudden lightning speed of an Autar strike, although appearing aggressive, is more commonly used to smash open particularly tough rock urchins.
This particular specimen is about to get a nasty surprise when it takes its first bite. Although apparently some kind of aquatic plant, the Autar has grabbed hold of a species of sessile, filter feeding worm with toxic stingers in its leaf-like tentacles.
Also, sorry for the horrible picture quality. I don't have a scanner so this is just a shitty iPhone photo
Ink, watercolour and colour pencil
Weighing in at over a tonne, Autars are rooted to the sea floor by their dense exoskeleton. Their great size and weight extinguishes any prospect of swimming, so unlike many of their relatives, their pleopods (small legs generally used for swimming), have adapted for the purpose of brooding eggs. On the end of their tails sits a pair of sensory antennae that appear to be used to detect ocean currents.
Although generally impervious to the movement of water, the strongest currents have been know to flip over Autars onto their backs. Defenseless, they are quickly eaten by small scavengers and other predators. Avoiding storms is therefore vital to their survival, and they tend to escape very strong currents by moving to deeper water until the storm passes. However, such a strategy carries its own set of risks risks. Autars have been known to slide down steep banks or simply drop off the edge of sheer sea walls when escaping storms. Far too heavy to swim, the poor animal bounces down the slope or sinks into the abyss, generally suffering serious injury upon impact with the ocean floor. Should they be caught in a tropical storm before they are able to shuffle to deeper, calmer water, the timid giants hunker down in the sand and hope for the best.
Shuffling along the sea floor on eight stumpy legs gives these animals a rather slow and lethargic appearance, but they are capable of surprising speed, moving their massive claws slowly before shooting them out at rocks, plants, other Autars, and occasionally human divers that have strayed too close. Such encounters were the cause of many broken bones and serious injuries in the early days of human exploration. Luckily, no fatalities have been recorded. Such reactions do not appear aggressive but merely inquisitive, like a large child playing too rough with a household pet. Rather dimwitted and timid, Autars would let go once the unfortunate diver’s colleagues harassed the animal, causing them to activate their secondary defense mechanism.
When faced with the threat of predators, as accidentally triggered in human encounters, Autars slam their shells into the soft sand, their great weight trapping anything trying to grab their vulnerable underside. Predators have occasionally been spotted with crushed mandibles within the vicinity of Autars, and it is hypothesized that these animals suffered such injuries in unsuccessful attacks. Not an unreasonable assumption, since human weapons have been smashed under many an Autar’s shell in an attempt to free their colleagues.
Being omnivorous, they have occasionally been observed scavenging, but for the most part Autars eat the plentiful kelp-like ocean plants abundant in their shallow water environment, as well as the endemic colonies of sea urchins that cover the sea floor like corals, hard as rock. Using their massive claws, they crack open the urchins’ shells to feast on the insides. The sudden lightning speed of an Autar strike, although appearing aggressive, is more commonly used to smash open particularly tough rock urchins.
This particular specimen is about to get a nasty surprise when it takes its first bite. Although apparently some kind of aquatic plant, the Autar has grabbed hold of a species of sessile, filter feeding worm with toxic stingers in its leaf-like tentacles.
Also, sorry for the horrible picture quality. I don't have a scanner so this is just a shitty iPhone photo
Ink, watercolour and colour pencil
Image size
1265x913px 2.23 MB
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Comments10
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This gives me a bit of kaiju feeling -- and I don't mean that badly.