Salt Skimmer

Flat-bodied crustaceans that thrive across salt flats, shallow deltas, and alkaline basins. Their translucent shells glisten with mineral deposits, and their six paddle-like legs allow them to glide smoothly across the water’s surface as if skating. Salt Skimmers are scavengers first and predators second, feeding on decaying fish, mineral crusts, and organic waste.

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Though typically harmless, Skimmers can become aggressive in dry seasons when salt pools shrink and food grows scarce. The scent of blood drives them into a frenzy, drawing nearby groups together into swarming packs that attack in erratic waves. Once roused, their pincers can strip flesh and armor with surprising force before they retreat beneath the brine.

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In combat they rely on sudden bursts of speed, lunging from the shallows to snap with sharp pincers. Their hardened carapace can deflect small projectiles, and when threatened they anchor themselves, flattening their bodies to the ground and folding their legs beneath them in a defensive brace.

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Groups of Skimmers often move in loose formations across the flats, leaving intricate circular trails behind — a sign for travelers to steer clear of sinkholes and brine pockets. Their shells are prized by traders for producing glossy white salt dust, used in preservation and ritual markings.