Pink Shrimp
Flavour. Colour. Multiple stages of life that are all delicious. a near perfect 1 to 1 ratio of protein and resources in to protein and nutrients out. An awkward protein that gives you a nasty case of dermatitis if you prepare them wrong. All of these are true of one of the signature food animals of Tanit II, the Pink Shrimp. Less common in the wild than Somsri's Shrimp, Pink Shrimp are the preferred "shrimp" of Tanit II, and are harvested in the wild and farmed at scale to feed people's hunger for its delicious meat and useful byproducts.
Like all the "crustaceans" on Tanit II, they're an analogue species, not actually related to Earth shrimp or crustaceans.
Basic Information
Anatomy
Larval Stage
Described as "armoured tadpoles with antenna", this is accurate.Juvenile Stage
The body segments into head, thorax, and abdomen sections, and they sprout eight to ten legs and a set of pincer limbs. They look most like Earth shrimp in this stage.Adult Stage
Marine biologists describe this as the "plumpening" stage, where they swell to double their size, lose most of their armour, and prepare to mate. To fight, their claws get larger, sharper, and stronger. An adult Pink Shrimp can take off a pinkie finger quite easily.Genetics and Reproduction
Where Somsri's Shrimp are reproduction machines, the Pink Shrimp are more combative. They shed most of their armoured carapaces, and then fight. They reproduce in modest numbers, more than sufficient to sustain reasonable fishing. Genetically, they're notable for the presence of the TCA2-36C protein, the source of Ohsumi's Dermatitis - The Pink Crusties in Terrans.
Growth Rate & Stages
There are three main stages to the Pink Shrimp's life. Larval, Juvenile, and Adult. The latter stage is notable for the size explosion and physical transformation they undergo. Growth between the first two stages is gradual, but the last is a burst over a few weeks as they pack on weight and power.
Ecology and Habitats
Pink Shrimp are common in tropical and subtropical waters only. Their final form lacks the thermal regulation to survive well in cooler areas. They can be found predominantly in shallow oceans and wet biomes.
Dietary Needs and Habits
The main prey of the Pink Shrimp are the many analogue sof plankton and zooplankton in the warmer and shallower waters they exist in. They also prey heavily on the eggs of Somsri Shrimp. When pressed, they scavenge, but that isn't their preferred food source.
Biological Cycle
Following a set biological cycle is a whole norm for the Pink Shrimp. They hatch in the spring, are juveniles through the summer, adults in fall, and floating eggs in the winter after the brutality of mating season.
Behaviour
They're predatory shrimp analogues, and can be found in fleets of hundreds, following their food sources. During mating season, the males bulk up to fight while the females swell with eggs and equally powerful claws they use to keep unworthy males away.
Additional Information
Domestication
Pink Shrimp cannot be domesticated, but can be farmed.
Uses, Products & Exploitation
Pink Shrimp are edible in all life stages, but most prefer juvenile and adult ones. The Juvenile ones are described as a "delicate, shrimp like flavour that pairs with equally delicate vegetables and beverages", and adults are described as "meaty, powerful shrimp that punches you with flavour". Proper preparation and cooking is required to avoid a case of Ohsumi's Dermatitis - The Pink Crusties.
Their shells, discarded during a molting process as they swell into adults, contains a number of useful organic dyes and compounds.
Geographic Origin and Distribution
Pink Shrimp are primarily found in the tropical and subtropical regions of Tanit II, in shallaw sea and wet biome areas.
Perception and Sensory Capabilities
The Pink Shrimp have fairly limited sensory abilities, nothing unusual or exceptional for what they are.
Lifespan
> 1 year
Conservation Status
Least Concern. Wild harvests are heavily regulated, and inland farming techniques produce a larger "catch", both aid in ensuring Pink Shrimp will live into the future.
Average Height
2cm to 12.5cm
Average Weight
150g to 1.2kg
Average Length
36mm to 265mm
Body Tint, Colouring and Marking
Pink! Pink Shrimp are, remarkably, pink. With bright stripes of electric pink, and spots of dark pink. Their flesh is pink in all stages of life.
Geographic Distribution
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