The spiny forest is one of those ecosystems that are absolutely wonderful to look at but are an endless nightmare to actually travel through. The reasons why should be pretty obvious. Outside of the fact that literally every surface is covered in razor sharp spines and thorns, you have to remember that these ecosystems sprout up in arid climates. So a whole lot of heat and barely any water, the perfect recipe for a miserable trek. The only real reprieve from the shriveling heat is the occasional bit of shade you can find under the taller plants. However, remember that these same plants are still covered in pointy needles, so it may be hard to relax with a clump of daggers dangling above your head. Some would suggest waiting for cooler parts of the day, when the sun is not at its highest. This method works for a bit, but once it starts transitioning to night, the temperature drops like a brick. You will soon find yourself dreaming of the scorching sands you once cursed when that sun goes down, because it turns quite frigid! So needless to say, not a lot folk spend tons of time in these ecosystems, except for people like yours truly. If there are cool creatures to catalogue and interesting specimens to find, I will not be turned away be meager things like heat, thorns and sand! At least, that is what I say before I go on these trips, because usually after a week or two, I start rethinking my choices. I’ve lost track of how many needles I have had to pull out of my body, and I am sure that number is going to keep rising.
Regardless, visitors to this land are few and far between, but stories still arise about these ecosystems. Most people are kind of freaked out about it, usually because folk don’t like an environment designed to flay you alive. One such detail you may hear a lot is that the cactus and plants “move as if they have a mind of their own.” There are plenty of tales about strange “plants” that move unnaturally, or change position when no one is looking. The common way these stories go is that a lost person is struggling to escape this torturous land, and notices strange cacti following behind them. They don’t move whenever they look at the plants, but when they turn their backs for a moment then go back for another look, they have inched closer. Eventually the story ends with the cacti surrounding the exhausted victim and draining the life out of them once they can no longer fight back. As usual, the question is how this story came to be when the subject of the tale died, but never mind that part. The real thing is that people think that there are ghastly cacti-like creatures that haunt these lands, waiting for some poor soul to succumb to the heat so that they can oh right cactavoirs exist. My bad. That species slipped my mind for a moment there. I mean, desert dryads do fit the bill a little there, as they look like cacti and tend to move stealthily, but I don’t think they would devour a struggling person like that. Now if you were actually dead, that would be a different story. It’s the desert, can’t let food go to waste! Anyways, what I was really trying to go for here is that there are indeed scenarios where plants and such move without the aid of the breeze. Sometimes it is under their own volition, and sometimes it is because there is more to that “cactus” than you realize.
My lengthy intro was meant to focus on spineshell crabs, and we did get there after a few detours! The spineshell crab is a native to desert regions, and especially abundant in spiny forests. They are a crustacean with a dark green coloration and a body plan that is quite similar to a hermit crab’s. Unfortunately, we are far from the ocean and far from animals that produce shells for them inhabit, so where does the spineshell hide its vulnerable body? Well, if you can’t get a home that is tough and can withstand punishment, get a home that no one wants to even touch! The spineshell crab replaces the typical shell with a carefully selected cactus! The can be quite picky about which plant they choose, it has to be the right size and shape for them. Once they find the perfect spiny plant, they use their claws to cut away the roots and knock it over. With their mouth parts, they chew through the bottom and hollow out the insides of the plant. They carve out a nicely shaped chamber and then park their rears in it! Special hooks line their abdomen, which allows them to anchor it into the hollowed out cactus. They also use their rear most legs to help keep a firm grip, that way their new home doesn’t tumble away. Once situated in the perfect cactus, they now possess a nice “spiny shell” (see how that fits their name?) to protect them from the harsh world.
Them chewing through a cactus isn’t just for making the perfect home, it is also a staple of their diet. Spineshells are herbivores, who primarily feed on cactus and succulents. While this food gives them nutrition, they can also gain all the water they need from these meals! Their digestive system is capable of processing the cactus juice, and extracting valuable fluids from it! It should be important to note that not every creature is capable of pulling water from a cactus! My two random examples will be: non-desert dryads and humans! While dryads tend to be immune to poisons and toxins from other plants, that also doesn’t mean it is pleasant to ingest. Those of us who haven’t adapted to a desert environment will not fare too well with the nasty chemicals that are mixed into the juices of a cactus. Technically we can drink it in a pinch to get some hydration, but the stomachaches resulting from it may be just as wretched as thirst. Humans do even worse than use, as it usually causes vomiting and other unpleasant side effects. The point of this story is: DON’T EAT RANDOM CACTI! I have heard this “survival tip” quite a lot, and it tends to be so vague that it will cause more harm than good. Are there cacti and succulents you can eat or harvest to get water? Yes, as a matter of fact, I have relied on some of these plants during the harsher stretches of my expeditions. However, there are few of these species and they require preparation in order to safely eat them. You can’t just pick the needles out and take a bite! It is important that you know which species are actually safe and which you shouldn’t even get near (hint: most belong in the latter category). Anyways, spineshells eat these cacti and use them as their own mobile dwellings. That same tough exterior that protects the plant from the harsh sunlight and hungry herbivores will do the same for the crab. As a bonus, they can feed on this very cactus if they are in a pinch! How resourceful!
The cactus they carry on their rears isn’t their only means of defense. This spiny home protects them from behind, but what of the front? Their answer to that is: more cactus! Using their claws, they will uproot smaller cacti or snip off bits of a larger one to impale onto their claws. With the right fit, they now have spiny little boxing gloves! This makes them pointy from both ends, and they aren’t afraid to jab at those who get too close. Cute as it may seem to see their little arms punch away, it does hurt if they land a blow! You’ll get a nice bouquet of needles stuck into your skin or bark, which is often enough of a distraction for them to scurry away. Obviously this defense will eventually run out of pointy bits, which means they eat the spent cacti and hurry off to find another. Funny enough, the defense that protects them from predators winds up making them a target for herbivores. There are plenty of other things that eat cacti, so they have to scurry away before a Crystalhorn takes a big bite out of their house! If they are lucky!
Speaking of getting munched, spineshell crabs can indeed be eaten. Locals enjoy them for their juicy meat, once you get past the prickly defenses and thick armor. However, like the cacti, this meat needs some preparation first. You have to cook it to break down the harsher chemicals, as they still retain some of them from their meals. Even after a time on the fire, they have quite the strong taste! There is definitely a sour component to it, which can sound odd when you apply that flavor to meat! It isn’t the worst flavor, it definitely grows on you over time. However, I think the thing I like the most about this meat is that it makes me appreciate my blander rations a bit more!
Chlora Myron
Dryad Natural Historian
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Feels like ages since an entry, though I guess it was just little over a month ago. What if hermit crabs changed from beach sand to desert sand?
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