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Description
The labyrinthine tangle of mangrove roots creates an interesting habitat for all sorts of creatures, be they aquatic, amphibious or arboreal. They create shelter and barriers for those that dwell in the water below, while forming bridges and islands for those that prefer a drier lifestyle. These mangrove forests seem to bring together the creatures of the land and sea, resulting in fascinating species and behaviors that are found nowhere else. One of these unique species is the Mangrove Squid, a specialized cephalopod that calls these twisted roots home.

The Mangrove Squid is an amphibious member of the squid and octopus family, residing solely in mangrove swamps and forests. While its body is more equipped for swimming in the ocean than walking on dry land, it spends a whole lot of its life out of the water. In truth, its limbs are best used for climbing purposes, relying on its many tentacles to latch onto roots and branches to pull it up. With all these prehensile tendrils, you would think these little guys clamber all over the mangrove forest like boneless monkeys. Despite this ability, they prefer to stick to the exposed roots of the mangroves, hanging right above the water line. This is because Mangrove Squids are ambush hunters, and sitting up above gives one a tactical advantage to those who swim down below.

During their hunt for food, a Mangrove Squid will leave the water and climb up onto some exposed roots. Using four of its tendrils, it will anchor itself to these structures and position their body so it sits right above the surface. Its four other primary tentacles will dip back into the water and become perfectly still. Due to their coloration, Mangrove Squids blend in with the surrounding vegetation, and the unmoving tentacles take on the appearance of simple roots. Fish and other aquatic critters that swim past these disguised appendages will be grabbed and eaten. This is the perfect ploy, as many smaller creatures run to these mangrove root systems whenever danger approaches. With the squid hiding amongst this vegetation, other carnivores flush their food right into their waiting tendrils. If this does not happen, the Mangrove Squid may take matters into its own tentacles. Hidden amongst the rest of its appendages are two long, whip-like limbs. These are the "feeding tentacles" that most squids have, though these ones have a slightly different purpose. When prey refuses to get into grabbing range, the squid will reel these two tentacles in and use them in the open air. It will hang them over the water's surface, positioning them so that the paddles extend past the prey that dwells underwater. When everything is lined up perfectly, the squid will slap the surface with these limbs, causing a commotion. This will startle prey and cause them to seek shelter, usually right where the squid is hiding. The other limbs will intercept and then it is lunchtime!

Though these feeder tentacles can be used for manipulating and catching prey, they serve another crucial role. Though they can dwell in the open air, Mangrove Squids need to keep moist. At times they must sit still for hours on end, while the air and sunlight slowly dries them out. To combat this, they use these feeder tentacles to delicately scoop up water and pour it on their exposed bodies. Special mucus glands in these limbs help them capture liquid and form it into a large bubble. This ensures that they get more water with each scoop, and that less spills out, which could frighten prey or alert them to the squid's presence. The act of watering themselves is a slow and careful one, as if they screw up, they could scare off their food.

Mangrove Squids do not just climb onto these roots when they wish to hunt. They stick to the water when they wish to travel long distances or rest. If a big aquatic predator shows up, fleeing to the open air is their go-to. Getting out of the water is a good method for avoiding water-based carnivores, and the gnarled network of roots of the mangroves serves as good protection from both terrestrial and aerial predators. They rely on this for defense so much, that it is where they lay their eggs. Courtship and breeding occurs in the water, but when the female wishes to lay eggs, she goes to the mangroves. She dispense her eggs in a sticky spherical cluster, then scoops them up with her feeder tentacles. She will then use these limbs to attach this cluster deep in the root network, in cramped places that even she may have a hard time fitting into. These eggs will be attached so that they hang right above the water. They will not be so close that they are submerged (as aquatic species could easily eat them), but they will be close enough that the waves and splashes keep them wet. When they hatch, the larvae will drop right into the water and be immediately in the safety of the mangrove roots. This location certainly isn't perfect and predation will occur, but it certainly helps their chances!

Outside of these forests, the Mangrove Squid isn't too well known or revered, just another critter swimming around these flooded mazes. The only folk who have really anything to say about this species are the Mangrove Dryads (which should be pretty obvious why). To be more specific, they don't really pay too much mind to the squids that roam about the wild, it is when these creatures try to set up shop in more personal places that the Mangrove Dryads start having an issue. They don't despise these critters, they just find them to be nuisances when the squids want to use their limbs as a hunting ground. Mangrove Dryads tend to use their tangled lower bodies as a sanctuary for a variety of species during hard times or rough weather, so they aren't too fond of a predator hanging around and taking advantage of that. They say that the squids can also scare their saplings that hide down below, a situation that no mother wants. I believe there is an extra reason for the Mangroves disliking these creatures getting too close, and that is the gross violation of personal space. I mean, cripes, can you imagine how uncomfortable it would be to have something like that just latched on down there? I know Mangroves are used to having critters running around their roots, but still! It just seems uncomfortable and disgusting! It makes me think of that book I read once that turned out to totally not be a research-appropriate account of a Lou Carcolh. I think someone put it in the wrong section of the library, because it certainly did not belong in the non-fiction category! Honestly, I should have been tipped off of its scientific inaccuracy when they seemed to ignore the fact that the tentacles of a Carcolh have a natural adhesive on them. Had I been faster on catching that, I would have spared myself of the coming horror. It does explain why the librarian was giving me such an odd look when I rented it during my research of the beast. I am sure it didn't help my case when I told her it was for "research purposes."

Chlora Myron

Dryad Natural Historian

-----------------------------------------------------------------

Behold, the Mangrove Squid! It is a squid that looks like a mangrove! Gosh, how creative! Got to love that totally original name!

Description
The labyrinthine tangle of mangrove roots creates an interesting habitat for all sorts of creatures, be they aquatic, amphibious or arboreal. They create shelter and barriers for those that dwell in the water below, while forming bridges and islands for those that prefer a drier lifestyle. These mangrove forests seem to bring together the creatures of the land and sea, resulting in fascinating species and behaviors that are found nowhere else. One of these unique species is the Mangrove Squid, a specialized cephalopod that calls these twisted roots home.

The Mangrove Squid is an amphibious member of the squid and octopus family, residing solely in mangrove swamps and forests. While its body is more equipped for swimming in the ocean than walking on dry land, it spends a whole lot of its life out of the water. In truth, its limbs are best used for climbing purposes, relying on its many tentacles to latch onto roots and branches to pull it up. With all these prehensile tendrils, you would think these little guys clamber all over the mangrove forest like boneless monkeys. Despite this ability, they prefer to stick to the exposed roots of the mangroves, hanging right above the water line. This is because Mangrove Squids are ambush hunters, and sitting up above gives one a tactical advantage to those who swim down below.

During their hunt for food, a Mangrove Squid will leave the water and climb up onto some exposed roots. Using four of its tendrils, it will anchor itself to these structures and position their body so it sits right above the surface. Its four other primary tentacles will dip back into the water and become perfectly still. Due to their coloration, Mangrove Squids blend in with the surrounding vegetation, and the unmoving tentacles take on the appearance of simple roots. Fish and other aquatic critters that swim past these disguised appendages will be grabbed and eaten. This is the perfect ploy, as many smaller creatures run to these mangrove root systems whenever danger approaches. With the squid hiding amongst this vegetation, other carnivores flush their food right into their waiting tendrils. If this does not happen, the Mangrove Squid may take matters into its own tentacles. Hidden amongst the rest of its appendages are two long, whip-like limbs. These are the "feeding tentacles" that most squids have, though these ones have a slightly different purpose. When prey refuses to get into grabbing range, the squid will reel these two tentacles in and use them in the open air. It will hang them over the water's surface, positioning them so that the paddles extend past the prey that dwells underwater. When everything is lined up perfectly, the squid will slap the surface with these limbs, causing a commotion. This will startle prey and cause them to seek shelter, usually right where the squid is hiding. The other limbs will intercept and then it is lunchtime!

Though these feeder tentacles can be used for manipulating and catching prey, they serve another crucial role. Though they can dwell in the open air, Mangrove Squids need to keep moist. At times they must sit still for hours on end, while the air and sunlight slowly dries them out. To combat this, they use these feeder tentacles to delicately scoop up water and pour it on their exposed bodies. Special mucus glands in these limbs help them capture liquid and form it into a large bubble. This ensures that they get more water with each scoop, and that less spills out, which could frighten prey or alert them to the squid's presence. The act of watering themselves is a slow and careful one, as if they screw up, they could scare off their food.

Mangrove Squids do not just climb onto these roots when they wish to hunt. They stick to the water when they wish to travel long distances or rest. If a big aquatic predator shows up, fleeing to the open air is their go-to. Getting out of the water is a good method for avoiding water-based carnivores, and the gnarled network of roots of the mangroves serves as good protection from both terrestrial and aerial predators. They rely on this for defense so much, that it is where they lay their eggs. Courtship and breeding occurs in the water, but when the female wishes to lay eggs, she goes to the mangroves. She dispense her eggs in a sticky spherical cluster, then scoops them up with her feeder tentacles. She will then use these limbs to attach this cluster deep in the root network, in cramped places that even she may have a hard time fitting into. These eggs will be attached so that they hang right above the water. They will not be so close that they are submerged (as aquatic species could easily eat them), but they will be close enough that the waves and splashes keep them wet. When they hatch, the larvae will drop right into the water and be immediately in the safety of the mangrove roots. This location certainly isn't perfect and predation will occur, but it certainly helps their chances!

Outside of these forests, the Mangrove Squid isn't too well known or revered, just another critter swimming around these flooded mazes. The only folk who have really anything to say about this species are the Mangrove Dryads (which should be pretty obvious why). To be more specific, they don't really pay too much mind to the squids that roam about the wild, it is when these creatures try to set up shop in more personal places that the Mangrove Dryads start having an issue. They don't despise these critters, they just find them to be nuisances when the squids want to use their limbs as a hunting ground. Mangrove Dryads tend to use their tangled lower bodies as a sanctuary for a variety of species during hard times or rough weather, so they aren't too fond of a predator hanging around and taking advantage of that. They say that the squids can also scare their saplings that hide down below, a situation that no mother wants. I believe there is an extra reason for the Mangroves disliking these creatures getting too close, and that is the gross violation of personal space. I mean, cripes, can you imagine how uncomfortable it would be to have something like that just latched on down there? I know Mangroves are used to having critters running around their roots, but still! It just seems uncomfortable and disgusting! It makes me think of that book I read once that turned out to totally not be a research-appropriate account of a Lou Carcolh. I think someone put it in the wrong section of the library, because it certainly did not belong in the non-fiction category! Honestly, I should have been tipped off of its scientific inaccuracy when they seemed to ignore the fact that the tentacles of a Carcolh have a natural adhesive on them. Had I been faster on catching that, I would have spared myself of the coming horror. It does explain why the librarian was giving me such an odd look when I rented it during my research of the beast. I am sure it didn't help my case when I told her it was for "research purposes."

Chlora Myron

Dryad Natural Historian

-----------------------------------------------------------------

Behold, the Mangrove Squid! It is a squid that looks like a mangrove! Gosh, how creative! Got to love that totally original name!