STINGER SHRIMP - TIMELINE #972801462

(Timeline Tuesday #147)

Stinger shrimp as a species of small, aquatic crustaceans, pink in coloration and measuring approximately two inches in length. They can only survive in salt water, and prefer colder climates. On the home timeline of these creatures, the entire planet Earth has long since been fully submerged underwater, leading to an enormous variety of aquatic species.

In some ways stinger shrimp resemble the natural shrimp of our timeline, and from afar it can be difficult to tell which of these two creatures is being observed. A closer look will reveal a few distinct stringer shrimp characteristics, however. This species is long and slender, usually positioning its exoskeletal body in a rounded curve. They have eight legs, and one enormous stinger that protrudes from the end of their tail. Stinger shrimp also sport a pair of long, sharp fangs along with the rest of their pointy teeth.

It's believed that stringer shrimp may have evolved from wasps, who no longer had any land to survive on and were forced to adapt to this new underwater ecosystem. They are known for their relentless aggression, and are seen as an absolute terror in some coastal areas where they’ve migrated to our timeline.

When a stringer shrimp is disturbed in the water it wall immediately attack its target, biting and gripping with its two large fangs. Once held in place, the stinger shrimp will use its tail to unleash a flurry of whipping, poisonous strikes. These are notoriously painful, but rarely life threatening. Usually, those who are attacked by a stinger shrimp take ten to twenty punctures before successfully removing the creature, which will often immediately return to sting again.

Stringer shrimp are considered a delicacy due to their unique, salty taste and the difficulty procuring them without getting stung. The poison within these creatures produces a tingling effect on those who cook and eat them, manifesting a distinct sensation across a diner’s tongue and lips.