A bane to all ships sailing the seas, Karkinos are monstrous crustaceans that can be encountered in all the oceans of the world. In a matter of minutes, they can destroy a vessel, dump its cargo into the water, and seize its drowning crew, thus ruining the career of a merchant captain. Karkinos mostly inhabit shallow seas and come close to the coast or surface to hunt and feed.
A Karkino can grow up to 50 feet in size, with two long arms capable of extending up to 30 feet each, and can weigh up to 6 tons. They behave similarly to their smaller counterparts, feeding on both plant material such as kelp forests, and animal matter such as sharks, seals, and even giant squids. The color of a Karkino's hard exoskeleton varies widely depending on the species, and can shift over time in response to its diet.
Despite being carnivorous and scavengers, Karkinos often turn into sought-after prey for hunters, as their meat is known to be the most flavorsome on the entire planet. No one would dare to dispute this, and even many herbivorous Anthro have been carried away by the curiosity of such a delicacy, going against their vegetarian nature to feast non-stop on the delicious food, almost to the point of poisoning themselves.
Despite their reputation as dangerous predators, Karkinos' nature is anything but violent or aggressive. On the contrary, if they are encountered when still cubs, Karkinos can be affable and reliable. In fact, there are cases where they have been bred and trained as steeds and draft animals. Many kings and sumptuous governors have dreamed of parading in a procession while riding a huge Karkino.
Overall, Karkinos are awe-inspiring creatures that command both fear and respect, yet they can also be tamed and trained if approached with care and expertise.