Coral Crab
AutreGrandAn enormous crab (tentatively *Ostrakonskelos anaktoraphore*, hard-legged palace-bearer) that hides among coral domes.
Health
?1,000
Health
Maximum hit points. The creature dies and drops its loot when this reaches zero. Players can chip it down with knives, harpoons or vehicle-mounted weapons.
Swim speed
?5.0 m/s
Swim speed
Top movement speed underwater, in metres per second. Used when chasing prey, fleeing threats, or migrating between territory zones. For reference: the Seaglide tops out around 11 m/s.
Stamina
?100
Stamina
Energy pool for sprint, lunge and attack actions. Drains while sprinting or using abilities, regenerates while idle. Pack hunters with low stamina tire out faster and break off chases sooner.
Food pool
?100
Food pool
Hunger meter. Drains over time, refills when the creature feeds on prey or plants. When the pool empties, the creature actively hunts, which is why hungry predators are more aggressive.
Bulk
?40
Bulk
Engine mass / weight class. Drives water displacement (so creatures push you around), the carry-weight footprint when the corpse becomes an item, and AI prey-selection heuristics (bigger bulk means bigger fight).
Coral Crab field notes
Coral Crab is a grand autre creature in Subnautica 2, sourced from the current Early Access build. It has 1,000 HP, swims at up to 5.0 m/s, and consumes from a 100 food pool. Behaviour profile not cleanly classified.
Engages 2 target types including AI.Archetype.Hammerhead, Player.
Behaviour tags from the AI archetype data: Large body, Neutral.
Spawn locations
Known fixed spawn points for Coral Crab in the current build.
PDA Log
· Coral CrabAn enormous crab (tentatively *Ostrakonskelos anaktoraphore*, hard-legged palace-bearer) that hides among coral domes.
1. Crablike body plan Forelimbs rake and dig for food which is collected by long soft maxillipeds (food handling limbs) around the mouth. The crab must molt to grow.
2. Coral dome A living coral dome, cut from its holdfast and worn. It provides camouflage, protection, and perhaps a nursery for the crab’s young. Are they married to a single dome, or are domes traded as they grow?
3. Implicit predator Defenses and behavior imply the existence of a predator powerful and dextrous enough to shuck the crab from its dome and crack its heavy armor.
4. Viral activity Genome contains large repeated retroviral inserts, including nerve growth factors and shell pigments. Molecular clock suggests they were recent introductions. Cells on the crab’s back contain large segments of the coral dome polyp’s genome.
5. Large brains The coral crab has no spinal nerve braid. A large brain above the eyes manages senses and behavior planning, while a secondary nerve cluster controls the legs and digestive system.
6. Seafloor communication Coral crabs drum on the seafloor to signal to each other. Claw-clacking is likely a sign of intense excitement or agitation. Some Earth crabs seek desirable partners to pair with prior to molting, a behavior known as ‘handholding’. Finding a similar behavior on this world may be emotionally rewarding.
7. Signs of ecological stress Mineral deficiencies and fungal infections imply environmental stressors.
Assessment: likely fears you more than you fear it. Be cautious and respectful. At least as intelligent as a gorilla. Possibly a useful source of seabed resources.
Research proposal: determine whether the crab carries its dome to sunny or nutrient-rich areas for feeding.
Who Coral Crab engages
Targets coral crab will attack on sight or while threatened.
- ●AI.Archetype.Hammerhead
- ●Player
Last updated 2026-05-14