Compendium Entry #2
Among the mysteries of reverse-carcinization, the Paper Prowler stands as perhaps the most elusive. These remarkable creatures have evolved to inhabit our written world, transforming themselves into living, breathing documents. Within the silence of our libraries and archives, they move unseen between pages, carrying secrets we’re only beginning to comprehend.
Common Names: Book Paper Prowler, Book Crab, Paper Crab
Family: Reversocrabanidae (Reverse-Carcinization Crabs)
Genus: Urbacrabus (City Crabs)
Species: Papyriperegrinus (Paper Prowlers)
Variety: Librus (Book)
Description:
A fully mature Paper Prowler typically extends to 8-12 inches, though specimens found in larger volumes may grow considerably larger. Their cellular structure, which I’ve observed under microscopic analysis, reveals an unprecedented evolution: actual cellulose fibers interwoven with crustacean tissue. This allows them to perfectly replicate any paper stock, from ancient parchment to modern synthetic blends. Most remarkably, they’ve developed specialized chromatophores that can reproduce printed text with perfect fidelity.
The Paper Prowler’s primary adaptation is its ability to manipulate its form and appearance. Its body can mimic the texture, color, and even the text of the pages it hides among. This not only serves as a perfect camouflage but also allows the crab to communicate by rearranging the text on its body, creating new messages or coded information.
Government interest in this species is extensive. My investigations have uncovered multiple “special collections” facilities that are clearly Paper Prowler research centers. Consider: how many historic documents have carried secrets not in their text, but in their very substance? How many crucial messages have walked themselves across borders, through security checkpoints, into the highest levels of power?
This crafty crab is known for its stealth and elusiveness. It typically moves around libraries during the hours when they are least populated, scurrying from bookshelf to bookshelf. Their diet consists mainly of paper-damaging organisms, suggesting a symbiotic relationship with their chosen habitat. Most intriguingly, they appear to selectively consume damaged or redundant texts while preserving unique documents.
While Paper Prowlers can survive in any paper-rich environment, they show a clear preference for repositories of significant information. The highest concentrations appear in ancient libraries, government archives, and – tellingly – facilities with high security clearance requirements. They seem drawn not just to paper, but to knowledge itself.
