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Creature Contest - Skaters — Description

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Skaters
“Ocean’s Lantern”

Skaters are wild creatures that roam the surface of the ocean!

Skaters are aquatic insects, with six limbs, a pair of mandibles and a really long proboscis they use to grab vegetation from the ocean floor. They walk on four limbs, while the third pair acts as arms. They also possess glands throughout their body which glow at night. They are roughly the size of a full grown staxie, however they are lighter than a stump!

On their body are many glands which glow brightly in the dark. While the faceted eyes glow too.

Skaters are known for their ability to walk and glide over the water, which is what inspired their name. On the bottom of their feet are very small hydrophobic hairs which help keep them afloat. Skaters typically live near shallow to medium waters, which is an ideal location for them to feed at. Due to this, pods are commonly able to be seen from islands!

During the day, Skaters are typically skittish and will either glide away from you or ‘stand taller’ as an intimidation tactic. However, nightfall leads to a tamer behavior,where the glow of the pod is more than enough to sway any predators from attacking. Night time picnics are often best spent on a boat around Skaters, for their glow provides a wonderful light.

These fellas can be a saving grace if a ship were lost at sea, for the glow of the pod highlights the path at night.

Nests are built on the surface of the water, made out of literal regurgitated vegetation, which will act as a floatie and a meal for the eggs once hatched.
Eye/Antennae and Glands will vary from different ocean colors found! Ranges from green, to blue to purple. (Strange, theres been a few spotted with glands that glow black…)
Youngsters with back glands seem to take a shining to Skaters! Matching glands!

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back and managed to finish before the deadline! out of my two concepts I am much more in favor of this one as there arent too many groups that touch on the bug species. this one went through many designs before I managed to settle

the inspiration came from insects that walk on water in real life!