Other Aquatic Creatures
Mirelurks are not the only mutants that take to the water. Many of the following animals can be found near or in water, some being far more dangerous than others.
Gulpers
Descended from Salamanders and Newts, these amphibious animals can be found in freshwater and salt water marshes and ponds. Easily mistaken for reptiles, they are in fact amphibians and are capable of breathing air and water. They live in family groups of 5 and keep their nest in warm environments. A little over 5ft in height, Gulpers hunt prey using strong prehensile tongues, headbutts, and sharp claws and teeth.
Anglers
Descended from the Angler Fish, how these mutants went from deep sea, twilight zone dwelling fishes to semi-aquatic humanoids is a mystery. Found in salt water lagoons and fresh water swamps, they are dangerous predators that should not be approached. They live in small families, usually made up of three adults and will consume any prey they find.
Like their ancestors, they use ambush tactics to hunt. On their foreheads, there is a natural growth that resembles a lureweed, by staying submerged in the water, they wait for prey such as the radstags or unsuspecting herbalists. Anglers are humanoid in appearance, their hands and feet are webbed, as well as having fins on their forearms, shins, and back, with gills on their necks.
Anglers are incredibly fast and agile hunters, equipped with not only sharp claws, but also an acidic bile they can launch as fleeing prey.
Fog Crawlers
Believed to be a mutated form of Mantis Shrimp, or Squilla Mantis, Fog Crawlers are typically the apex predator of their area. Isolationists, they live solitary, nomadic lives, wandering around the swamps and mires they call home. Extremely aggressive, Fog Crawlers will attack anything that comes across them, using strong claws and forceful headbutts. Fog Crawlers will also jump into the air and land heavily back down to earth, stunning anything nearby. You'll hear a Fog Crawler before you see it as they make a low, but loud vocalizing sound.
Hermit Crabs
Woe to the unwary traveler who takes potshots at a blasted-out van only to anger the Hermit Crab living inside. Once a pet sold at boardwalk tourist traps to children for 8 dollars, the Hermit Crab is now a massive crustacean. Unlike its cousin, the common Mirelurk, Hermit Crabs are born without natural shells and has to scavenge for makeshift armor, like a raider. In the Back-when times, the Hermit Crab would use abandoned sea shells from snails and nautiluses, but now, due to radiation, the Hermit Crab makes its home in ruined vans and trailers.
Living a solitary and nomadic life, Hermit crabs carry their homes on their backs, moving from place to place to find prey. An ambush predator, the Hermit Crab tucks its body into its 'shell' and waits for an unsuspecting radstag or scavenger before unrolling itself to attack. Armed with powerful claws, the Hermit crab is strong as it is large. Thankfully slow moving, a Hermit crab is easily dodge able, provided you recover from the shock of seeing a massive crab burst out of a food truck quick enough.
Frogs and Toads
Amphibious creatures found in ponds and creeks, these semi-aqautic mutants are (possibly) kin to the Mirelurk Kings. Frogs are the smallest of the Semi-Aqautic mutants, even smaller than a Mirelurk hatchling. Timid things, the Frog has a blue and green skin the has a bioluminescent glow. They use their elongated legs and prehensile tongues to catch insects such as fireflies.
Toads are far larger and far more aggressive than the more passive Frogs. Fat and misshapen, Toads live in groups of up to five. They have grown sharp teeth and attack potential prey by leaping at them and attempting to strike them with a bludgeon-like tongue. They care their eggs on their backs in tumor-like growths and are even able to launch their eggs at potential prey. Self-preservation is clearly not something Toads are able to consider.
Both Frogs and Toads are hatched from eggs and the hatchlings are refereed to as tadpoles, purely aquatic little animals that overtime will grow to be able to inhabit land and water.
Dolphins
A common sight on fishing boats and in Mirelurk nests, the dolphin was once one of natures most majestic animals. Now, like most things touched by radiation, it is terrible. Little is known about the modem Dolphin as both a lack of scuba equipment and heavy radiation make underwater exploration incredibly difficult. Before the war, dolphins were one of the most intelligent animals on Earth, now they decorate coastlines and boardwalks and make feasts for Radgulls.
Ghoul Whale
More legend than fact, stories of massive, ghoulified sea monsters are common among fishermen and caravanners. Animals that once held the title of largest creatures on Earth, it is possible some survived in the depths of the ocean. Whether all whales have become ghoulified or just the ones who had the misfortune to be topside when the bombs hit is unknown.