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{{lifeform
|image=ShalebarkCremlings.jpg
|image-artist=[[Ben McSweeney]]
|type=Animal
|world=Roshar
|universe=[[Cosmere]]
|books=[[The Stormlight Archive]]
}}
}}{{update|book=sa3sa4}}
A '''cremling''' was a type of scavenger crustacean on [[Roshar]] that was native to the [[Shattered Plains]],{{book ref|sa1|4}} the [[Purelake]],{{book ref|sa1|i|1}} [[Kharbranth]],{{book ref|sa1|39}} and likely other areas, such as [[Alethkar]].{{book ref|sa1|41}} The term "cremling" seems to be more of a generalized name for a whole group of small scavenger crustaceans.{{book ref|sa1|4}} They were reviled by humans, who often called others cremlings to degrade and insult them.{{book ref|sa1|6}} Cremlings were piled up and burnt in one of Dalinar's dreams. {{book ref|sa3|47}}
A '''cremling''' is a type of scavenger crustacean that can be found almost everywhere on [[Roshar]].{{book ref|sa1|4}}{{book ref|sa1|i|1}}{{book ref|sa1|39}}{{book ref|sa1|41}} Rather than a single species, the term — derived from [[crem]], a type of sediment — encompasses a wide variety of creatures.{{book ref|sa1|4}} Cremlings that live in the ocean are sometimes called '''sealings'''.{{book ref|dawnshard|8}}
 
== Appearance and Anatomy ==
{{image|Cremlings by Vaigerika.png|side=right|height=250px}}
As there are many species of cremlings, their appearance is not uniform. They have claws{{book ref|sa1|57}} and a carapace{{book ref|sa1|49}} and tend to be tiny, multilegged, and thin,{{book ref|sa1|39}} with elongated bodies.{{book ref|sa1|57}} In the Purelake, at least, cremlings have a multitude of colors.{{book ref|sa1|i|1}} The cremlings in the chasms of the Shattered Plains had a reddish hue, but their carapace was semi-transparent, so their organs could be seen.{{book ref|sa1|27}} As a group, cremlings seem to share the trait of purple blood.{{book ref|sa1|31}} Some cremlings, most notably in Kharbranth, had carapaces that were shaded like the feelers of [[shalebark]].{{book ref|sa1|39}}
As there are many species of cremlings, their appearance is not uniform. They tend to be tiny, multilegged, and thin, with elongated bodies and purple blood.{{book ref|sa1|39}}{{book ref|sa1|57}}{{book ref|sa1|31}} Most have claws and a carapace.{{book ref|sa1|57}}{{book ref|sa1|49}} One known variety is [[skrip]], which has a flat tail, two large claws and long antennae.{{book ref|sa3|68}}
 
Cremlings come in variety of colors. Ones living in the chasms of the [[Shattered Plains]] have a reddish hue with semi-transparent carapace, making their organs visible.{{book ref|sa1|27}} In [[Kharbranth]], there are cremlings shaded like the feelers of [[shalebark]], while in the Purelake, they have a multitude of colors.{{book ref|sa1|i|1}}{{book ref|sa1|39}} Some species, including a variety called "sigs cremlings" by the [[listener]]s, are poisonous, and indicate so by having vividly red claws or bright coloring on their backs.{{book ref|sa4|62}}{{book ref|sa3|18}}
It is possible that for an unknown reason cremlings may sometimes shed their carapace.{{book ref|sa1|49}}
 
Cremlings can make sounds, including screeching and clicking.{{book ref|sa3|26}}{{book ref|sa3|25}} [[Songling]] - a small crustacean capable of far wider vocal range - might be a type of cremling.
 
== Ecology ==
Cremlings hadgrow twofrom primarylarvae, foodwhich sources.mature Thein firststagnant waspools of scavengingwater. They drank blood,{{book ref|sa1|5643}} asAdults welllive asin ateburrows theoften fleshlocated ofin thecracks deceasedin humans,{{bookthe ref|sa1|27}} [[Parshendi]],rock.{{book ref|sa1|5657}} and otherSome creatures, suchthat asRosharans [[chasmfiend]]s.{{bookcall ref|sa1|15}}cremlings Theare otheractually sourcelarvae forms of foodlarger came from plants.animals, Afterlike [[highstormchull]]s, plantsor wouldmaybe ofteneven unfurl to drink in the nutrient rich rainwater[[Tai-na]].{{wob The cremlings would feed on the newly exposed parts of the plants.ref|10372}}{{bookwob ref|sa1|1112183}}
 
Cremlings have two primary food sources: scavenging and plant matter. Typically, they drink blood and eat the flesh of the deceased humans, [[Parshendi]], and other creatures, such as [[chasmfiend]]s.{{book ref|sa1|56}}{{book ref|sa1|27}}{{book ref|sa1|15}} In the period immediately after [[highstorm]]s, they expand their diet to plants, as those will often unfurl to drink in the nutrient-rich rainwater, allowing the cremlings to feed on the newly-exposed parts.{{book ref|sa1|11}} In addition, some cremlings seem to have a symbiotic relationship with [[shalebark]]. They clean the shalebark by eating anything that has built up on it, and take on coloring that helps them blend with it, disguising them from predators.{{book ref|sa1|39}}
 
TheCremlings cremlingsare werein turn preyed upon by [[graspers]], who wouldwill swiftly seize cremlingsthem and pull them into their lairs.{{book ref|sa1|57}}▼
 
For an unknown reason, some cremlings molt occasionally, shedding their carapace.{{book ref|sa1|49}}{{book ref|sa3|19}} Some cremlings are capable of seeing [[Investiture]].{{wob ref|13312}}
 
== Culture ==
Cremlings are generally reviled on [[Roshar]], being treated as little more than annoying and disgusting pests. Calling someone a cremling is one of Roshar's most common insults, with meaning similar to "rat" or "snake".{{book ref|sa1|6}} In idioms, cremlings are usually synonymous with cautious or cowardly behaviour.{{book ref|sa3|13}}{{book ref|sa3|52}}
 
Cremlings are edible for humans. While not considered high-quality, their overabundance makes them a reliable food source, and a good cook can turn them into a fine dish.{{book ref|sa3|55}}{{book ref|sa3|68}} They are usually boiled, and the water left afterwards can be drank, although the latter seems to be a habit limited to the [[Horneater]]s.{{book ref|sa3|55}} They taste similarly to crabs.{{book ref|sa3|63}}
 
Some people collect various species of cremlings, pinning them to boards like butterflies.{{book ref|sa3|i|4}}
 
As with "[[chicken]]" and "[[spren]]", the term "cremling" is often misapplied by Rosharans to refer to creatures that aren't part of the same group, like some non-crustacean hordelings, insects and [[greatshell]] larvae.{{wob ref|3346}}{{wob ref|3978}}{{wob ref|10372}}
Cremlings lived in burrows often located in cracks in the rock.{{book ref|sa1|57}}
 
== Sleepless ==
Some cremlings seem to have had a symbiotic relationship with shalebark.{{book ref|sa1|39}} The cleaned the shalebark by eating anything that had built up on the shalebark. The coloring of these cremlings helped them blend with the shalebark, disguising them from predators.
{{for|Sleepless}}
 
Some cremlings are part of [[Sleepless]] swarms, and share a common hive mind. Such cremlings, called hordelings, are typically heavily-specialized, with some trained to act as ears or eyes, or to assume humanoid coloring so as to allow the Sleepless to pretend to be human.{{book ref|sa2.5|18}}{{book ref|sa3|i|4}} They can operate at a significant distance from the rest of their swarm, making them perfect spies.{{wob ref|11603}} Through heavy breeding, over multiple generations, they can be evolved to do almost anything, including mimicking [[larkin]] abilities.{{wob ref|12658}}
The cremlings grew from larvae, which matured in stagnant pools of water.{{book ref|sa1|43}}
 
In the past, hordelings have directly participated in the [[Desolation]]s, fighting on the side of the [[Knights Radiant]].{{book ref|sa2.5|18}} Dalinar witnesses a burnt pile of them in one of his dream-visions.{{book ref|sa3|42}}
▲The cremlings were preyed upon by [[graspers]], who would swiftly seize cremlings and pull them into their lairs.{{book ref|sa1|57}}
 
== Notes ==
MrMrDUCK
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