Water Slug

Water slug (tentatively *Seaslug hydroclast*). A biological enigma that converts seawater into drinkable fresh water.

1. Microbial fuel cell

Removing salt from seawater is energy-intensive. Nonetheless, the water slug does it, perhaps as a byproduct of an internal microbial reactor that feeds on waste in seawater.

2. Fresh water reserve

A hydrophobic plastic bulb that protects the slug from rapid dehydration by saltwater.

3. Plankton farm

The slug's water bulb hosts a highly productive plankton species, turning light into food. Fresh water may be necessary for the plankton's chemistry, or it may be a prison—a way to keep the plankton from leaving.

4. Vampiric aura

The water slug's developed beak has a sharp cutting surface. Possible evolutionary history as a parasite or commensal, tapping a host's blood and filtering out toxins.

Assessment: only nearby source of drinkable water. Advise fabricator cook before drinking. In case of kidney problems, consider allowing the water slug to feed on your blood.