Crushers inhabit coral reefs upon which they “graze,” as their jaws and teeth are powerful enough to crush coral. They are able to digest the organic matter within the outer layers of a coral reef, and then excrete the indigestible parts. While they are not properly predators nor are they particularly aggressive, crushers will attack in self defense if challenged or surprised.

Crushers are shaped more or less like thick, muscular eels, but each has a double row of sharp spines protruding up and slightly backward along its back. An individual might have 4, 6, or 8 such spines as indicated by its size (though this has little if any effect in combat). Each spine injects venom when it penetrates a victim; any such victim must save vs. Poison or die. These spines are not used offensively, but rather will “hit” any melee opponent who attacks from above, beside, or behind the monster. Only those directly in front of a crusher, or attacking it from below, will be unaffected by these spines.

According to some legends, crushers have a particular fondness for creatures who have been turned to stone (such as by a medusa or basilisk, or by the spell flesh to stone) such that they will gorge themselves on such fare if it becomes available, devouring a man-sized or smaller character or creature in about 8 hours, divided by the number of crushers consuming it.