Brought to my attention by my wonderful wife.
What you see below isn’t a fish but in fact the freshwater plain pocketbook mussel (Lampsilis cardium) displaying her lure mimicking a fish. This sacrificial body part serves to attract a predatory fish and, when chewed upon, will rupture and release parasitic larvae inside said chewer. These larvae attached to the host’s gills will then feed and develop and y’know, live their life at the expense of somebody (just not their parents) until they’re ready to leave.
Okay, that’s not really rpg-related but c’mon! Baiting, camouflaging and parasitism all in one? It begs to be adapted into a monster!
Streets & Spores 
A mimic, instead of eating you, leaves little mimic larvae disguised as unremarkable things – pocket change, moldy rations, a freckle on your back you never notice – until they drop off elsewhere, seeding a new dungeon population. Still unclear whether gold coins which are really monsters count for XP when the delve’s over.
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In the Donjon Meshi manga there’s « treasure insects » who look like coins and jewels and such that lay their eggs inside of mimics (mimics are basically crustaceans that use chest or other containers to hide) , their larvae devouring them afterward. The next step is for an unsuspecting adventurer to open the chest and free the new generation of insects!
But I think your idea is just as good. And no, those are not really gold coins, no xps, adventurers should know better! Live and learn haha!
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I’m beginning to think that this adventuring gig might not have the best and most stable long-term career prospects.
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Adventuring is for fools and dreamers, it is well-known… 😉
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so cool !
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