You know, I considered that very thing as I was making it. But then, tbh, the only real thing that makes it look cluttered is the spikes. And I realized that there is an easy way to fix this. I could simply just not give the parts outlines, and mark the spikes instead using a lighter shade. This would represent how they catch the light better than the rest of the body, and it would fix the need for an outline. What do you think about this idea?
I am mainly concerned with how the claw, which is a major part of the creature, is going to blend into the body behind it in sprite form.