| Burrower | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| |||
| General information | |||
| Universe | Metroid | ||
| Classification | Fodiens tallonensis | ||
| Species type | Burrowing Mite | ||
| Homeworld | Tallon IV | ||
| Environment | Magmoor Caverns, Phazon Mines, Tallon Overworld | ||
| Intelligence | Non-sapient | ||
| Biochemistry | Carbon-based lifeform | ||
| Discoverer | Chozo | ||
| Biological information | |||
| Reproduction | Sexual; lays eggs (presumed) | ||
| Locomotion | Burrows using eight legs | ||
| Feeding behavior | Carnivorous (presumed) | ||
| Distinctive features | Extremely sensitive, highly elongated segmented cerci; Plasma beam immunity | ||
| Skin color | Reddish-brown | ||
| Lineage information | |||
| Descendant(s) | Ice Burrower, Phazon Burrower | ||
| Cultural information | |||
| Alignment | True Neutral | ||
| Personality | Aggressive | ||
| Sociocultral characteristics | |||
| Scientific taxonomy | |||
| Planet | Tallon IV | ||
| Domain | Eukaryota | ||
| Kingdom | Animalia | ||
| Subkingdom | Eumetazoa | ||
| Infrakingdom | Bilateria | ||
| Superphylum | Ecdysozoa | ||
| Phylum | Arthropoda (Arthropods) | ||
| Subphylum | Chelicerata | ||
| Class | Arachnida (Arachnids) | ||
| Subclass | Acari (Ticks & Mites) | ||
| Superorder | Parasitiformes (Parasitic Mites) | ||
| Order | Mesostigmata | ||
| Superfamily | Veigaioidea | ||
| Family | Veigaiidae | ||
| Genus | Fodiens (Somarinoa, 2019) | ||
| Species | F. tallonensis (Parker Green, 2021) | ||
| Other information | |||
| Status | Least concern (presumed) | ||
| First sighting | Arrival of the Chozo era | ||
| Last sighting | Phazon Incident era | ||
"A tunneling insect [sic] predator, the Burrower is similar to the Beetle, though it prefers to spend more time underground. It seeks seismic disturbances, then surfaces to attack. It has enough cunning to realize when something is too large for it to handle. Beyond that, it is fairly ignorant. What it lacks in brains, it makes up for in aggression." |
Burrowers (Fodiens tallonensis) are a species of large, burrowing predatory mites indigenous to Tallon IV. Because of their subterranean lifestyle and hardy physiology, they can be found from the lush Tallon Overworld to the extremely hot Magmoor Caverns and the Phazon Mines, where certain members had in the past become corrupted and transformed into the now-extinct subspecies known as the Phazon Burrower. A subspecies has developed from those that had in the past traveled into the Tallon IV, creating the Ice Burrowers.
They have five primary eyes at the front of their heads (despite their cluster-like formation, the size of these indicate that they are not likely to be ocelli), plus two additional eyes set further back provide the creature with vision while exposed. The two eyes on the side of the body may be used to provide strong binocular vision for aiming their acid spittle.
Behavior[]
Burrowers use their extremely elongated, segmented cerci to detect even the slightest of seismic disturbances. Excavating their tunnels just below the surface of the substrate of whatever region they happen to currently be in, their movement is easily detectable to creatures of high-enough intellect as they leave a trail as they move. Upon detecting a threat or potential prey item, they use their strong forelegs to suddenly leap several feet into the air and spit a globule of acid at their target, hopefully incapacitating them and allowing them to feast. They are hardy but physically weak creatures, and adventurers can use nearly any weapon type to deal with them; however due to their extremophilic nature in being able to handle the heat of the planet's volcanic regions, they are immune to plasma beam weaponry. Because of this frailty they use the substrate to protect themselves as much as they can and generally speaking, it is frivolous to attempt to kill them while they are underground.
Trivia[]
- Despite their official logbook description stating that they are insects, their eight legs indicate that they are most definitely arachnids. Japanese culture, at least in the media world, does not seem to often differentiate between insects, arachnids, and crustaceans and tends to refer to them all under the same interchangeable terms, though this is highly inaccurate.
Appearances[]
- Metroid Prime (First appearance)
