Stalker

The Stalker is an aggressive life form belonging to the fauna category. Most of them can be found populating the Kelp Forest and beneath the Aurora in the Crash Zone.

Occasionally, they can be found swimming into the Safe Shallows while chasing Peepers.

Appearance
The Stalker has an elongated and round body, with a seemingly smooth skin. Its head features a long snout greatly resembling that of the real life gharial.

On its back protrudes seven dorsal spikes running along most of its body's length, as well as two pectoral and pelvic, purple-tipped fins on each side, and ends with a broad, fluked-like tail.

The Stalker's coloration varies from the blue-gray dorsal side, having many dark blue patterns, to a bright green underside.

Behavior
The Stalker seems to have a fondness for metal salvage: it will approach the object, pick it up with its mouth and start flailing it for awhile. Doing so will sometimes not only displace the item, but also leave behind a Stalker Tooth.

Being predators, Stalkers will attempt to chase and eat nearby Peepers. They will also attack the player upon close encounters, with each bite dealing 30 damage. The player should be cautious while exploring Kelp Forests to avoid getting attacked by surprise, as Stalkers often form small groups, lurking in the dense Creepvines forest.

At night, beside being more difficult to spot, Stalkers become more aggressive and having a wider aggressive radius, so it is advised to avoid swimming near Kelp Forests during such times.

Stalkers can be found guarding or lurking near their Eggs, and will attack if the player gets too close.

Interactions with the Player
It is possible to temporarily "tame" a Stalker by feeding them any kind of catchable fish (most common choice being Peepers), or by giving them metal salvage. Doing any of the above will render the creature peaceful, for a short while.

However, after being fed, the Stalker will not only become peaceful towards the player, but it will also start looking for metal salvage, pick it up, and drop it at the player's position as "presents".

Keep in mind that this "tamed" behavior is only temporary. If the player doesn't have enough fish, the Stalker will become hostile again.

Giving the Stalker metal salvage will pacify the Stalker, but will not cause it to bring the player more metal salvage, like fish would do.

Data Bank Entry
A streamline predator with developed intelligence and strength. Prey: Evolutionary profile fits natural predator of the Peeper
 * Found in the kelp forests, in wait of prey leaving the safety of the shallows
 * Retinal layering suggests adaptation for night-time hunting
 * Neural pathways indicate innate ability for reward-based learning: evolutionary explanation unclear at this time
 * Attracted to metals. Will fight fiercely over its hoard. No explanation available for this behavior. Further research required.

Assessment: Coerce or avoid

Data Bank Entry (Tooth)
Extended analysis of Stalker dental samples has been completed.

In other local lifeforms tooth composition follows a familiar biological process whereby a calcified structure is grown in the gum.

Stalker teeth are unique in exhibiting extraordinary lightness and strength, and containing only trace amounts of calcium. They gain their structural integrity from a titanium/iron compound somehow produced in the Stalker's body.

This suggests some possible explanations for the creature's metal-gathering behavior, but raises more questions: Assessment: More research required.
 * By what process can the stalker convert raw metals into dental structure?
 * What explains this seemingly costly evolutionary adaptation? An armored opponent? A calcium shortage?

Gallery
For a more complete gallery, visit Stalker/Gallery.

Trivia

 * As of 14.12.2014 the model of the Stalker was changed. Until then the model of the Lava Lizard was used.


 * The Stalker was also listed as Snout Shark in development documents.