Chelicerate

Chelicerate=

Void Chelicerate=

The Chelicerate is an aggressive leviathan class fauna species of Subnautica: Below Zero.

Appearance
The top side of the body is red in color whilst the underside is beige. The head is large, accounting for around one third of the total body length including mandibles. The jaw section is formed by four long curved mandibles pointed forwards that mesh together towards the back to form an inescapable jaw. Between the mandibles is a small beak-like mouth lined with two rows of forwards-swept teeth. Low down on the head is a black eye with a white ring in the center and behind this a smaller, simpler eye lacking the white ring seen in the larger eye. Both pairs of eyes are ringed with purple.

The body section is divided into twelve plates, the first six plates featuring long spines growing from the top, providing the framework for a dorsal fin-like membrane stretching between them. The second plate has a pair of long and thin jointed pectoral fins, partially made up of a transparent membrane. The ventral side of the eighth and ninth plates features a transparent pelvic fin. The body ends with a small tail fluke.

A separate version of the Chelicerate exists in the Void. A Chelicerate found in this biome has a white body that turns grey towards the head and the tail, with pale orange and brown patches on its body. Its eyes are fiery orange with yellow towards the pupil. The membrane between the spines on its back and fins is more transparent and is a light blue, and the small tail is black as opposed to pink. The Void Chelicerate is also significantly larger, being 65 meters in length even more than the Shadow Leviathan.

Behavior
Chelicerates normally patrols areas, commonly attacking and consuming creatures such as Cryptosuchuses, Squidsharks and Brute Sharks but also attacking smaller organisms. On spotting potential prey, it will open its beak and charge, emitting a loud screech as it does so. If it successfully attacks Robin, it will deal 75 damage, but if her health is less than 77%, the bite will be an instant kill with a cinematic showing Robin getting caught in the creature's jaws.

Chelicerates will also attack the Seatruck and Prawn Suit, grasping these vehicles in their jaws and pushing them around for a short time dealing damage. The Void Chelicerate however does not seem to be able to grab the Seatruck or the Prawn Suit, one narrative reason could be due to the muscles of their mandibles being severely weakened by age.

Design
The name "Chelicerate" name is taken from the taxonomic classification "Chelicerata", a subphylum of arthropods including horseshoe crabs, arachnids, sea spiders, and the extinct eurypterids (sea scorpions). The latter group appears to have inspired the design of this Leviathan, as both eurypterids and this creature share a body comprised of fourteen segments. Real cheliceratas were invertebrates, though it is not confirmed if the Below Zero Chelicerate shares this quality.

The elements that make up the body resemble those of a Eurypterid, whilst the body's shape is shark-like. The creature's four claw-like jaws are based on the chelicerae that give the taxonomic group its name, and appear to be based on the jaws of solfugae ("camel spiders").

Gallery
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Trivia

 * In concept art the Chelicerate was originally envisioned as the size of a shark, but was later elevated to a Leviathan class creature.