Symbiote

The Symbiote is a small, aggressive fauna species that will appear in Subnautica: Below Zero.

Appearance
Symbiotes have a light blue head region with a sharp black beak. It has a pair of orange eyes with black, rectangular pupils. Three thin red fins protrude back from the head, situated at 60 degree intervals. The body from the neck down is drastically different from the head region, being composed of a translucent red-colored tissue through which the ribs and spinal column are visible. Four pairs of small black spikes protrude from the body on the dorsal and ventral side, these too are translucent. Right before the tail fin the red flesh transitions to black, and the body ends with a light blue tail fin the same color as the head.

Behavior
These small aggressive creatures live in a symbiotic relationship with the Titan Holefish. Symbiotes lay their eggs within a blue gel-like substance in the tail hollow of the Titan Holefish. Here the eggs can extract the nutrients and oxygen in order to grow. In return the adult Symbiotes form shoals around the Titan Holefish, attacking any potential predators that come close and removing parasites from the Titan's body.

Design
The beak of the Symbiote is very similar in structure to the beaks of birds within the family Psittacidae, aka parrots. The behaviour of the Symbiote towards the Titan Holefish resembles the cleaning behaviours displayed by several real world animals.

Trivia

 * The Symbiote and the Titan Holefish are the fourth creatures shown in a symbiotic relationship, the first three (all in the original game) being the Crashfish and the Sulfur Plant, the Crabsnake and the Jellyshroom and the Sea Emperor Leviathan to the creatures inside it's aquarium.