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.

Behavior
Chelicerates normally patrols areas, commonly attacking creatures like Cryptosuchuses and Brute Sharks but also attacking smaller fish. If it sees the player or a fish, it will open its beak and charge at the creature with the intent to eat it. If it successfully attacks the player, it will deal 74 damage. If the player's health is less than 77% and is attacked by the Chelicerate, a cinematic will play showing the player getting stuck in between the beak and punching it, only to fall into its mouth, thus killing the player.

Design
The name "Chelicerate" name is taken from the taxonomic classification "Chelicerata", a subphylum including horseshoe crabs, arachnids, sea spiders, and the extinct eurypterids. The latter of which appears to have inspired the design of this Leviathan, as both eurypterids and this creature share a body comprised of fourteen segments. Cheliceratas were also invertebrates, suggesting the Chelicerate might be one as well.

The elements that make up the body resemble those of a Eurypterid, whilst the body's shape is shark-like.

Gallery
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Trivia

 * The Chelicerate creature was originally designed as a large shark class creature, but was later elevated to a Leviathan class creature.