Chelicerate

The Chelicerate is a potential 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 centre and behind this a smaller, simpler eye giving the creature a total of four eyes. The top of the head is protected by a large plate.

The body section body 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 underside of the creature is beige in color. The body ends with a broad tail fluke.

The Chelicerate appears to be slightly over half the length of the Reaper Leviathan based on the concept art, which would place it at around 30-35 meters long.

Design
The Chelicerate is amongst the minority of known species on 4546B that are invertebrates. The elements that make up the body resemble those of a Eurypterid, whilst the body's shape is shark-like.

The red coloration is a trait shared by many deep sea creatures as red light is quickly absorbed by water, only penetrating around 15 metres. This means that in very deep waters being red is no different to being black.

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 twelve segments.

Gallery
Concept Art=

Trivia

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