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The Pinnacarid is a friendly fauna species in Subnautica: Below Zero A small, intelligent and social predator species that effectively fills the role filled by seals on Earth. They are a predator of small fish and are friendly towards the Player.

Appearance[]

The Pinnacarid has a long, streamlined body with seven pairs of fins that decrease in size towards the tail fin. An additional pair of fins adorn each side of the face, these appear decorative rather than functional.

The head has two pairs of small green eyes arranged that one pair is above the facial fin and the other pair is below. Atop the head are two purple-tipped antennae that can be retracted into the head when the Pinnacarid is hunting. The front and underside of the head and neck are orange and the head ends with a small black beak.

The dorsal side of the body is black and the ventral side white, a common method of camouflage. About one third of the way down the dorsal side there are two, thick orange bands that continue all the way to the tip of the tail.

Behavior[]

Pinnacarids spend a majority of their activity underwater, hunting smaller fish. They can be seen attacking nearby herbivores, but remain friendly toward the player. Additionally, Pinnacarids have the ability to traverse between land and water, a behavior observable within either Arctic region.

Any small herbivores that can be found near Pinnacarids can also be fed by hand to them. Holding one of these fish in the player's hand will prompt the Pinnacarid to swim toward the player.

Data Bank Entry[]

Pinnacarid
Pinnacarid Ency

An intelligent and curious creature which hunts and forages below the waterline, but returns to the surface to breathe.

- Its many flippers make this an acrobatic hunter underwater but vulnerable on land, where it is capable at best of a fast shuffle
- Generally consumes small fish, its diet may also include various plant materials
- Side-facing eyes unusual for a predator, these likely serve as a defensive warning system
- Purple-tinted antennae on the head detect the movement of prey fish nearby
- Shows no aggression towards humans, and even curiosity if there is the chance of a meal

Assessment: Friendly

Source: Scan Pinnacarids

Design[]

The body shape and general behaviour of the Pinnacarid takes inspiration from seals whilst the many fins are a trait inspired by the Cambrian era predators, anomalocarids.

Sounds[]

File Type
Bite
Land death
Water death
Callout 1
Callout 2
Callout 3
Callout 4
Callout 5
Dive
Emerge
Land flinch 1
Land flinch 2
Land flinch 3
Water flinch 1
Water flinch 2
Water flinch 3
Fast hop 1
Fast hop 2
Fast hop 3
Fast hop 4
Slow hop 1
Slow hop 2
Slow hop 3
Slow hop 4
Push 1
Push 2
Push 3
Push 4
Push 5
Push 6
Ride Hurt 1
Ride Hurt 2
Ride Hurt 3
Ride Off
Ride On
Situp
Slide on land
Fast swim 1
Fast swim 2
Fast swim 3
Fast swim 4
Fast swim 5
Fast swim 6
Fast swim 7
Slow swim 1
Slow swim 2
Slow swim 3
Slow swim 4
Slow swim 5

Gallery[]

Trivia[]

  • The Pinnacarid's name is a portmanteau of two taxonomic names; The clade Pinnipedia which contains seals, sea lions and walruses, and the suborder of Cambrian era predators Anomalocarida that the Pinnicarid takes its appearance from.
  • The name given in the concept art for the Pinnacarid is Pinnicarid, which matches Pinniped, from which the name was derived. It is likely that the current name was a misspelling made when adding the creature to the game.
Arctic kelp 08 FINAL
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