Blighter

The Blighter is a close relative of the Biter that has adapted to deeper waters. The Blighter can be found around the Blood Kelp Caves and Blood Kelp Zone. Much like its relative, the Blighter is a very territorial creature and will attack the player when nearby.

Appearance

The Blighter closely resembles a Biter, with a few differences which, in general, give it a far more withered, but menacing appearance:

• Its eyes have dark brown sclera and milky-white pupils, giving off a "zombified" look.
• Its body is golden-ish brown on the dorsal side with a pale white underbelly.
• On its front, a short protrusion emitting a dull red bioluminescent glow is featured.
• A single tail (fin) suggests that movement for this creature must be very hard, which implies that in order to supply that massive muscle, it needs a surprising amount of food.

Behavior

Blighters are aggressive towards the player as well as small, medium and shark classified fauna. They are just as aggressive and social as their shallow counterparts despite what the databank says. They can form small packs up to four though they typically spawn alone and far from each other. Blighter will attack their target numerous times before swimming away. They will quickly swarm any dead fauna, regardless of classification. Upon reaching the corpse, they will begin to consume the body until it disappears. Despite being aggressive towards shark classified fauna, they are also scared of them and will eventually flee from them if they are near one for too long.

Even though they live in the depths, Blighters swim slower at night while docile. This does not impact their aggression range or chase speed. The creature will flee for a few seconds upon being struck once with the knife.

Blighter will target the Seamoth or Prawn Suit when the player is piloting them. Due to their size, they are unable to damage either vehicle.

Like most carnivores, holding any fauna will cause the Blighter to eat the fish upon attacking the player, preventing damage from being taken. This will decrease the creature’s aggression for a short time.

Audio

(Audio data omitted)

Data Bank Entry

Small predator that shares close resemblance to the more common biter, but tends towards a more solitary, less aggressive hunting style.

1. Olfactory Stalk: While the red-tipped protrusion on the blighter's head once served as sensory apparatus, it has adapted not to chase but to coax its prey into its path. As prey creatures are attracted to the dancing of the stalk, the blighter can dart forward to catch and consume them.

2. Teeth: One row of sharp, piercing teeth is all the blighter needs to tear through its prey.

3. Eyes: This creature has found little use for eyes in the deep, dark caverns it inhabits, and its eyeballs are likely sensitive to nothing more than broad fluctuations in local lightsources (eg when a meal is crossing its path).

Assessment: Avoid or incapacitate

Source: Scan

Gallery

Front view

Side profile

Dorsal view

Bioluminescence

Size comparison to the player

A Blighter in the Blood Kelp Trench

A Blighter within the Blood Kelp Caves

Concept art

Model from Sketchfab

Trivia

• The Blighter has a similar appearance to both the Angler Fish and the Tadpole.
• The word blight, when used as a verb, means to spoil, harm, or destroy. It also is linked with fungal infections which, coupled with its appearance, may be hinting at fungi such as ophiocordyceps unilateralis, also known as "zombie fungus" that infects ants.
• The Blighter was one of several creatures used as a placeholder species in Subnautica: Below Zero early in its development.