Epicurean

 | Feature | Details | | :--- | :--- | | **Type** | Mobile | | **Category** | Fish | | **Attitude** | Aggressive | | **Damage** | 25 | | **Scan Duration** | 4.0s | | **Biome** | Root Canyon, Karakorum Metal Farms | | **Species** | *Postpanoplia epicurean* |   ![Epicurean](Epicurean.png)   The **Epicurean** is a lifeform that can be found within the **Karakorum Metal Farms**, often patrolling the bacteria-rich industrial runoff pools.   ## Appearance   Epicureans are distinguished by their stocky oval-shaped body plan that tapers from a large anterior maw into a short and blunted tail. While their overall body plan is most homologous to the hammerhead, the epicurean has notably lost both the posterior jet channel and anterior face plating over the course of evolution. Epicurean fin morphology is unique relative to other identified fishes on Proteus, featuring four radially-distributed and symmetric pectoral fins posterior of the mouth, with a thin caudal fin that runs dorsally along the short tail unlikely to confer significant mobility benefits.   The abnormally large mouth features four distinct rows of thin, pointed, and backwards-oriented teeth used to tear and rip apart tough foods and prevent prey from exiting the maw post-consumption. Flesh of both the inner mouth and tongue are coloured purple. Eye morphology is distantly homologous to that of the hammerhead, featuring two lateral eyes and a central pineal eye which are all of identical size and development.   The dorsal half of the body is coloured a dark gray-purple, featuring irregular black-speckled patterning which is contrasted by an unpatterned white ventral underbelly and white fins. Individual epicureans within the Karakorum Metal Farms may also differ in the degree of stomach bloating as a consequence of Tongue Thief parasitism.   ## Behaviour   The epicurean is a relatively slow, yet unpredictable omnivorous ocean floor dweller. While often found aimlessly roaming the Karakorum Metal Farms and nearby loci, the epicurean nonetheless poses a significant threat to pioneers, especially if given organisms are parasitised by the Tongue Thief. While epicureans often ingest the local industrial runoff pool-dwelling tongue thieves to satisfy their immense hunger, such ingestion renders the epicurean susceptible to parasitism where tongue thieves may evade digestion and instead latch firmly onto epicurean tongues where they secrete a potent satiety (fullness)-blocking chemical. The tongue thief satiety blocker further augments the exceptional appetite of the epicurean, increasing their basal aggression towards pioneers. Despite relentless parasitism-induced epicurean consumption providing a consistent source of nutrition for the resident tongue thief, this is often detrimental for the host epicurean, where poorly regulated ingestion culminates in progressive severe stomach bloating, making parasitised epicureans readily distinguishable from non-parasitised counterparts.   While host epicureans can be colonized by tongue thieves indefinitely, tongue thieves can be expelled from host epicureans by the player in-game using the **Sonic Resonator** or its upgrade the **Feedback Resonator**. Thieves **cannot** be expelled with the Survival Multitool.   ## Databank Entry   > **Postpanoplia epicurean**, the voracious unarmored armored fish. Unpredictable and hungry, especially when under the influence of a parasite. >-> 1. **Sea hippo**+> **1. Sea hippo** > The epicurean is a true omnivore, consuming dozens of kilograms of animals, microorganisms, minerals and corals every day. Digesting this diet is expensive, fueling the epicurean's hunger. By devouring and defecating, the epicurean spreads nutrients and fine-ground sand, making it a keystone species in its ecosystem. >-> 2. **Lobe-finned enormity**+> **2. Lobe-finned enormity** > The epicurean is a younger relative of the hammerhead, but it has lost its armored shield, allowing it to open its huge grinding jaw. Both the central pineal eye and the lateral eyes are fully developed. These changes suggest the epicurean no longer competes in tournaments for territory and mates. >-> 3. **Hunger**+> **3. Hunger** > The hungrier the epicurean, the more likely it is to attack a pioneer. >-> 4. **Parasite**+> **4. Parasite** > The epicurean often swallows parasites with its food, which take root in its mouth, blocking nerve pathways which signal fullness to the epicurean's brain. Infested epicureans believe they are starving, and attack with ravenous hunger. Explore methods to expel the parasite, and try to avoid becoming an unsatisfying meal. > > **Assessment:** ecologically vital but an unpredictable danger to divers. Check for and (if possible) expel mouth parasites.   ## Strategy   While epicureans will aggressively pursue the player if they are outside a vehicle, epicureans will not pursue or damage vehicles actively piloted by the player.   Epicureans parasitised by tongue thieves are more aggressive than regular epicureans, and will always target the player. A tongue thief can be knocked-off an epicurean using a sonic resonator or feedback resonator, decreasing its aggressiveness.   ## Gallery  -![Epicureans parasitised by tongue thieves (foreground) exhibit gaping mouths and frequently develop significant bloating within the digestive system, relative to non-parasitised epicureans (background).](Epicurean-Tongue_Thief_Parasitism.jpg)+![Epicureans parasitised by tongue thieves (foreground) exhibit gaping mouths and frequently develop significant bloating within the digestive system, relative to non-parasitised epicureans (background).](Epicurean-Tongue Thief Parasitism.jpg)   ## Trivia   * The epicurean bears significant design and habitat similarity to Earth's Atlantic goliath grouper, *Epinephelus itajara*. Adult Atlantic goliath groupers are known to inhabit rocky reefs, artificial reefs, and industrial zones such as oil platforms — similar to epicurean colonization of the industrial Karakorum Metal Farms.-* Appearance of Epicurean can be a reference from real live creature called Black Seadevil but without its light.+* The epicurean's bloated appearance bears a strong resemblance to a real deep-sea creature known as the Black Seadevil.