This page documents all alien organisms that have been mentioned—but not seen—throughout Subnautica, Subnautica: Below Zero, and Subnautica 2. These creatures form part of the broader universe lore, often referenced in databank entries, simulation logs, or crafting messages.
An equivalent page for locations can be found at Extraterrestrial Locations.
Acid Tentacle
Acid Tentacles are a lifeform mentioned in Subnautica: Below Zero. A message given upon Fabricating a Booster Tank reads:
"Equipped with only a booster tank, Dr. Felicity Aman once escaped the underwater acid tentacle forest on planet Alpha671"
The precise nature of Acid Tentacles is unknown, but they are an aquatic and likely predatory organism that uses acid to digest prey. They also seem to grow in dense groups referred to as forests, implying that they are an anchored lifeform.
Arachnid Kidney Poachers
Arachnid Kidney Poachers, or simply Kidney Poachers, are a lifeform mentioned in Subnautica and Subnautica 2.
They are mentioned twice in Subnautica:
- In the Captain's Log which records a run of
CraigMcGillSimulator.vratplayed by the Aurora's Captain Hollister. - In a message given upon Fabricating a Stasis Rifle: "Motivational note. Craig McGill crash-landed in the acid swamps of Boreal 9, fought off arachnid kidney-poachers, and hijacked a tame starwhal. If he can do all that, you can survive one more day".
In Subnautica 2, Kidney Poachers are mentioned in an excerpt of text written by Nahema Nakota on the evolutionary origin of altruism:
"Of course, you'd help an animal, right? If you saw a kidney poacher stuck in an acid bog, you'd drag it out. And it'd soak you in 'do not eat' pheremones and take you home to meet its poachlets. But the transcapital bio-ghouls insist that the kidney poacher is going call you a sucker and eat your kidneys. Why? Because you don't have a Green Beard"
Arachnid Kidney Poachers are seemingly social and potentially intelligent—though non-technologically advanced. They may live around the acidic swamps or bogs Boreal 9 is known for and seem to have a particular fondness for human kidneys. They are mentioned to use pheromones to mark other organisms as 'do not eat', and have homes where they raise their young. Based on Nahema's writing, Kidney Poachers likely have sufficient intelligence to understand altruistic behaviour and reciprocate in turn. They potentially have family units.
It is mentioned that Craig McGill hijacked a tame Starwhal to pull off his famous escape from Boreal 9, suggesting Kidney Poachers may keep Starwhals.
Astral Rays
Mentioned in Subnautica: Below Zero, Astral Rays are native to the moons of the planet Mardon-14. They possess small organs which can generate and store electrical energy and are one of at least twenty-seven species the Architects used in the development of their biomechanical bodies.
Based on how Astral Rays are found on multiple moons, it is possible they are capable of travelling through space, similar to Starwhals.
Chromium Boar
Chromium Boars are seemingly native to Caltwale Prime, though have apparently become invasive on several worlds. Chromium Boars possess incredibly tough skin which makes them very difficult to kill. They are one of at least twenty-seven species the Architect used in the development of their biomechanical bodies.
Clip-Winged Gnat
The Clip-Winged Gnat is an organism native to Kepler-22b mentioned in Subnautica 2 in the databank entry of the Listening Gorgon. They are said to possess air-flow sensors of comparable sensitivity to the incredibly acute vibration-sensing apparatus of the Listening Gorgon.
Electrode Eel
Electrode Eels are native to Lithton and are capable of generating an electrically-charged slime which coats their elongated bodies. They are one of at least twenty-seven species the Architect used in the development of their biomechanical bodies.
Giant Gecko
The Giant Gecko is a species found on Holt's Asteroid, which may refer to the real world asteroid 4435 Holt. The geckos, like Earth geckos, have electrostatic foot pads which allow them to stick to surfaces. They are one of at least twenty-seven species the Architect used in the development of their biomechanical bodies.
If Holt's asteroid does refer to 4435 Holt, then the Giant Gecko is native to the Solar System.
Hivemind of Strader VI
(No additional details available in current documentation)
Putty Serpent
Mentioned in Subnautica: Below Zero, Putty Serpents are native to Apostikar and possess extremely tensile skin which allows them to stretch and squeeze into small spaces without suffering damage. They are one of at least twenty-seven species the Architect used in the development of their biomechanical bodies.
Shaggy Goat
Mentioned in Subnautica: Below Zero, The Shaggy Goat is a herbivorous creature that inhabits the foothills of the mountains of the planet Olympion. They are said to be excellent climbers, and are one of at least twenty-seven species the Architect used in the development of their biomechanical bodies.
Stankroot
Stankroot is a type of plant mentioned in Subnautica in a message received after building an Exterior Growbed which reads:
"Farming alien plants is a proven survival strategy. Craig McGill survived 47 months on a healthy, raw salad of live tree-roaches and stankroot"
It is also mentioned in the databank entry "Captain's Log" as an edible item within CraigMcGillSimulator.vrat.
Stankroot is edible, with Craig McGill apparently surviving 47 months eating primarily a salad of Stankroot and Tree Roaches. Though given its name, it can be inferred that the Stankroot likely has an unpleasant taste.
Starwhal
Starwhals are large, domesticated, spacefaring organisms mentioned three times in Subnautica:
- In a message received upon fabricating a Stasis Rifle.
- By Paul Torgal who mentions hauling Starwhals to Neptune.
- In the databank entry "Captain's Log" recording a session of
CraigMcGillSimulator.vrat, in which they are also mentioned to lay eggs and have very long life cycles.
They can be found on Boreal 9 though it is unclear if they are native to the planet.
Tree Roach
The Tree Roach is mentioned alongside the Stankroot as a food eaten by Craig McGill during a 47-month-long stranding on an unnamed planet, and as an edible item in CraigMcGillSimulator.vrat.
Venus Lifeforms
Lifeforms inhabiting the atmosphere of Venus are mentioned in the databank entry of the anomalous Protean organism, the Pent, which they are said to be similar to.
Zezuran Rat
The Zezuran Rat is an organism native to the desert planet Zezura. The Scanning Suite in Sleep Bay 3 was originally meant to contain an adaptation sourced from a Zezuran Rat, rather than the Angel Comb found there now.
