| Property | Details |
|---|---|
| Species | Panoplia hammerhead ("fully-armoured hammerhead") |
| Attitude | Defensive |
| Type | Mobile |
| Category | Foragers |
| Biome | Coral Gardens, Lead Zone |
| Biomod | Homing Sense |
| Scan Requirement | Bioscanner |
The Hammerhead is a mid-sized territorial lifeform endemic to the shallow gardens of Proteus.
Appearance
The Hammerhead is a conical nektonic lifeform averaging [x]m in length at adult size. Its body plan is largely conical in shape, featuring a blunt anterior face and tapering posteriorly to a tail and large jet channel. The Hammerhead's body exhibits a primarily rusty coloration, with beige countershading on its underside. Two large stripes of light blue coloration mark the Hammerhead's back, additionally lining its pairs of fins.
The head of the Hammerhead features several interlocking facial plates concealing softer flesh beneath. These plates, while normally kept locked together outside of an opening for the lifeform's primary pair of eyes to see through, can be separated to reveal more of its underlying facial anatomy. When its facial plates are separated several more features of the Hammerhead's facial region are visible, such as a striking cyan color underneath the plates, yellow spots above its primary pair of eyes, an additional third eye that may be used for orienting itself before charging, and simple mouthparts. Situated in a radial pattern directly behind the head are ten bifurcating spines, which can be manipulated forward and split apart in a manner similar to a folding fan to display large maroon frills pocked with white spots. These frills usually unfurl in tandem with the separation of its facial plating during threat displays.
A total of five ventrally-situated fins are used by the Hammerhead to locomote through the water column: an elongated pair of front fins originating behind the head, a rounded pair of back fins near the end of the lifeform's taper, and a triangular fin situated on the ventral midline between the back fins. The Hammerhead's posterior tip possesses no fluke, instead being flanked vertically by two short frills. The purpose of these frills is currently unknown.
Behavior
The Hammerhead is extremely territorial, and displays innate aggression towards most lifeforms larger than a Halfmoon, including those several times its own size such as Coral Crabs. When threatened, it will first unfurl its display spines and separate its facial plating to form a striking display. If this display is not significant enough to deter its target it will then charge, using its thick facial plating as a ram.
Intraspecific Interactions
Hammerheads have frequent disputes over territory with other members of their own species, and can often be seen colliding head on with each other in their endemic shallows.
Interspecific Interactions
Hammerheads will occasionally ram into coral domes.
Approach
It is best to give Hammerheads a wide berth to avoid potential aggression. Hammerheads will view bright light sources such as flares as a threat, and can be distracted by such if necessary.
Databank Entry
Hammerhead
Hammerhead (tentatively "Panoplia hammerhead"). An armored, herd-dwelling, territorial herbivore with a powerful ram.
Hammer head Challenges intruders on its territory, especially other hammerheads. Displays its pectoral fins and closes its enamel head shield before attacking.
Jet propulsion Spiracles behind the eyes feed into a jet channel with internal gills. The jet drives the hammerhead's sudden rams.
Large brain. Floats in a protective cyst. The central eye sees color, while two smaller motion-sensitive eyes guide ramming.
Grazing jaw The muscular vertical jaw suggests a diet of sponges, kelp, tunicates, and possibly crushed coral. The need to protect a grazing area may have evolved the hammerhead's territoriality.
Practice behavior? Hammerheads ram coral domes. The adaptive benefit is unclear — perhaps toughening their shields.
Advise caution, especially when piloting vehicles. May have social cognition comparable to Earth's ungulates, some of which were extremely dangerous to humans. Ramming areas (called leks) are a major source of ocean noise.
Source: Scan a Hammerhead
Gallery
In Game
         
Development
  
Trivia
- The Hammerhead was one of the first mobile lifeforms revealed to be featured in Subnautica 2, alongside the Halfmoon, Coral Crab, Collector Leviathan, and Mangos
