Hammerhead

 | Property | Details |-| --- | --- |-| Species | *Panoplia hammerhead* ("fully-armoured hammerhead") |-| Attitude | Defensive |-| Type | Mobile |-| Category | Foragers |-| Biome | Coral Gardens, Lead Zone |-| Biomod | [Homing Sense](Homing_Sense) |+| :--- | :--- |+| **Species** | *Panoplia hammerhead* ("fully-armoured hammerhead") |+| **Attitude** | Defensive |+| **Type** | Mobile |+| **Category** | Foragers |+| **Biome** | Coral Gardens, Lead Zone |+| **Biomod** | [Homing Sense](Homing_Sense) |  +![Hammerhead render](Hammerhead render.png)+  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.  -![Hammerhead side view](Hammerhead_side.png)-![Front view of the Hammerhead](Hammerhead_front.png)-![Hammerhead viewed from the top](Hammerhead_top.png)-![Hammerhead viewed from the back](Hammerhead_back.png)-  ## Behavior  -The **Hammerhead** is extremely territorial and displays innate aggression towards most lifeforms larger than a [Halfmoon](Halfmoon), including those several times its own size such as [Coral Crabs](Coral_Crab). 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.+The **Hammerhead** is extremely territorial, and displays innate aggression towards most lifeforms larger than a [Halfmoon](Halfmoon), including those several times its own size such as [Coral Crabs](Coral_Crab). 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.  -![A Hammerhead displaying its pectoral fins before attack](Hammerhead_threat.png)-![Closed head of an attacking Hammerhead](Hammerhead_ramming.png)-  ### 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.+**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.  -![Hammerheads ramming into each other](Hammerhead_ram_into_eachother.gif)-  ### Interspecific Interactions   **Hammerheads** will occasionally ram into coral domes.  -![A Hammerhead ramming into a Coral Dome](hammer_head_ram.gif)-  ### 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 them if necessary.+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.  -![A Hammerhead ramming into a Tadpole](hammer_head_ram_Tadpole.gif)-![A Hammerhead ramming into the player](hammer_head_ram_player.gif)-  ## Databank  +![Hammerhead](Hammerhead.png)+  **Hammerhead** (tentatively "*Panoplia hammerhead*"). An armored, herd-dwelling, territorial herbivore with a powerful ram.   1. **Hammer head**: Challenges intruders on its territory, especially other hammerheads. Displays its pectoral fins and closes its enamel head shield before attacking. 2. **Jet propulsion**: Spiracles behind the eyes feed into a jet channel with internal gills. The jet drives the hammerhead's sudden rams. 3. **Large brain**: Floats in a protective cyst. The central eye sees color, while two smaller motion-sensitive eyes guide ramming. 4. **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. 5. **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](Scan) a [Hammerhead](Hammerhead)*+  ## Gallery  +### In Game+ +![Hammerhead side view](Hammerhead side.png)+*Hammerhead side view.*+ +![Front view of the Hammerhead](Hammerhead front.png)+*Front view of the Hammerhead.*+ +![Hammerhead viewed from the top](Hammerhead top.png)+*Hammerhead viewed from the top.*+ +![Hammerhead viewed from the back](Hammerhead back.png)+*Hammerhead viewed from the back.*+ +![A Hammerhead displaying it's pectorial fins before attack](Hammerhead threat.png)+*A Hammerhead displaying it's pectorial fins before attack.*+ +![Closed head of an attacking Hammerhead](Hammerhead ramming.png)+*Closed head of an attacking Hammerhead.*+ +![A Hammerhead ramming into a Coral Dome](hammer head ram.gif)+*A Hammerhead ramming into a [Coral Dome](Coral_Dome).*+ +![A Hammerhead ramming into a Tadpole](hammer head ram Tadpole.gif)+*A Hammerhead ramming into a [Tadpole](Tadpole).*+ +![Hammerheads ramming into each other](Hammerhead ram into eachother.gif)+*Hammerheads ramming into each other.*+ +![A Hammerhead ramming into the player](hammer head ram player.gif)+*A Hammerhead ramming into the player.*+  ### Development  -![Concept art & reference sheet](Hammerhead_Concept_Art.jpg)-![Concept art alone](Hammerhead_Concept_Art_1.jpeg)-![Concept art showing further details of the Hammerhead’s ramming ability](Hammerhead_Concept_Art_2.jpeg)+![Concept art & reference sheet](Hammerhead Concept Art.jpg)+*Concept art & reference sheet.*  +![Concept art alone](Hammerhead Concept Art 1.jpeg)+*Concept art alone.*+ +![Concept art showing further details of the Hammerhead’s ramming ability](Hammerhead Concept Art 2.jpeg)+*Concept art showing further details of the Hammerhead’s ramming ability.*+  ## Trivia   * The **Hammerhead** was one of the first mobile lifeforms revealed to be featured in Subnautica 2, alongside the [Halfmoon](Halfmoon), [Coral Crab](Coral_Crab), [Collector Leviathan](Collector_Leviathan), and [Mangos](Mango).