| abstract
| - Hunter Metroids are adolescent Tallon Metroids, first appearing in Metroid Prime in the Phendrana Drifts area of Tallon IV (NTSC/Wii versions only), and later appearing in the depths of the Phazon Mines and the Impact Crater, the latter where the Metroid Prime can freely spawn them in pools of pure Phazon. Hunter Metroids have highly elongated bodies, making them appear much taller than their previous juvenile form. While a Tallon Metroid possesses a smooth, glossy membrane, a Hunter Metroid's is very irregular, inconsistent with the rest of its body and is vertically long with a red color. The inner nuclei within remains mostly unchanged. Due to the stretched membrane however, there is a large amount of space between the quadripartite nuclei and the top, inner wall of said membrane, consequently doubling the length of the strands of flesh connecting the former to the latter. Peculiarly, official artwork shows there is nothing inside this large amount of space, though both the model and image scan seen in-game reveals a blue, bulbous organic matter resembling Phazon floating above the inner nuclei. A Hunter Metroid still possesses two pairs of mandibles, but differ drastically from a Tallon Metroid's, as all four fangs are now the same length, thin, more hook-like in appearance and, like the base they are attached to, possess a dark shade of color. The most unique features of a Hunter Metroid are the addition of two energy-siphoning tentacles dangling from the bottom of its base, rendering the fangs useless in terms of gripping onto prey and draining them. Because of these tentacles, they are capable of draining life energy from long distances, making them much more efficient than younger Metroids. When Hunter Metroids attack, they flip their bodies to a horizontal position so their tentacles can attach to their prey and begin absorbing energy. If the prey is outside the physical reach of these tendrils, they will emit a blue beam from the tips to the location of their target in order to nonetheless feed on it. Hunter Metroids' tentacles and blue beams circumvent the need to grip Samus Aran with the lower half of their bodies, preventing her Bombs from reaching them and are thus ineffective in shaking them off (contrary to all other forms of Metroid larvae). Consequently, since they do not attach onto Samus' head with their fangs, she is unhindered by any visual obstructions, allowing her to freely aim and shoot at Hunter Metroids while they siphon her energy. Their second method of attack consists of spiraling toward their enemies to ram them. Hunter Metroids are the result of Tallon Metroids aging on the Phazon-contaminated planet Tallon IV; they do not become Alpha Metroids as Larval Metroids do on SR388. Like the Tallon Metroids, the adolescents can be harmed with all of Samus' weapons, and the Ice Beam remains extremely effective against them, as is the case with most forms of Metroid. However, they have developed a tolerance to all other forms of cold matter. Space Pirate research data found within Glacier One mentions two code-named Hunter Metroids, dg and ds, in which the latter is stated to have developed heightened immunity to cold damping fields. Another data terminal mentions that the usual cold containment methods employed by Pirates to keep juvenile Metroids sluggish are no longer sufficient for the 'larger' ones, forcing the Pirates to move them into quarantined caves. The 'larger' Metroids are likely refering to Hunter Metroids, considering one of these adolescents is indeed found in the Frost Cave (in some versions of the game), completely unaffected by the sub-zero temperatures of Phendrana Drifts; this specimen may also be the Hunter Metroid ds. Interestingly, all Hunter Metroids mentioned in data terminals have a mental or physical dysfunctionality, which may or may not be attributed to the Phazon on Tallon IV before and during the events of Metroid Prime. Hunter Metroids are found in the Frost Cave (PAL/Wii only), Hunter Cave, Omega Research and Fungal Hall A.
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