Mirelurk ( Fallout 3 ) Mirelurks are giant mutated that inhabit the waters of the Capital Wasteland in 2277 . " Fallout 3 " initially featured four types of mirelurks and two more were added in the " Point Lookout " add - on . Characteristics . Biology . Mirelurks descended from Chesapeake Bay s . The full scientific classification of the mirelurks is kingdom : " Animalia " , phylum : " Arthropoda " , subphylum : " Crustacean / Chelicerata " , class : " Merostomata / Malacostraca " , while order , family , and genus are left undetermined due to their mutation . The subphylum and class are disputed in an Enclave officer ' s field research terminal , as he believes horseshoe crabs and blue crabs both evolved into mirelurks , due to their DNA / RNA samples having markers from two different subphyla and classes . The Lone Wanderer may determine the missing classifications ( both on the research terminal and in a Science dialogue check after completing the mirelurk research task for the Wasteland Survival Guide ) as follows : " Scylla serrata horrendus " . Mirelurks primarily seek an aquatic habitat , particularly in and along the Potomac River ( even its dried - up northern section ) . When not swimming , they can be found in damp and cool areas like caves , metro tunnels , and derelict facilities like the Anchorage Memorial . Despite the common condition of darkness in these areas , mirelurks are not averse to light ; they are often seen during the day , particularly around the Potomac and the Anchorage War Memorial . Gameplay attributes . All mirelurks except for kings are protected by a thick shell which is difficult to penetrate , even with powerful ballistic weapons such as the Gauss rifle . The face , however , is unarmored but presents a small target . Furthermore , when charging , a mirelurk will lower its head to protect this area . However , the face will inevitably be exposed once the creature commences close combat . Extremities are also more vulnerable than the rest of the body , though not as much as the face . Low - level characters will find mirelurks to be among their deadliest enemies . Mirelurks are extremely territorial , and they will attack any trespasser on sight and run it down relentlessly . They also appreciate strength in numbers , often breaking away to solicit support if there are additional mirelurks in the area . Mirelurks are never found alone . Mirelurk meat , especially the soft shell variety , is highly nutritious and grants some of the highest HP replenishment of any food in the game . This is reinforced by Grandma Sparkle , as she will tell the player that mirelurk meat is " the best meat you can get out here . " Both are slightly radioactive , but no more than typical food . Chefs throughout the wasteland have developed many culinary uses for mirelurk ; the most prominent being the creation of mirelurk cakes . A recipe for these cakes can be found in a fridge in the Anchorage War Memorial , however it cannot be made by the player character . Variants . The most common type of mirelurk has a whitish - gray shell , are about a head shorter than a normal human , and walk slightly slower than a human . Mirelurks fight with their claws and lack ranged attacks . Additionally , at close range they can charge forward in a brief burst of speed for a headbutt , which also makes it impossible to target their face . However , their face is most vulnerable in the seconds after a headbutt , when their ' head ' is raised . ‡ Due to their hard shells , shots on the torso only do half of the normal damage . Mirelurk hunter . A much larger , reddish - brown colored version of mirelurk . In addition to their two main arms , hunters also have two pairs of small , segmented appendages growing out of their chest which they may attack with , but very rarely . Mirelurk hunters inhabit the Potomac River in the northern wastes and several sewers and caves near the metropolitan area of the Capital , along with a good number in the Anchorage War Memorial . Hunters are very aggressive and are more difficult to kill , due to their increased strength , speed , and health . They appear more frequently at higher levels . Their powerful pincers inflict heavy damage , and can knock back low level characters easily . ‡ Due to their hard shells , shots on the torso only do half of the normal damage . Mirelurk king . Mirelurk kings do not particularly resemble their crab - like " subjects , " being more humanoid in appearance , unable to float in water , and with heads not unlike those of ; the only commonality appears to be arms ending in pincers . They may be a separate species , living in some sort of symbiosis with the thick - shelled mirelurks . Also unlike the other mirelurks , they have a ranged sonic projectile attack that bypasses Damage Resistance and is particularly effective at crippling the target ' s head . Mirelurk kings have less damage resistance than the " lower orders " of mirelurk , but require more damage to kill . They can be pickpocketed , though they don ' t have anything in their inventory , and reverse pickpocketing a grenade or mine reduces Karma . Mirelurk kings appear more frequently as the Lone Wanderer reaches higher levels . † Torso shots only do 2 / 3 of the normal damage . ‡ Instantly cripples target ' s head . Cannot be used if their head is crippled . Nukalurk . A mirelurk hunter variation indigenous to the Nuka - Cola plant . They are oddly colored , having a dark blue exoskeleton stippled with glowing blue features along certain regions of their bodies . This coloration is probably due to prolonged exposure and / or consumption of the radioactive strontium isotope that was used to color Nuka - Cola Quantum before the Great War . Interestingly , Nukalurks appear in both " regular " and " hunter " versions like their mirelurk cousins , yet the difference is purely cosmetic . Their meat is notable for a small boost in AP ( a reflection of the effects of Nuka - Cola Quantum ) , in addition to Radiation and Hit Points . However , only 10 nukalurks appear in the game , limiting the amount of meat available to no more than 10 , since they do not respawn . ‡ Due to their hard shells , shots on the torso only do half of the normal damage . Swamplurk . Swamplurks ( designated " mirelurk " in - game ) are a variation of mirelurk which inhabit the swamps of Point Lookout . They are visually identical to mirelurk hunters except for their size , green - tinged shells ( due to the swampy environment ) and the lack of vestigial limbs on their abdomen . ‡ Due to their hard shells , shots on the torso only do half of the normal damage . Swamplurk queen . Swamplurk queens ( simply called swamplurk in - game ) are a variation of the Capital Wasteland ' s mirelurk kings that inhabit the swamps of Point Lookout . Like the mirelurk kings , they are mutated from snapping turtles native to local rivers . They look extremely similar to kings , distinguishing traits being a mossy coloration and strangely shimmering , glowing , yellow eyes . Unlike mirelurk kings , the swamplurk queen spits acid from its mouth , similar to a centaur . Although not radioactive , this acid is highly damaging . Even with its lack of clothing , the swamplurk queen can be reverse pick pocketed with explosives . However , this results in some negative Karma . † Torso shots only do 2 / 3 of the normal damage . ‡ Cannot be used if their head is crippled . Catfish mirelurk . A humanoid , mutated catfish known as a " catfish mirelurk " also appears in " The Art of Fallout 3 " , the art book available with the collector ' s edition of " Fallout 3 " . Appearances . Mirelurks appear in " Fallout 3 " and its add - on , " Point Lookout " .