Hunter Metroid

Hunter Metroids are adolescent Tallon Metroids, first appearing in Metroid Prime in the Phendrana Drifts area of Tallon IV. They later appear in the depths of the Phazon Mines and in the Impact Crater.
Hunter Metroids are the result of Tallon Metroids aging on the Phazon-contaminated planet Tallon IV; they do not become Alpha Metroids as Metroid larvae do on SR388.
==Biology and characteristics==
Hunter Metroids have 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 lengthening the vein-like strands which connect the former to the latter. Peculiarly, while official artwork for the original release of Metroid Prime shows there is nothing within this extended space, both the 3D model and image scan seen in-game reveals a white, bluish mass resembling Phazon floating above the inner nuclei. The new artwork and upgraded in-game model featured in Metroid Prime Remastered changed the unknown bulbous mass to a red color, making it look like a tumour. 
A Hunter Metroid still possesses two pairs of mandibles, but they differ drastically from a Tallon Metroid's. All four fangs are extended and despite the front pair being thinner than the pair in the back, they are now all the same length, 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 which render the fangs obsolete in terms of gripping onto prey and feeding on 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 their target 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. As a result, her Bombs are unable to reach the creatures when they are attached to her 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 the Hunter Metroids grabbing hold of her while they siphon her energy. She will be permanently Locked-on to the creature while she is being siphoned, regardless of if she had a lock before the attack or not, until she is released. The Hunter Metroid's only other method of attack consists of spiraling toward their enemies to ram them. 
Like the Tallon Metroids, the adolescents can be harmed with all of Samus' weapons, and the Ice Beam remains highly effective against them, as is the case with most forms of Metroid. However, they have seemingly 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 referring 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, both code-named specimens have a mental or physical dysfunction 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 (except in the PAL GCN and NTSC Player's Choice versions), Omega Research and Fungal Hall A. They are also found in Metroid Prime's lair where the creature can freely spawn them from its pools of pure Phazon, skipping their juvenile form.
==Official data==
===Logbook entry===
===Omega Research terminal scan ===
"Metroids from the initial batch have matured to the Hunter phase. Be advised that the Hunter Metroid has a siphon-tentacle. It can attack with it from a distance, as opposed to the close-combat tactic used by younger Metroids."
===Official website===
"As Metroids develop, they become more efficient predators. Hunter Metroids use their energy-draining tentacles to attack their prey from a greater distance than normal Metroids. Quick to anger, a Hunter Metroid will charge troublesome prey and attempt to ram them into submission. Hunter Metroids are averse to cold temperatures.
An adolescent energy-based life form with a translucent upper body. Claw-like spikes and an energy-draining tentacle protrude from the lower half of the creature, which it uses to latch onto its prey."
===Metroid Prime and Metroid Fusion: Prima's Official Strategy Guide===
;Hunter Metroid
:"This creature is the next step in Metroid evolution. Rather than clinging to your head, they have the ability to drain your energy by attaching a tentacle to your body. They also like to ram into you. If a Hunter Metroid attaches itself to you, just shoot it to make it release. To defeat them, freeze them with your Ice Beam and shatter them with a follow-up missile."
;Hunter Metroid
:Found In: Phendrana Drifts, Phazon Mines, Impact Crater
:Recommended Weapon: Ice Beam
:"The young adult version of the Metroid parasite, Hunter Metroids are better adapted at hunting prey. They extend a tentacle that inflicts damage to their potential meal. They're also known for ramming into enemies, which can be just as deadly. The best weapon to use against Hunter Metroids is the Ice Beam. If you are caught by a Hunter Metroid's tentacle, you must shoot it off of you. Freeze the enemy, then finish it off with a missile."
===Metroid Prime: The Official Nintendo Player's Guide===
;HUNTER METROID
:"Metroids are dangerous, and Hunter Metroids are even more so. The adolescent Metroids attack by ramming their foes, but they also have a large tentacle that can suck energy from a distance. Freeze the critters with an Ice Beam shot, then destroy the frozen Hunter Metroids with a Missile."
===Metroid Prime Official Strategy Guide===
;HUNTER METROID
:MORPHOLOGY
:"The Hunter Metroids are adolescent Metroids that have energy-siphon tentacles, making them increasingly dangerous. As Metroids develop, they become more efficient predators. An energy-draining tentacle allows them to attack at a distance. Quick to anger, a Hunter Metroid charges troublesome prey and attempts to ram them into submission. Cold-based attacks are quite effective against these creatures."
:COMBAT TIPS
:"As with the Metroids, Hunter Metroid is also best destroyed by hitting it with an Ice Beam and following with a Missile to shatter them. Always keep moving when around Hunter Metroids because their tentacles can drain energy quickly."
===Metroid Prime Official Perfect Guide===
;HUNTER METROID
:"You can freeze Hunter Metroids and destroy them with a single Missile, but be sure to avoid their beams. They're much less threatening than the regular Metroid species."
==Development data==
Internal files name the creature as MetroidBeta.
==Trivia==
*Although Hunter Metroids would be the first canonical appearance of tentacled Metroids, Metroid larvae in Metroid artwork and related media (such as the Nintendo Comics System) also originally depicted them as tentacled.
*In Metroid Prime 3: Corruption, there is a new strain of Metroid called Metroid Hatchers. They share a great deal of similarities in appearance, movement patterns and attacks, particularly their energy-siphoning tentacles.
*Hunter Metroid concept artwork features two differently colored variants, but only the red type is present in-game.
*A Hunter Metroid can be seen on a computer in the Pipeline multiplayer stage of Metroid Prime 2: Echoes.
*Despite the Tallon Metroids not only being present on Aether in Metroid Prime 2: Echoes, but also featuring red membranes as well, no Hunter Metroids are encountered on the planet. This makes Hunters Metroids exclusive to Tallon IV.
*If Sequence Breaking is used to dislodge the highest stalactite in the Frost Cave (the one leading to the Missile Expansion) before acquiring the Gravity Suit, the Hunter Metroid can be lured into the water, but is apparently unaffected by it.
*A Hunter Metroid does not appear to die from touching a door. This is seen when it performs its spinning tackle directly at Samus if she is in an adjacent room with the door open (the Hunter Metroid cannot pass through the door, like other creatures). 
*Hacking the Phazon Beam outside of its intended area reveals that Hunter Metroids are indeed vulnerable to the weapon, but require multiple hits from the beam unlike the Hunter Metroids spawned by Metroid Prime. The game developers never intended for the weapon to be used outside the final boss battle, resulting in these inconsistent results.
*Hunter Metroids are so far the only variant in the entire species that can drain life-energy from a distance without the need to be in physical contact with their prey. Only Samus Aran as a Metroid-Hybrid would later develop a similar ability but with much greater reach and efficiency.
==Gallery==
MPR Biology 30.png|Concept artwork
Hunter Metroid growth.png|A Hunter Metroid growing in size (part of its nuclei can also be seen more thoroughly).
Elite Control Hunter Metroid Energy Siphon.png|A Hunter Metroid grabs hold of Samus using its Energy Siphon tentacle.
Hunter_Metroid.png|Samus faces a Hunter Metroid in the Phazon Mines, New Play Control! and Metroid Prime Trilogy.
Hunter_Metroid_scanpic.png|Scan image
UnusedHunterMetroidScan.png|Unused scan image seen in concept art.
Biology - Remastered 19.png|Metroid Prime Remastered artwork
Character Gallery - Hunter Metroid.png|Character Gallery model in Remastered.
es:Metroid Cazador
ru:Метроид-Охотник
Category:Metroids
Category:Tallon IV
Category:Phendrana Drifts
Category:Phazon Mines
Category:Impact Crater
Category:Recurring Species
Category:Predators