Baby Sheegoth

Baby Sheegoths are the young of the Sheegoth species. They have two legs, six eyes covered with ice plating as seen in the official artwork, no arms, and are protected by a thick shell of ice on their backs; this shell is grown to protect the flesh that, when fully matured, develops into ridges of energy-absorbing crystal. These infants' six eyes will fully appear as they reach maturity. The lack of eyes in their infant stage does not deter or hinder their hunting prowess; they are able to "sense" prey nearby and react rather well to it. They have huge, gaping mouths with incredibly sharp teeth. Baby Sheegoths are powerful hunters and can fire bursts of either ultra-cold gas at prey to freeze it solid or a "snowball" like projectile, as well as ram and trample their prey viciously. They are also noted for their loud roars. The adult Sheegoths reign supreme in the Phendrana Drifts.
==Behavior==
Samus encounters Baby Sheegoths in Phendrana Drifts on Tallon IV. They can be found in various rooms, in a state of slumbering with their heads buried in the snow. They will attack Samus if disturbed, making them a constant threat. In most rooms, Baby Sheegoths come in pairs; waking up one will most likely disturb the other slumbering Baby Sheegoth nearby, raising the duo's threat level.
Baby Sheegoths attack primarily using their mouth; they have the ability to unleash a frigid breath attack when close to their prey. This breath attack can inflict minimal damage when struck by it, but prolonged exposure to this attack can ultimately freeze Samus solid. If frozen, she must escape or face additional damage from the oncoming predator(s). When at a distance, a Baby Sheegoth can fire a projectile sphere of cold energy, causing minor to moderate damage if hit by one. Even during infancy, a Baby Sheegoth's hide is able to repel a multitude of Beam, Bomb, and Missile attacks.
One of the most prominent features these creatures possess is their dorsal shells made of hardened smooth ice located behind the creatures. The shell hasn't been fully developed and as such is quite susceptible to heavy weapons fire. This shell is their only vulnerable area. Samus must Strafe behind the creature (easily done while avoiding their attacks) to face the shell head-on. The shell is still durable to a degree, able to withstand small weapons fire, but repeated blasts will shatter the ice off their backs. Once the shell is destroyed, the Baby Sheegoth's bare flesh is exposed, and a few shots to that tender area are sufficient enough to end them. When taking damage, their shells can be seen to become progressively more cracked before they completely shatter. Samus must be quick at damaging the shell, for the creature will make attempts to reposition itself to be facing Samus. Due to their slumbering position when asleep, it is possible for Samus to make a pre-emptive strike against the shell before they wake up (though the one that was attacked will instantly awake from the blast).
Baby Sheegoths react differently to a variety of Samus's weaponry depending on what was used against them. If small arms fire (any uncharged beam, charged Power Beam, or Missiles) was used to defeat a Baby Sheegoth, they will stumble and fall to the ground with a roar, sometimes screeching one last roar. Samus must be cautious however, as sometimes a defeated Baby Sheegoth will let out one last frost breath with its roar before dying. Damaging the shell with a charged Power Beam shot will cause the creature to flinch for a second, allowing for additional hits to land before it turns around. Charged Wave Beam shots will keep the creature stunned for a bit longer and killing it with a charged Wave Beam shot will prevent them from producing a final loud death roar as it is engulfed in electricity. Being ice-based creatures, they are naturally immune to the Ice Beam. The Plasma Beam can easily inflict damage, and a charged Plasma Beam shot will instantly incinerate them regardless of whether the back is exposed or not. Doing so will make their roar higher pitched before they die (as with some other incinerated creatures). Curiously, their shells can still be fired on during incineration.
After the first adult Sheegoth is killed, the Baby Sheegoth population will increase throughout the Phendrana Drifts. Once Thardus is eliminated, some Baby Sheegoths mature into their adult form. These adults, however, do not possess the powerful strength and large size of the first adult. It is possible that these recently matured Sheegoths will eventually acquire the original adult's characteristics as they grow older. A fully grown adult can always be found within the Quarantine Cave on return visits afterwards.
Baby Sheegoths can be found in Phendrana Shorelines, Phendrana Canyon, Ice Ruins East, Ruins Entryway, Chapel of the Elders, Ice Ruins West and Chozo Ice Temple.
==Similarities to Grenchlers==
The Sheegoths of Tallon IV and the Grenchlers, along with the Grapple Guardian (a large, darkling-possessed Grenchler) of Aether are often notable for their striking similarities to each other: for instance, both have only two limbs and are vulnerable on the shells on their backs. The Luminoth and the Chozo, the dominant species of Tallon IV and Aether, had close ties in the past, and it is possible that either Sheegoth, Grenchlers, or some more ancient ancestor of the two species could have been brought from one planet to the other. On the other hand, they could simply be an example of convergent evolution.
==Official data==
===Early Logbook entry (Nintendo GameCube Preview Disc)===
"Morphology: Baby SheegothGlacial predator retains ice shell until maturity to protect vulnerable dorsal area."
===Logbook entry===
===Official website===
"Young Sheegoths grow a resilient shell of ice on their backs, which serves to protect a layer of vulnerable flesh that eventually becomes a ridge of energy-absorbing crystal. Powerful hunters, they fire bursts of ultra-cold gas at potential prey, then feast on their frozen victims.
Two strong legs support the Baby Sheegoth's body, which is armless and protected by a thick ice shell. The head is dominated by a gaping maw filled with rows of sharp teeth."
===Metroid Prime and Metroid Fusion: Prima's Official Strategy Guide===
;Baby Sheegoth
:"The only thing more fierce-looking than a Sheegoth is one of its toothy offspring. Though considerably smaller than their parents, these bull-sized beasts are far from harmless. They love to charge at their prey and often attempt to freeze potential meals in their icy breath. The best strategy is to lock on to your enemy and strafe around behind it. Their only weak spot is the ice dome on their backs. Use a charged Power Beam shot to destroy the ice, then you can pick off the creature with just a couple more pecks. Once you have the Plasma Beam, these creatures will be little more than a nuisance, but for now they present a worthy challenge."
;Baby Sheegoth
:Found In: Phendrana Drifts
:Recommended Weapon: Missile Launcher, Plasma Beam
:"Baby Sheegoths have hard ice shells on their backs that protect the soft flesh underneath. To destroy a Baby Sheegoth, you must destroy the ice shield from behind. Once the soft fleshy part is revealed, a few hits from your Power Beam is sufficient to put it out of its misery. To get into position, you must dash around to their backs. Their attack consists of bursts of ultracold gas and a charging attack, both of which can be avoided by dashing to the side."
===Metroid Prime: The Official Nintendo Player's Guide===
;BABY SHEEGOTH
:"Don't take the Baby Sheegoth lightly because it's young--the creature is one of the strongest and most dangerous in all of Tallon IV. In addition to sharp claws and a massive pair of jaws, the Baby Sheegoth can breathe a stream of cold air that freezes its prey solid.The Baby Sheegoth is vulnerable, but only from behind. If one charges you, lock on to it and quickly strafe around it with the B Button. Once you're behind the beast, blast the shell off its back with a Charge Beam. When the shell is gone, fire a Missile into the creature's unprotected backside and end the battle."
===Metroid Prime Official Strategy Guide===
;BABY SHEEGOTH
:MORPHOLOGY
:"The Baby Sheegoth is a glacial predator with an ice shell that protects its vulnerable dorsal area. Young Sheegoths grow a resilient shell of ice on their backs. This serves to protect a layer of vulnerable flesh that eventually becomes a ridge of energy-absorbing crystal. Powerful hunters, they fire bursts of ultra-cold gas at potential prey, then feast on their frozen victim."
:COMBAT TIPS
:"The only feature that the Baby Sheegoth shares with the Sheegoth is the freezing breath attack, however the Baby's attack is somewhat weaker. The Baby Sheegoth has an icy shell that must be broken off its back first before any real damage can be done to it. Unfortunately, the Baby Sheegoth's shell is only vulnerable from directly behind it, meaning that Samus must constantly turn to get behind the creature in order to do enough damage to crack the shell. In this case it's a good idea to maximize the attack by using either Missiles or a Charge Beam when behind the Baby Sheegoth. Once the shell has been broken off its back, this creature can be attacked and destroyed quickly from any angle with the Power Beam."
===Metroid Prime Official Perfect Guide===
;BABY SHEEGOTH
:"The only way to hurt the members of this species is to dash around to their backsides--the only soft spot on their bodies--and fire away...otherwise you'll be taking damage from the ice blasts fired from their mouths. If a Baby Sheegoth freezes you, keep tapping B to shake into a thaw. It's more difficult to hit Baby Sheegoths with Missiles than with your normal Power Beam. After taking enough damage a Baby Sheegoth's shell will crack off and you can finish it from firing at any position."
==Development Data==
A Baby Sheegoth's internal name is Babygoth. This is most likely a shortened name of Baby Sheegoth.
==Trivia==
*The body of the Baby Sheegoth somewhat resembles the head of the Xenomorphs from the Alien films, from which it is known the Metroid series took some inspiration.
*The name Sheegoth could be a reference to the Shoggoth from H. P. Lovecraft's Cthulhu mythos. Coincidentally the Alien films and artist H.R. Giger took some inspiration from Lovecraft as well.
*The Baby Sheegoths, along with their adult form, have a body structure quite similar to the Motos, Grenchlers, Grapple Guardian, Ithraks, Gigafraugs and Dragotix. Whether or not their designs were inspired by one another is unknown.
*Sometimes, upon dying, it can release a small amount of its freezing breath which is easily avoidable. This will happen if the creature immediately falls to the ground. If it stumbles and then falls, this will not happen.
*If a Baby Sheegoth happens to fall into water, it dies immediately.
*If a Sheegoth or Baby Sheegoth dies while it's using its ice breath attack, it will continue using it even after death, until it disappears.
*Although the amount of damage required to destroy a Baby Sheegoth's ice covering varies with the game's difficulty level, it always requires the same amount of damage to kill once its back is exposed.
*Sheegoths seem to resemble the "Shrieker" from the Tremors series.
*If Samus shoots a dead Baby Sheegoth with the Wave Beam, it will twitch, opening and closing its mouth and moving its legs for a short time.
*If Samus shoots a Baby Sheegoth after shattering its armour only enough times to send it into its death animation, the Baby Sheegoth will fall down as usual but will roar and breath its ice breath attack before dying.
*Though rarely seen, a Baby Sheegoth's ice ball projectile can be deflected off another Baby Sheegoth.https://www.metroid2002.com/other_baby_sheegoth_cannibalism.php
==Gallery==
===Metroid Prime===
Babysheegoth.JPG|Official artwork of a Baby Sheegoth from Metroid Prime.
Ice_Ruins_East_entrance_Baby_Sheegoth_scan_images_dolphin_hd.jpg|Scan
Ice Ruins East entrance dormant Baby Sheegoths dolphin hd.jpg|Two Baby Sheegoths asleep in Ice Ruins East.
Baby Sheegoth model evolution.png|Baby Sheegoth development from the Nintendo GameCube Preview Disc DVD.
Samus and Baby Sheegoths (JP MP1 site).gif|Metroid.jp screenshot.
Mike Sneath Baby Sheegoth gif.gif|Mike Sneath animation.
Babygoth model Prime (front).png|Model from Prime(front)
Babygoth model Prime (side).png|Model from Prime(side angle)
===Metroid Prime Remastered===
Biology - Remastered 12.png|Remastered concept art from Metroid Prime Remastered.
Character Gallery - Baby Sheegoth.png|Remastered Character Gallery
Remastered Chozo Ice Temple Babygoth.png|Samus locks-on to a Baby Sheegoth in the Chozo Ice Temple.
Phendrana Canyon Babygoth shell exposed.png|The exposed flesh from its destroyed shell in Remastered.
==References==
de:Junger Eisgigant
es:Cría de Sheegoth
ru:Маленький Шигот
Category:Phendrana Drifts
Category:Tallon IV
Category:Infants
Category:Predators
Category:Arctic Creatures
Category:Mike Sneath