Triclops

The Triclops is a species of small creatures that Samus only encounters in the Magmoor Caverns.
==Description==
They prowl tunnels and can survive high temperatures. They collect small creatures and bits of foodstuff, then deposit them elsewhere for later consumption. Their hard tripartite mandibles are used to move earth and rock. The strength of these mandibles is impressive; they can grasp the Morph Ball so tightly that it is nearly impossible to escape once grabbed.Official Metroid Prime website
When Samus encounters them while in Morph Ball form, they will scuttle towards her, and if Samus winds up in one's path, the Triclops will utilize a sort of air-suction that will drag her into its mandibles. After being grabbed, they will then carry her around the tunnels (usually back to the beginning of a maze or pathway) and "spit" her out with a regurgitation sound, damaging her while doing this. To avoid this, Samus must lay a Bomb as a trap of sorts. The Triclops will then go for the Bomb and attempt to take it to a personal depot area for later consumption. However, the bomb will promptly detonate a few moments later, killing the Triclops. A Triclops possesses a durable thick hide that otherwise prevents damage from any Beam and Missile attacks. Samus can alternatively lay a Power Bomb near the creature to pierce through its thick hide, killing it instantly.
If Samus is caught by one of them, it is possible to escape from their grip by moving the control stick back and forth very quickly (or by rapidly pressing B in the Wii versions); she will still suffer damage, but the Triclops will let her go without throwing her away.
Triclops are found in these rooms: Pit Tunnel, Triclops Pit, Fiery Shores, and Magmoor Workstation.
Fiery Shores is the only one of these rooms where Triclops are not burrowed inside tunnels, allowing Samus to interact with them in bi-pedal form. They will inflict contact damage and minor knock back if touched.
In Metroid Prime Remastered, their scan images depict their highlighting more properly.
In Metroid Prime Pinball they can be found in the Phendrana Drifts stage and can be summoned in the Triclops Terror minigame on the Tallon Overworld stage, though they are only found in Magmoor Caverns in Metroid Prime.
According to Metroid Prime 2: Echoes, the Triclops are impossible to domesticate. Instead, Samus encounters mechanoids built by the resident Luminoth on Aether called Mechlops. Their scan states that the Luminoth, seemingly finding use in their "earthmoving power", attempted to domesticate and train a number of Triclops to use in combat, without success. Thus, the Mechlops were built to replace them. These creatures act identically to their organic counterparts.
==Official data==
===Official Metroid Prime website===
"Triclops are hunter-scavengers. They collect small creatures and bits of foodstuff, then deposit them elsewhere for later consumption. The hard tripartite mandibles they use to move earth and rock are quite strong and grasp prey in an almost unbreakable grip.
The Triclops is a hard-shelled creature with powerful tripartite mandibles. Resembling a beetle, the Triclops walks close to the ground on multiple legs."
===Logbook entry===
===Metroid Prime and Metroid Fusion: Prima's Official Strategy Guide===
;Triclops
:"Triclops are tiny creatures with powerful jaws. When you are in Morph Ball mode and wander in front of them, they pick you up and deposit you in inconvenient places. Lay a few bombs in your wake, and they will pick the bombs up instead of you. When the bombs explode, so do the Triclops. If you become caught in their jaws, you'll take some damage. Roll the [Control Stick] around to dislodge yourself from its mandibles. As soon as you're free, lay a few bombs so that they pick them up and explode."
;Triclops
:Found In: Magmoor Caverns
:Recommended Weapon: Morph Ball Bombs
:"Triclops are small hunter-gatherers that collect small creatures and deposit them elsewhere for later consumption. Damage from Triclops is minimal whether or not you are in Morph Ball. The real damage comes from them depositing you in a pool of lava. If you are picked up by a Triclops, roll [Control Stick] in a circular motion to escape and drop a couple Morph Ball Bombs to destroy them. The Triclops will pick up the Morph Ball Bombs placed in front of them and be destroyed at detonation."
===Metroid Prime: The Official Nintendo Player's Guide===
;TRICLOPS
:"The Triclops is a creature with powerful jaws that will pick up any item that comes near--including the Morph Ball. To avoid the embarrassing fate of being carried around by a small critter, plant a Bomb. The Triclops will pick it up instead of you."
===Metroid Prime Official Strategy Guide===
;TRICLOPS
:MORPHOLOGY
:"A hard shelled creature with powerful jaws. The Triclops is a hunter-gatherer. It collects small creatures and bits of foodstuff, then deposits them elsewhere for later consumption. The hard tripartite mandibles it uses to move earth and rock are quite strong and difficult to escape."
:COMBAT TIPS
:"The Triclops is only a threat to Samus when she's in Morph Ball form. When a ball, the Triclops can pick up Samus and toss her into dangerous situations (such as into lava), doing damage in the process. Triclops are indestructible from Samus' weapons, but the Morph Ball Bombs are something they like to pick up! If possible, drop a Bomb near a Triclops,; it'll pick it up and explode along with the bomb!"
===Metroid Prime Official Perfect Guide===
;TRICLOPS
:"These creatures enjoy collecting small spherical objects--such as Bombs, the very things that will destroy them--or your Morph Ball-form self, whom they'll clamp onto and spit backwards, causing you a little bit of damage."
===Development data===
Despite the absence of Triclops in Echoes, hacking of the Metroid Prime 2: Echoes Bonus Disc has not only revealed data for the Triclops, but also an unused Dark Triclops.http://tcrf.net/Metroid_Prime_2:_Echoes Triclops may have had a planned reappearance in Echoes, as the Mechlops mentions the former in its final logbook entry. The Dark Triclops serves the Ing Horde; this aspect survived into the final game, as the Mechlops are mechanoids who serve the Ing.
Unused Logbook entries exist within the Bonus Disc for both the Triclops and the Dark Triclops. These can be viewed via hacking. Triclops are listed as "Tunnel Prowlers" within the Data Network. The log entry for the Triclops and its model were reused from Prime, and the latter was also used as a placeholder model for the Dark Triclops. The Mechlops makes no such appearance within the Data Network, suggesting it was added later in development. It appears highly likely the Triclops data was repurposed for its mechanoid counterpart in the final game. 
===Metroid Prime Pinball manual===
thumb|Metroid Prime Pinball
"A creature with powerful jaws that will pick up anything that comes near, including the ball."
==Trivia==
*It is never explained how Triclops were able to reach Aether to be used by Luminoth, as stated in the Mechlops' logbook entry. It is known that the Chozo from Tallon IV met the Luminoth at some undetermined point in the past and therefore, it is believed that bioforms from the former's homeworld were offered as gifts.
**This exchange of life-forms strongly implied by the Triclops, combined with the fact that the Luminoth also met with another advanced civilization, potentially explain the presence of other organisms seen on multiple planets, such as the Nightbarb.
*The name "Triclops" a portmanteau of the words "tri" and "cyclops", with "tri" seemingly referencing its three mandibles.
*Triclops share the same death scream as a Beetle, Zoomer, Geemer, and Puffer, the latter of which also appears within the Magmoor Caverns.
==Gallery==
Sm_enemies3_copy.png|Andrew Jones concept art
Triclops.jpg|Concept artwork from Metroid Prime
Triclops.png|A Triclops in-game
Triclops_pit_scan_images_dolphin_hd.jpg|Samus scans a Triclops.
Triclops_pit_tunnel_samus_is_grabbed_dolphin_hd.jpg|Pit Tunnel
Fiery Shores (2).jpg|Fiery Shores
Magmoor Workstation.jpg|Magmoor Workstation
Icemite sketch.png|Concept art of an "Icemite" creature for Echoes, that may represent a variant of Triclops.
Mppinball 07 big.jpg|Triclops on the Phendrana Drifts table
Biology - Remastered 18.png|Metroid Prime Remastered artwork
Bonus Disc Triclops Logbook.png|Unused Metroid Prime 2: Echoes Bonus Disc Logbook entry.
==References==
es:Triclops
Category:Species
Category:Tallon IV
Category:Magmoor Caverns
Category:Tallon Overworld
Category:Phendrana Drifts
Category:Lavalife
Category:Recurring Species
Category:Unused Bosses and Species