Lanmola

, also known as , are recurring enemies and Sub-Bosses in .
==Characteristics==
Lanmolas are fast and powerful centipedes. While they were originally normal enemies, they began to serve larger roles in subsequent games in the series, acting as boss or mini-boss. Their first appearance shows them as having an elongated segmented body, with two appendages per segment and a single eye complete with iris; later games show them as clearly having two compound eyes and no appendages, giving them a more worm-like appearance.
======
In , Lanmolas are only found in Level-9 in both Quests and are powerful foes. They come in red and blue varieties, with the latter ones being faster. Like the Moldorms in the game, the Lanmolas grow shorter by one segment with each blow, but only the tail part of their body is weak at first; the head can only be harmed once the remaining segments have been destroyed. Their fast movement, multiple legs and their weakness in the tail actually makes them more akin to Moldorms of later games. When defeated, red Lanmolas may drop either a Heart, a Fairy or one Rupee, while blue Lanmolas may drop either a Heart, one Rupee, five Rupees, or a Clock.
======
A group of three Lanmolas are the bosses of the Desert Palace in . In this game, they hide underground and occasionally surface to attack, then return to the underground. When they burrow out of the ground, they send bits of rock flying in several directions. The sword is the most common method of dealing with them; however, arrows and the Ice Rod are both effective as well. After two are defeated, the last one will begin to move faster, and creates more bits of rock upon surfacing. Once the final one has been taken care of, Link gets the Pendant of Power and a Heart Container.
Another group of three Lanmolas later return in Ganon's Tower as a mini-boss, where they are fought the same way as before. This time, however, there is a Stone Statue in the room that will occasionally fire beams at Link.
======
In , a Lanmola appears as a mini-boss guarding the Angler Key in the Yarna Desert. It attacks in the same fashion as those encountered in , but this time it fights in a patch of quicksand. If Link sinks into the center of the pit, Link will fall into a cave and, after returning, all damage dealt to the Lanmola will be reversed.
One of the Shadow Nightmare's final forms is also called Lanmola, but it is fought very differently. It behaves more akin to the Lanmolas of the original and must be defeated with a powerful attack to the head, like the Magic Rod.
==Spinoff appearances==
======
Three Lanmolas also appear as the boss of Level 5 in Week 3 of . Unlike , the it is possible to obtain the Level 3 Sword in the dungeon before fighting them.
==In other media==
=== (Ishinomori)===
In the , a Lanmola appears after Link, using the Book of Mudora in the Desert of Mystery, reveals a scorpion statue that has the Pendant of Power hanging on it. Before Link can approach it, he sinks into the quicksand and resurfaces on top of a Lanmola. Link tries to attack it with his sword, but its skin is too hard to cause any damage to it. However, after the Lanmola launches him into the air, he lands on top of the scorpion statue and retrieves the Pendant of Power. With the pendant's energy in his hand, Link successfully defeats the Lanmola by striking the foe's underbelly with the sword.
=== (Cagiva)===
In the , a Lanmola attacks Link while exploring Yarna Desert. Due to the quicksand, Link cannot move swiftly, so he tries attacking the Lanmola with Bombs to no avail. He then decides to remove his Shield and use it as a foot hold, asking Felicia to warn him when it appears. When the Lanmola emerges from the sand, Link evades its attack and counters it with a Spin Attack. As the Lanmola dissolves, the Angler Key appears from within.
==Crossover appearances==
======
Lanmola appear in as minibosses, appearing in either the Desert or inside caves and dungeons like the Gerudo Ruins. They move to the beat of the music, and emerge from underground in order to attack Cadence, Link, Yves, or Zelda. Their heads move on every single beat towards the heroes, with their bodies slowly dragging along behind them. After several beats or if they've sustained enough damage, they will bury themselves underground for a few beats before re-emerging to attack. Once they've been slain, they will drop a random item and if they were in a dungeon, unlock a set of stairs that will lead the heroes into the next dungeon room or floor.
==Nomenclature==
==Gallery==
File:TLoZ Link Fighting Lanmola Artwork.png|Artwork of Link fighting a Lanmola in 
File:TLoZ Link and Zelda Surrounded Artwork.png|A Lanmola, Blue Darknut, two Gibdos and several Keese surrounding Link and Zelda
File:Sand battlefield.png|Link fighting Lanmolas from 
File:LADX Lanmola Sprite 2.gif|The Lanmola form of the Nightmare from 
File:Lanmola (comic).png|A Lanmola from the comic
File:LA (Cagiva) Lanmola.jpg|A Lanmola about to attack Link from the manga by Ataru Cagiva
File:LanmolaAST.png|A Lanmola from 
==See also==
* Blue Lanmola
* Mardleg