Frozen Leviathan

The **Frozen Leviathan** is the body of a deceased leviathan class creature located within a large wall of ice at the Phi Excavation Site.

The body was first discovered by Fred Lachance, who would report back to Alterra about his findings. Following its discovery, corridors were cut into the ice around the creature, and various walkways were erected to better study the creature and its infection.

The Frozen Leviathan is a heavily-built creature with a broad body, four limbs and a long tail. This species is one of the largest seen to have lived on 4546B, much like many of the other extinct Leviathans found throughout 4546B.

Running from just behind the shoulders to near the end of the tail is a row of large overlapping plates which gradually decrease in size as they move towards the tail. The tail is flattened laterally, and longer than the entire body. It is slightly broadened at the tip to assist with propulsion.

Its four limbs are heavily muscled and each ends with a five-digited paw. Each digit is tipped with a large claw. Additionally, on the undersides of each forelimb are three plates resembling those seen on the back. There is a small amount of webbing between the digits.

The head is broad, relatively flat and has a wide mouth filled with thin, long teeth; 34 in the lower jaw and 40 in the upper, for a total of 74. Placed behind the mouth on each side is a large sickle-shaped bony plate which projects straight forwards from the head. Another structure which is similar to these plates but smaller and pointing backwards rather than forwards is found further back on the head. The eyes are side-mounted and deeply recessed into the head.

The creature is noticeably infected with Kharaa.

Parvan's log suggests that Fred thinks the leviathan is still alive, though Parvan expresses his disbelief in his security report. It has been confirmed several times by developers to be dead, however.

The Leviathan specimen's species and age is currently unknown, but to be infected with Kharaa this individual must have been active any time between 1000 years ago and now.

With their highly muscular limbs, this creature was capable on land. Due to the creature's considerable bulk, however, it is unlikely that it would have hunted on land, possibly only coming ashore to rest.

There is little webbing between the digits, meaning that propulsion using the limbs would have been inefficient. Instead, the long and flattened tail would have been used to propel the creature in water. It is likely that a crocodilian-like method of movement would have been adopted; keeping the limbs to the sides of the body with lateral flexion of the tail propelling the animal forwards.

The long thin teeth resemble those of large piscivorous animals, so the creature's diet was likely composed of much smaller creatures than itself, as these thin teeth are poorly-suited for grasping large prey. It is possible that the two bony plates found either side of the mouth could be moved by the creature and used to corral groups of fish into the mouth. An alternative usage for these plates could have been breaking sea ice to come to the surface. Another alternative is that it used these plates to compete with others of its species.

The plates along the spine and forearms of the animal suggest a need for defense, likely in disputes between potentially territorial individuals.

Al-An expresses relief that the creature is still frozen, and mentions that they were quite aggressive.

## Data Bank Entry

We found this thing buried in the glacier. Gave someone a hell of a fright.

Turns out it was walking around a thousand years ago when it fell through the ice. It was infected with the Kharaa bacterium - the aggressive disease which wiped out the architects and almost life on the planet. It is unclear whether the mutated Kharaa pustules present are responsible for the ultimate demise of the creature.

Since the enzyme cure was released on 4546B the bacterium has been all but eliminated. Rare specimens like these provide our only live source.

Research on the bacterium has been transferred to the secure Omega laboratory, while further research on the creature will be conducted at the excavation site.

Claws evolved to retain traction on the ice.

Lots of room for a brain, but it's mostly bone and fat.

Sharp teeth for tearing through bone and flesh.

Environmental conditions and subtle mutations suggest that this variant of the Kharaa bacterium's rate of transmission is somewhat lower than that of the widespread outbreak previously reported on 4546B.

The bacteria's capacity to survive for a long period of time off of the leviathan's corpse suggest highly efficient saprophytic properties. Scans indicate that the pustules are merely the visible component of a dense bacterial network feeding off of the dead cells of the leviathan.

Despite the risk, further research is recommended.

The Frozen Leviathan has an appearance similar to that of the ancient amphibian Eryops, though far stockier and with a much longer tail. They share a similar body plan and a very similar head and tooth shape and potentially an amphibious lifestyle.

* The Frozen Leviathan was originally planned to be found in the Glacial Connection before being moved to the Glacial Basin.