Stalker

<tabber>Fauna=<infobox>

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The Stalker is an aggressive Fauna species mostly found populating the Kelp Forest, and occasionally the Crash Zone. It is a relative of the land-based Snow Stalker native to Sector Zero.

Occasionally, Stalkers can be found swimming into the Safe Shallows while chasing the player or other small fauna.

Appearance

The Stalker is a rather large creature, possessing an elongated, smooth body with smooth skin. Its head features a long snout, which greatly resembles that of earth gharials.

Seven dorsal plates protrude from its back, running along the body from the neck to the tail. It has two pectoral and pelvic purple-tipped fins on each side of the body. The body ends with a broad, whale-like tail fin. It resembles primitive cetaceans as well as some extinct marine reptiles. 

The Stalker's dorsal side is blue-green in color, and is patterned in dark blue and purple, with a bright green and aqua underside.

Behavior

The Stalker seems to have a fondness for metal; it will approach metal objects such as Metal Salvage, Silver Ore, and Titanium, pick the object up with its mouth and drop it again after carrying it for a short time. Sometimes when it picks an object up it will drop one of its teeth. It may also drop them when grabbing a Camera Drone or attacking a Seamoth. These teeth are required for creating Enameled Glass which is needed to build a Cyclops and other advanced objects. Stalkers will sometimes place metal salvage in a certain area with other pieces. The player can use this as a means of distraction to give the player time to escape so it is recommended to carry metal, or peepers when planning on entering the creepvine forests.

Stalkers can grab Camera Drones, including ones housed in their sockets on the Scanner Room and will carry them around, sometimes quite far. While carried in a Stalker's mouth, the drone's camera and location marker will work, but it cannot be controlled until the Stalker drops it.

Being predators, Stalkers will attempt to chase and eat nearby Peepers and other small prey. They will also attack the player upon close encounters with each bite dealing 30 damage. The player should be cautious while exploring Kelp Forests to avoid getting attacked by surprise, as Stalkers often form small groups that will lurk in the dense Creepvines.

Stalkers are not able to damage the Prawn Suit, though they will still attack it, moving the mech slightly in the process.

At night, besides being more difficult to spot due to being one of only two non-bioluminescent creatures in the game, Stalkers become more aggressive and have a wider aggressive radius, so it is advised to avoid swimming near Kelp Forests at night without adequate protection.

If sufficiently injured by a Survival Knife or Thermoblade, Stalkers will turn and flee at their top speed. As they can be outswam by a Seaglide, this could be used by the player to hunt them down and eventually kill them; this may be unwise however as they don't respawn and are the only source of stalker teeth.

Stalkers can be found guarding or lurking near their Eggs and will attack if the player gets too close.

Stalkers seem to follow the same path as cameras when chasing them down, and can therefore be led seemingly anywhere that cameras can go. Stalkers may also take cameras into the inside of the map and force the camera to clip back through the ground, taking damage, to get out.

Occasionally, Stalkers can ram into the lifepod, causing it to rock violently. However, this behaviour does not appear to be intentional and seems to be a result of said Stalker chasing a fish and hitting the lifepod.

Spoiler alert: The following section contains story related material.
The Stalkers inside Primary Containment Facility's Aquarium are not hostile to the player, and are thus not a threat, although they will still steal cameras.

Interactions with the Player

It is possible to temporarily placate a Stalker by feeding them any kind of catchable fish. Doing this will pacify the creature for a short while, however this behaviour is temporary and the Stalker will soon resume its normal, aggressive behaviour. Stalkers hatched from an Alien Containment will remain passive, but will still steal cameras and attack the player's vehicles.

Pickupable items

• Camera Drone
• Copper Ore
• Gold
• Kyanite
• Metal Salvage
• Nickel Ore
• Oxygen Tanks
• Reactor Rod
• Silver Ore
• Survival Knife
• Waterproof Locker
• Uranium (Cut Content)

Energy Value

(no target detected)

×105

Data Bank Entry

A streamlined predator encountered in the kelp forests in wait of prey leaving the safety of the shallows to feed. The stalker likely carved out its evolutionary niche at the sweet spot between speed and size millions of years ago, and may be one of the oldest species on the planet. The stalker appears to be attracted to titanium deposits, which tends to sharpen and put stress on its teeth. As with many predators, it may be possible to temporarily distract hungry stalkers by feeding them. 1. Teeth: The stalker's teeth are unusually hard, and fast-growing. Its elongated snout can deliver huge biting pressure to larger attackers, while also being used to reach small herbivores seeking refuge amongst the rocks. 2. Night-vision: Retinal layering on the eyeball suggests adaptation for night-time hunting. 3. Dorsal Ridges: These ridges can be moved independently to deliver superior maneuverability. 4. Pelvic Fins: Long and powerful, the stalker has evolved to hunt the fastest of prey. Assessment: Stalker teeth may have applications in enameled glass fabrication

Gallery

<tabber> Screenshots=

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  Front view

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  Side profile

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  Dorsal view

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  A Stalker Egg

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  Size comparison to the player

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  A Stalker at night, displaying no bioluminescence

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  A Stalker in the Kelp Forest

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  A Stalker holding some Metal Salvage in the Crash Zone

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  A Stalker stealing a Camera Drone at night

|-| Concept Art=

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  Kharaa Bacterium concept art, featuring Stalkers

|-| Other=

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  Model from Sketchfab

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  The Stalker's old model - the Lava Lizard

</tabber>

Trivia

• As of 14.12.2014, the model of the Stalker was changed. Until then, the model of the Lava Lizard was used.
• The Stalker was also listed as Snout Shark in development documents.
• Stalkers and Lava Lizards are the only creatures in-game that do not have some degree of bioluminescence.
• Although the Stalker cannot damage the Cyclops, it will attack it which normally results in the Stalker losing a tooth.
  • Stalkers from the Kelp Forest can be observed wandering into the Safe Shallows quite often. Sometimes they will bump Lifepod 5 causing it to lift slightly. Other times a few pieces of metal salvage in an area such as the Safe Shallows will result in a small group of them congregating to play with it which will create a small area dense with Stalkers and danger for an unprepared and sluggish player.
  • There used to be a glitch with the Stalker Egg where whenever it is dropped it will spawn a baby stalker and still be an egg, although this has been patched.