Peeper

This article is about the Peeper. You may be looking for the Oculus.

Template:Class 2 FaunaThe Peeper is a small, yet fast, passive fauna species. It could be considered the mascot of Subnautica. It is easily identified by its large, bright yellow eyes.

The Peeper will try to flee from most life forms bigger than itself, such as Stalkers or the player. They can be caught, though their speed allows them to easily outrun a poorly equipped player. With the use of a Gravsphere, Seaglide, Stasis Rifle or Propulsion Cannon, they can be easily captured.

Cooked Peepers have above average Food properties. For this reason, they are very useful for players in Survival mode, and are always worth the catch.

Appearance

The Peeper is small, with its body being mainly a bluish hue, turning more greenish near the tail. Its head is comprised of a yellow, beak-like mouth on the front and a pair of large eyes situated on both sides of the head. The eyes feature black pupils with bright bioluminescent yellow sclerae and brown irises. It is also noteworthy that the Peeper has eyelids.

It has a small caudal fin. There are three holes running along on each side of the body that resemble gills. It has two tube-like organs that extend from its body to the top and the bottom of its head, resembling backward-facing jets, that propel it forward, leaving water trails (visible at night) when it does so.

Behavior

The Peeper is mostly active during the day, and can often be seen jumping out of the water. At night, it seems to rest more, though it is still somewhat active. When chased by the player, the Peeper may sometimes shut its eyes, making it harder to be seen - it often does so at night, making it near impossible to find and catch in the darkness. It can be heard making chirping-like noises when swimming.

Peepers can sometimes be seen being chased by Stalkers, as they are their preferred prey.

Peepers can often be seen following close behind Reefbacks in groups of 3 or 4.

Story

Spoiler alert: The following section contains story related material.
Peepers have been trained by the Sea Emperor Leviathan to carry Enzyme 42 and distribute it to other creatures via the Alien Pipe System. This is the sole reason some life has still been able to survive on the planet.

Uses in Crafting

Energy Value

×750

Data Bank Entry

A fast prey fish encountered in large schools in shallow waters.

Developed, Side-mounted Eyes:
Capable of discerning colors in a variety of lighting conditions, its reliance on visually identifying predators may nonetheless leave it vulnerable in low-light environments. Also rich in protein.
Powerful Fins:
Although strong underwater currents on 4546B have not been encountered, this species seems to have evolved powerful fins which would enable it to fight against the tide. They enable rapid acceleration in still water, and the ability to leap meters into the air to avoid pursuers.
Beak:
Likely used to break down corals and tough vegetation. An unusually large nasal cavity serves no obvious purpose, and appears to be specially evolved to detect a single, specific enzyme. Nothing encountered on the planet so far produces a matching odour.

While the peeper is well adapted to survive in shallow waters, a string of evolutionary adaptations serve no discernible purpose. It would appear to be just as well suited to survive in deeper waters, and is somewhat more intelligent than the usual small herbivore.

Assessment:
Either the peeper has migrated to shallower waters in recent centuries and not yet evolved beyond the adaptations that helped it to survive elsewhere, or it engages in behaviors that have not yet been observed. Further research required.