Research Specimen

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   <default>Research Specimen</default>
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</image> <label>Age</label> <label>Status</label> <label>Biome</label> <label>Length</label> <label>Coordinates</label> <label>GoTo</label> <label>Debug Spawn</label> </infobox> Research Specimen Theta, also referred to as Large Carnivore Theta was an individual of a large predatory species kept in the main aquarium of the Disease Research Facility for a long period of time for testing purposes. It is implied by a data bank entry that this individual died prior to the Kharaa outbreak, as in a Precursor data entry it is referred to as "Remains" being studied. The individual likely succumbed to Kharaa, to which it showed some level of resistance. This specimen is distantly related to five species still living on the planet today; the PDA notes shared skeletal traits with the Biter and Sand Shark, by extension this also makes Research Specimen Theta a relative of the Boneshark and Blighter, and a very distant relative of the Rockgrub.

Data Bank Entry

<tabber> Remains of Research Specimen=

The skeletal remains of a vast predator, housed within an artificial habitat.

1. Habitat:
The environment constructed to house the specimen suggests it was kept alive in containment for research purposes for months, or even years. Organic matter indicates the habitat once supported extensive plantlife, though it has since decayed. When the facility collapsed this specimen was either left to die, or killed on the spot.

2. Evolution:
While it shares some skeletal traits with the biter and sand shark, including its distinctive double eye sockets, this fossilized specimen is significantly larger, and features unusual forearms rarely seen in aquatic species. This species has likely gone extinct in the past thousand years, and its evolutionary relatives have evolved almost beyond recognition.

|-| Specimen Research Data=

A catalog of information on the organisms previously contained within the alien facility. A number of entries have been translated.

Small Herbivore Gamma:
This entry seems to reference the common peeper. Shows no immunity to infection - death commonly occurs within 4 days. Shows symptom remission on exposure to Enzyme 42, but symptoms quickly recur. Shows advanced learning behaviors. Shows some capacity to transmit enzymes to other specimens.

Leviathan Embryos:
Adult specimen too large to study in containment. Egg specimens acquired from nesting site. Embryos show no signs of immunity - death commonly occurs within 3 weeks. Small sample of eggs has been retained for continued, high priority research on leviathan hatching mechanisms.

Large Carnivore Theta:
Off-site lab established to study remains. Shows some potential for immunity to infection, but physical remains so far proved insufficient for full reconstruction.

Unidentified Leviathan:
This leviathan species has been assigned designator 'Sea Emperor'. Bone samples from emperor specimens indicate some potential for kharaa immunity. Single specimen captured for study at purpose-built containment facility, constructed in volcanic region at depth 1.4km.

Assessment: While it is unlikely that the emperor specimen is still contained within the facility described, it may be possible to acquire further data there on the aliens' attempts to develop a vaccine.

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