Metroid Life Cycle

Energy Required to Molt

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Metroid Life Cycle

Stage 1

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Infant Metroid

Energy Required to Molt

Infant

Metroid Life Cycle

• In this stage, they leave their mother's side and must care for themselves.
• Larger fangs gives them exceptional grip strength.
• They seem to be constantly hungry for "life energy" since their next life cycle stage is a lot bigger.
• They search all day for prey to suck dry. Once they have reached the life energy threshold, they moult and undergo metamorphosis, changing into an alpha metroid.
• Larval metroids, like infants, are susceptible to cold. But the larval metroids can live again after being frozen.

• Their behavior is unpredictable. They can be playful and curious or relentless and dangerous. If they hatch away from their mother, they may imprint onto the nearest creature and claim it as its new mother.
• Smaller fangs and nuclei, and a weaker grip strength, mean it's more reliant on its mom. They will cling to their mom for nourishment and shelter.
• Like all metroids, infants are incredibly vulnerable to cold. If frozen, infants will die instantly. Infant metroids can also be harmed from explosives and large impacts.

In the Queen's Care

Embryonic Holdfast

Metroid Larva

Very few metroids mature to the queen stage. Metroid queens are oviparous, or egg-laying, and lay a large number of eggs in one clutch. Since the queen is the sole caregiver, she has developed maternal traits for nourishing and protecting her young until they can fend for themselves.

As the egg is laid, viscous embryonic fluid filled with proteins drips off the egg onto the ground. Upon contact with oxygen in the atmosphere, the fluid hardens forming a secure holdfast. This holdfast keeps the egg from rolling away in storms or otherwise being distrubed.

Though they look similar to their larval counterparts, metroid infants have some important differences.

Metroid Infant

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Compared to the infants, metroid lavae are ravenous, relentless hunters.

The hovering life-sucker has an innocent and humble beginning-- nestled inside a hard, durable egg.

Metroid Egg Form

From harmless egg to deadly larva...

Metroid Early Life Cycle

Stage 2

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Larva Metroid

Energy Required to Molt

Larva

Metroid Life Cycle

• In this stage, they leave their mother's side and must care for themselves.
• Larger fangs gives them exceptional grip strength.
• They seem to be constantly hungry for "life energy" since their next life cycle stage is a lot bigger.
• They search all day for prey to suck dry. Once they have reached the life energy threshold, they moult and undergo metamorphosis, changing into an alpha metroid.
• Larval metroids, like infants, are susceptible to cold. But the larval metroids can live again after being frozen.

• Their behavior is unpredictable. They can be playful and curious or relentless and dangerous. If they hatch away from their mother, they may imprint onto the nearest creature and claim it as its new mother.
• Smaller fangs and nuclei, and a weaker grip strength, mean it's more reliant on its mom. They will cling to their mom for nourishment and shelter.
• Like all metroids, infants are incredibly vulnerable to cold. If frozen, infants will die instantly. Infant metroids can also be harmed from explosives and large impacts.

In the Queen's Care

Embryonic Holdfast

Metroid Larva

Very few metroids mature to the queen stage. Metroid queens are oviparous, or egg-laying, and lay a large number of eggs in one clutch. Since the queen is the sole caregiver, she has developed maternal traits for nourishing and protecting her young until they can fend for themselves.

As the egg is laid, viscous embryonic fluid filled with proteins drips off the egg onto the ground. Upon contact with oxygen in the atmosphere, the fluid hardens forming a secure holdfast. This holdfast keeps the egg from rolling away in storms or otherwise being distrubed.

Though they look similar to their larval counterparts, metroid infants have some important differences.

Metroid Infant

www.genial.ly

Compared to the infants, metroid lavae are ravenous, relentless hunters.

The hovering life-sucker has an innocent and humble beginning-- nestled inside a hard, durable egg.

Metroid Egg Form

From harmless egg to deadly larva...

Metroid Early Life Cycle

Stage 3

*To molt past the larval stage, Metroids must be on planets similar to its home world of SR388

Alpha metroids lose their cute larval appearance for insect-like features. Though it still has a vulnerable membrane, it now has durable, dorsal shell armor. In this stage it is fairly weak, but begins to prepare for much stronger life cycle phases.

Alpha Metroid

Energy Required to Molt

Alpha

Metroid Life Cycle

Stage 4

This stage of metroid is very simalar to the alpha form, except bigger and more powerful. In addition, it has much more control over the elements. This metroid may seem terrifying, but it is simply a walking pupa, biding its time until the truly terrifying forms of metroid emerge.

Gamma Metroid

Energy Required to Molt

Gamma

Metroid Life Cycle

Zeta metroids are no longer able to float. This is not all bad since now they can run at speeds of up to 100 mph and climb walls and ceilings. Oh, and their elemental attacks have become incredibly powerful. This, the first adult stage of metroid, is more than a formidable foe.

Stage 5

Zeta Metroid

Energy Required to Molt

Zeta

Metroid Life Cycle

This adult phase of metroid is perhaps the most fearsome looking form. The energy used to morph into this phase prioritized muscle development. From massive arms and legs with thick, sharp claws to a large muscular tail, this metroid is feared for its melee combat skills. But don't worry, it can still breathe fire.

Omega Metroid

Energy Required to Molt

Omega

Metroid Life Cycle

Finally, the Queen has arrived. From a distance, she may not look like much. But she is twice as massive and muscular as her earlier Omega form. Very few metroids make it to the Queen stage, but the ones that do have the tall task of raising up a new colony of Metroids. Much of the Queen is a mystery because those who encounter one don't live to tell the tale.

Metroid Queen

Energy Required to Molt

Queen

Metroid Life Cycle