Author Notes - This family is huge, so much so that about a third of this page is dedicated just to the other researchers' notes. Only two Lithopod species are in Pikmin 3, and I counted the mature version as a different species for the sake of those notes. So, uh, strap in.
LITHOPOD FAMILY
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Anthropoda
Class: Pseudoinsecta
Order: Carapasha
EMILY'S PERSONAL NOTES
These guys must be PNF-404's equivalent to rabbits. Every time I find a Cannon Beetle Larva, it's almost always accompanied by a few more. Sometimes even a dozen more! Despite that, fully mature Cannon Beetles are near impossible to find. Even Captain Olimar noted that mature Lithopod members seemingly vanished from the planet when he returned to pay off his company's debt, to the point where he worried that he caused their extinction at first. I can't imagine having to worry about that. I mean, imagine knowing that you caused (or at least accelerated) the extinction of an entire animal species! I don't think I could handle it.
PHYSICAL APPEARANCES
There are four known members of the Lithopod family - Granitus chukkulinae (Armoured Cannon Beetle), Granitus decorum (Decorated Cannon Beetle), Granitus frostitum (Arctic Cannon Beetle), and Granignis ictum (Firesnout Beetle).
Mature members of this family are easily identifiable. Despite their name, they sport a vague resemblance to spiders, albeit spiders with much bigger abdomens in comparison to smaller heads and four short but thick legs. On the front of the creature are two orifices resembling cannons (hence the common name). The bottom 'cannon' functions as a snout, and has two glowing green eyes on the sides. The top 'cannon' is much smaller and helps ventilate the creature's body heat.
The only notable difference between the four species appearance-wise is their colour. Armoured CBs are dark grey, Decorated CBs are bright red with orange/yellow markings on their carapace, Arctic CBs are pure white, and Firesnout B's have a pattern and colour scheme that looks like fire.
HABITAT
One of the more notable differences between the four members is their habitats - none share a living space with another, with one exception. They do, however, share their extreme rarity.
Mature Armours live in forests, typically those of moderate temperatures though they can also be found in more tropical forests too. Arctics, as their name implies, can only be found in cold snowy areas. Firesnouts live strictly in volcanic areas. Decorateds, however, spread their numbers out thinly across the world. They prefer cooler areas, residing in both snowy habitats and cooler forests. Their habitats can often overlap with Arctics and Armours, though their numbers are much lower. All species can live both on the surface and deep underground.
DIET AND DEFENCES
All members of this family consume rocks and ores, though the exact details of the diet depend on the species and habitat. This digestion is chemically aided by metabacteria that resides in their stomachs. Since they are not born with this internal metabacteria, the larvae have to rely on regurgitated ore from mature specimens in order to gain it.
The Lithopods' method of self defence is quite well-known and even more dangerous if care is not taken. The internal bacteria is also capable of condensinging any consumed ore (or snow, in the case of Arctics) into solid projectiles. The Beetle will inhale air through the 'top cannon' which functions like a blow hole, and fire these massive balls of rock/snow at any possible threats. While the snowballs of the Arctics do little more than pushing threats away, the rocks of Armours and Decorateds are easily capable of crushing predators and prey alike into paste.
The boulders thrown by Decorateds have a special property unique to them. Decorateds prefer rocks with high amounts of iron, not just resulting in their bright red colourations but giving their boulders a magnetic property. While they retain the typical Lithopod accuracy, highly-metallic objects or surfaces - such as spacesuits - can disrupt the attack by magnetising the rocks. While this is often dangerous, it can be and has been used to redirect the boulders into bigger threats or even the Lithopod itself.
Firesnouts do not shoot boulders but instead balls of fire, due to their consumption of flammable materials. The rocks inside its body are ignited upon contact with the oxygen in the air, and by the time of impact the stone inside is usually dissolved by the flames.
If one finds themselves up against a Cannon Beetle with no way out, one must plug up the blowhole with a rock or similar object. The Beetle will be unable to vent out hot air, and must open up its carapace to cool down. This exposes the overheated hind that, though very hot to the touch, is easy to damage.
SOCIAL STRUCTURE
Lithopods prefer living solitary lives and guarding their own territories, though they are able to function well in groups and (albeit rarely) may gather around a territory to defend it together. These territories are known to be fairly large and usually consist of a rounded dip in the ground, but they may also reside in hollowed out tree stumps. Larvae, on contrast, typically stick together in large numbers, since it is the only way they have any real chance of survival.
Their response to intruders is often violent. This, however, is merely a scare tactic. While Lithopods are perfectly willing to kill those who intrude, they will cease attacks once it is clear that the intruder is leaving.
COURTING AND CHILDREARING
Every ecosystem has a creature that could be called 'the rabbit', and Lithopods fulfil this role. Though mature specimens are very rare and hard to come by, the juvenile stages - known as Cannon Beetle Larvae - can be found everywhere. Mature Beetles will often mate with whichever member of the opposite sex that they can find, and lay plenty of eggs in dug-out groves or deep underground. While the mature Beetles will feed them regurgitated ore for the first few weeks, the hatchlings are left to fend for themselves after this, and are usually picked off by the dozens.
The larvae lack a hard carapace and will only grow one after pupating, leaving them almost defenceless for the first few months of their lives. They are capable of creating and spewing powerful boulders very early on in their lifecycle, but their soft flesh and inability to move quickly often has them eaten before they can even attack.
Not only can they be found above ground, they can be found just about anywhere underground too, whether it be snowy, covered in tiles, layered rusty metal, or even mimicking a gigantic playroom with wooden floorboards. Assuming the rest of them haven't been eaten already, the sight of one larva often means there's at least a couple more nearby. Caution must be taken to avoid any possible surprise attacks, since the larva have a habit of burying themselves beneath the earth to protect themselves.
Crossbreeding between species is rare but possible. Typically, the species of the offspring will match that of the mother, though hybrids do exist. Examples include an Armoured with the orange-yellow streaks of the Decorated, or an Arctic with dark grey features.
OTHER NOTES
The larva form of Lithopods is much easier to find than the mature specimens. In fact, the mature Lithopods are so rare that both Captain Olimar's second expedition and that of the Koppai crew failed to find any. Both expeditions, however, succeeded in finding multiple larvae. This raised concerns that the species had gone extinct, until the discovery of their larva form eased such worries.
NOTES FROM OTHER RESEARCHERS
Armoured Cannon Beetle -
This has got to be the most blatant example of a weak spot on the entire planet. It's nigh invincible and can easily leave massive holes in your army… but that blowhole is easy to clog with a rock or even a Pikmin, leaving its sensitive hind exposed. I have to wonder how such an obvious weakness got past quality control! - Alph
I'm gonna tame one of these dang things. I'm gonna hop on its back and ride it, and command it to fire boulders upon all those who stand in my way! … The problem is actually getting on top of the dang thing. - Brittany
Some creatures on this planet feel more like sentient machinery, and this fella is a great example. It's more of a tank than an animal! But it's like a tank that'll blow up if the exhaust pipe is clogged. - Captain Charlie
Decorated Cannon Beetle -
The glaring weakness of the original model remains, but it compensates with boulders that can follow you! It doesn't matter much for the organic creatures, but the boulders are attracted to the metal in our suits. For once, I think we've found something that's a lot more dangerous to us than the Pikmin! - Alph
Okay, if ANYONE asks. No, I did not try taking a nap while on the job. No, I did not assume that this creature couldn't hit me from where I was laying. NO, I did NOT get flattened by a rock magnetically attracted to me. IT. NEVER. HAPPENED. … ow… - Brittany
We're dealing with… HEAT GUIDED MISSILES! It's rare that I deal with projectiles that can home in on the enemy, and it is frightening. However, it isn't all scary. With a little bit of quick-thinking, you can (almost literally) turn its boulders against them! - Captain Charlie
Arctic Cannon Beetle -
Snowballs are an ingeniously nonlethal weapon! I'm in love with a design that effectively keeps predators away without overdoing it. Full marks. - Alph
When I saw this one spitting snowballs and sending Pikmin rolling, I thought it looked like a good time. So I walked right into its line of fire, waved my arms to catch its attention, and waited for the fun to start. But all I got was dizzy. - Brittany
They're more annoying than dangerous, but if you want to avoid the pushback from their rolling snowballs, it's just a matter of fancy footwork. Float like a skitter leaf, sting like a scornet! Remember to do your warm-up exercises first! You wouldn't want to get a Charlie horse! Ha!- Captain Charlie
Armoured Cannon Larva -
It's able to handle heavy rocks, so it's strong, and it has expert aim, so it's clever. If it was better armoured, it would be unstoppable. - Alph
This thing eats rocks the way I eat fruit: its stomach is always full and it likes to spit out the seeds. - Brittany
It spews rocks as well as any heavy artillery I've ever seen. Since we didn't bring any heavy artillery with us, I'd love to use this thing as a substitute. The trick will be figuring out how to lure our enemies into its line of fire. - Captain Charlie
Firesnout Beetle -
Why do so many models on this planet shoot fire? It's a powerful element, yes, but it's been done before. I almost wonder if the designers were running out of ideas. I mean, shooting rocks/snowballs is so unique and then this model goes right back to fire again! - Alph
I'm getting sick of all these projectiles. Why is it always projectiles with this planet?! I don't think it's very fair, seeing as we can only pull off hand-to-hand combat, but then some creatures are literally raining fiery death upon us! - Brittany
I hope you've got some red on your team, or you'll struggle against this opponent. Sure, fire is easier to deal with than boulders, but never underestimate this planet! … Only on this planet would a creature shooting out fire be considered an 'easier' opponent. - Captain Charlie
Author Notes - I've probably done it before and just forgot, but I think this is the first time I've combined the notes from the American and European versions. Specifically, Charlie's notes on the Arctic Beetle.
Next time, we have another single-membered family to balance this one out - the majestic Mamutas!
