Author Notes - Does anyone really know what the deal with the 'Burrowing Snarrow' is? It's mentioned in the Pikmin games, and yet we never see it. Olimar's notes imply that it isn't especially rare, so what gives? Well, maybe Pikmin 4 will finally provide official answers. And if it does, I'm gonna have to edit this page.
HEY DID YOU KNOW THAT PIKMIN 4 HAD BEEN ANNOU-
SNAVIAN FAMILY
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Reptilia
Class: Squamata
Order: Snapentes
EMILY'S PERSONAL NOTES
I love birds. And I love snakes. If you think that I'd like to see them combined… you are absolutely right. This family is awesome! I mean, a snake combined with a bird? How could you NOT love it?!
This expedition finally gave me the perfect opportunity to answer the 'burrowing snarrow' mystery. See, the 'snarrow' has never been seen by anyone except Captain Olimar (or at least it feels that way), and he never wrote any detailed notes about it. So when I came to this planet, it was one of my highest priorities. And now… the mystery has been solved! Spoilers, it's basically the same thing but white. ... ISN'T THAT COOL?!
PHYSICAL APPEARANCES
All members of this family share the same basic appearance: their bodies are long and serpentine, covered in scales of a singular colour with a single clawed foot at the end. Their heads, in contrast to their bodies, are covered in feathers. The mouths are like the breaks of birds, while the eyes are closer to those of snakes. The only major difference between the two species is their colour.
The Shiropedes anacondii (Burrowing Snagret) has white feathers and a body lined with deep blue scales. The Shiropedes albidus (Burrowing Snarrow) highly resembles its Snagret cousin, but its scales are a light shade of grey instead. The Shiropedes ambulatria (Pileated Snagret) has green scales and a gorgeous red plumage.
HABITAT
Snagrets and Snarrows are found all over PNF-404, but it may not be clear at first that they are in the area. All members of this family spend most of their life burrowed a few feet into the earth, even when found deep underground. The climates and depths of which they can be found vary greatly. As long as there is soft dirt or snow for a Snavian to dig through, it can live anywhere.
Pileated Snagrets are much rarer than their burrowing counterparts. Though Burrowing Snagrets can be found near the surface, the Pileated variant can only be found deep underground; the highest sublevel it has been found is the fourth 'floor'. Snarrows are plentiful, but typically live far away from all known explored areas thus far.
DIET AND DEFENCES
The diet of Snavians is much like that of true birds, albeit with a widely different hunting method. They burrow through the ground and consume any bugs that happen to fall into their beak. If they sense prey on the surface, they will emerge and pick the bugs off from above. Only the Pileated Snagret is capable of fully emerging from the ground, whereupon it will hop around on its one foot much like a kangaroo.
Their eyesight is rather poor, likely due to their subterranean habitat. They instead hunt using a thermal-sensing organ much like those found in true snakes. Their scales are extremely durable and take minimal damage to any sort of attack, leaving only their head vulnerable.
SOCIAL STRUCTURE
Snavians can be solitary or in groups. Those found by themselves are typically males in search of compatible mates, though solitary females are not unheard of. They usually group together, close to the nearest Pileated Snagrets. This Pileated Snagret functions as a leader of sorts, leading its flock to wherever it chooses to go. Lesser Snavians will often bring it food as a sign of trust, though there is no obligation to do so.
COURTING AND CHILDREARING
When unrelated males and females meet, they will wind their bodies together in a spiral. Think of the snakes on the hospital logo. If they enjoy this act, they will have children together. Much like other birds/reptiles, the female will lay eggs. Typically up to 3-5. She digs a small burrow in the ground and keeps her 'tail' wrapped around the eggs until they hatch.
The hatchlings lack feathers or the ability to properly feed themselves, so the mother has to regurgitate food for them for several weeks. Fathers often leave for long periods of time to hunt, but will always return to see his partner until the day he dies.
OTHER NOTES
The current classification of this species belonging in the Squamata order is due to change, since its hybrid nature makes definitive classification inherently difficult.
NOTES FROM OTHER RESEARCHERS
Burrowing Snagret -
Its bulk and speed make it a very fearsome model. It's very difficult to retrieve a Pikmin once it's snapped one up in its beak. However, if you can dodge its beak as it comes down, the beak's sharpness works against it as it gets stuck in the soil. That leaves the head wide open to be pelted with Pikmin as fast as you can. - Alph
I've never seen the bottom half of one of these. I have all sorts of ideas about what might be under there. It could be a long snake tail, or a big, plump body stuck underground. Or maybe, below the neck, it looks just like us. - Brittany (Emily's Notes: What the heck do you mean? You've SEEN the corpse, haven't you?)
Now, I get that it's big, and that big things are scary. But that twisty neck can't twist all the way around, so all you have to do is get behind it. Once you're there, pour on the Winged Pikmin, and you're golden! - Captain Charlie
Burrowing Snarrow -
So this is the infamous Snarrow that Mr Olimar spoke so much of! Those snow-white scales are certainly an interesting change, though it doesn't really accomplish much outside of camouflage in snowy areas. Still, it's great to finally meet one! - Alph
I have mixed thoughts on this one. One could argue that the greyish scales are so boring and drab compared to the bright vibrant blue of the other one. Yet, it has a simple and pleasant look to it. The only problem is that it's a bit of a disappointment after so long… - Brittany
It may look different, but it's much like its blue brother. … Sister? … The same strategy works just the same. This guy's a little faster, but all that requires is a quicker reaction time! And my reaction time is LIGHTNING fast. - Captain Charlie
Pileated Snagret -
This was an evolution I wasn't expecting! I knew the Snavians had a foot at the end of their bodies, but I didn't think I'd see a Snagret hopping around the place! It's a much more effective hunter like this, and its weak spot is way harder to reach. This might be as close to a perfect model as you can get on this planet. - Alph
ARRRRRGH! Why? Just, why? I didn't mind the other guys because they're always rooted to the same spot, but then THIS ONE shows up and ruins everything! I've had enough panic attacks while exploring this planet, and this isn't helping! - Brittany
This bird/snake/whatever is a… feisty one. I can't get a hit! Even the Winged Pikmin struggle to keep up with its wild hopping. If I could just get it to stop moving for a moment, then maybe I could… WAIT, DON'T DO THA-! - Captain Charlie
Author Notes - I hate Pileated Snagrets, due to highly personal reasons that have to do with Zero-Death runs. It took me... what, FORTY ATTEMPTS!? Anyway, off to the family whose name is really fun to say: SPITTERSPATTER!
