Author Notes - Oh boy, another plant that I talk about as if it's actually an animal! Then again, Pikmin is well known for blurring the lines between plant and animal, so maybe we shouldn't be surprised.

MIRECLOPS FAMILY

Kingdom: Plantae
Phylum: Tracheophytes
Class: Angiosperms
Order: Asterales

EMILY'S PERSONAL NOTES

Oh god, we're REALLY talking with this guy! Now, I'm pretty sure the Arachorbs and maybe the Pileated Snagret are taller, but in terms of general bulk this guy outshines them all. It is simply massive, more than even this Koppaite could imagine. I have to wonder what the other critters think of this beast. Seeing as its territories are always empty, I wouldn't be surprised if everyone else was terrified of it.

PHYSICAL APPEARANCES

The Trestripods gigahenum (Quaggled Mireclops) is impossible to mistake for any other creature, due to its massive size compared to anything else in the ecosystem. It appears to be a piece of land that came to life, walking around on three thick and root-like legs. The grasses and flowers that grow on its body are not merely decoration, and are indeed real plants.

At the top of its 'head' is a fruit-like appendage. This functions as the creature's brain. It resembles an upside-down Sunseed Berry in shape and colour, though is significantly bigger. It has three small eyes attached by thin stem-like growths. This appendage is what controls the entire creature, and is arguably the real Mireclops.

HABITAT

Mireclopses are very rare creatures, but their presence is always obvious. They reside in forests loaded with nutrients. If they have been living in the area for any sizable amount of time, one will find it laying dormant in the middle of a muddy field. This field is due to it absorbing the life out of every other plant in the area.

DIET AND DEFENCES

The Mireclops can gather nutrients in two different ways: catching prey or draining the environment. When it chooses a place to stay, it will dig its root-like legs into the ground and drain the surrounding area of nutrients. Its effect on the ecosystem is so intense, removing it would result in a massive improvement. It also consumes small insects, attracting them with its fruit-like head and surprising them with its massive (and colourful) tongue. Any insects it manages to catch will be dissolved into base compounds. Its sole weak spot, its fruit-like body, is covered in a thick coat of crystal to protect it.

It has very few, if any, natural enemies. Its sheer size and powerful tongue terrify most animals, and those that attempt to take it on rarely get very far. Its body is made of solid earth that is hard for most predators to get through, and its only weak spot is covered by a crystal. Its feet, however, are vulnerable to attack. If its feet are attacked enough, the Mireclops will fall over and allow for a quick getaway.

SOCIAL STRUCTURE

Mireclopses, due to their extreme diets, are essentially required to be solitary creatures. They cannot share territories, as two Mireclopses in one area would drain each other of vitality. So, they are forced to stay away from each other. Their interactions with others of their kind are far from aggressive, however. On the contrary, on the rare occasions they encounter each other, they exhibit friendly behaviour. A common greeting is for them to press one of their legs together, like a handshake of sorts.

COURTING AND CHILDREARING

The reproduction of Mireclopses is much like that of plants, and members of the Chrysanthemum family. Once a year, when it turns to spring, all Mireclopses will plant themselves into the ground and release pollen into the air. This pollen attaches to other Mireclopses, and allows them to create and spread seeds. Seeds and pollen are typically spread by the wind or various animals, and will sprout entirely new Mireclopses if they survive the journey.

The reproduction rate of this family is surprisingly low. An individual Mireclops will only make up to three seeds a year. This low rate of reproducing appears to be the only thing stopping them from completely taking over any given ecosystem.

OTHER NOTES

The 'body' of the Mireclops isn't actually the real creature. It's merely what the 'appendage' has latched onto and controls. Due to this, its appearance may change wildly depending on the individual. For instance, some Mireclops may have five legs while others only have one.

NOTES FROM OTHER RESEARCHERS

Quaggled Mireclops -

I thought it was an ordinary fruit trapped in crystal until it started stomping around the bog. Its stony hull is invulnerable to damage everywhere except its toes. If you can hit them enough, it'll fall over and leave its fruit-like bulb open to attack. But even then, it has a fallback mechanism in the form of its huge tongue. When it starts shaking, it's best to back away unless you have Winged Pikmin to send after it. - Alph

Its giant head perplexes me. I know now that it's not a Sunseed Berry, but what is it? A plant? An animal? I thought I'd figure it out once I tasted it, but the captain snapped at me not to lick everything we fight. How else am I supposed to do science?! - Brittany (Emily's Notes - I wouldn't recommend it. Lick the wrong thing one time, and you'll have a swollen tongue for weeks.)

I don't like doing it, but I had to put my foot down when Brittany tried to taste its brightly coloured core. (Talk about forbidden fruit!) I must put the safety of my crew before their research, and I don't know where that thing's been. - Captain Charlie

Author Notes - I'm pretty sure everyone who was playing Pikmin 3 blind for the first time had the daylights scared out of them. But the Mireclops is one of the best bosses in Pikmin history, so I think it's worth it.

After this, it's only two more entries to go! The Wraith family, and a special secret family that you already know is the Pikmin family so I don't know why I'm bothering with this bit.