Zoanthrope

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Zoanthropes are a species of Tyranid, in effect a type of psychic artillery, used in Tyranid planetary invasions. Their highly evolved brains swell out of proportion with their bodies, giving the rest of their bodies the appearance of atrophy and frailty. Through their use of psychic powers they can perform a number of roles on the battlefield.

Originally believed to be a mutant strain of Tyranid Warrior^1-p.23 due to the close physical resemblance, more recent encounters with the Zoanthrope strain have reported a different physical structure apparently engineered by the harvesting of lifeforms present in the path of the Hive Fleets. Various evidence points to these later incarnations of Zoanthropes being improved by Eldar DNA.² Zoanthropes have atrophied bodies and limbs but, energised by psychic forces, they appear to levitate, drifting over the battlefield. They also seem to be synapse creatures, relaying the commands of the Hive Mind to lesser creatures.

Despite their seeming frailty, Zoanthropes are lethal opponents. Zoanthropes possess batteries of psychic power they can use to both defend themselves and launch assaults that are powerful enough to destroy enemy battle tanks.¹ However, Zoanthropes are predisposed to sedentary behavior, a stance adopted to conserve their psychic power, when not in the presence of the Hive Mind.³

A Zoanthrope

Ordo Xenos Departmento Analyticus Record
Designation	Zoanthrope
Common Title	Brain
Species Name	Tyranicus animus-aborrens
Average Height	3.5m
Average Weight	0.5 tonnes
First encountered	Moloch
Role	Psychic assault
Threat evaluation	High