Zoanthrope
From Lexicanum
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 Warrior1-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. Batteries of psychic power, they can use their abilities to both defend themselves and launch assaults that are powerful enough to destroy enemy battle tanks.1
| 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 | ||
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