Plated Beetle

A Plated Beetle looks like a very large Beetle with a large armored head impervous to any weapon. However, its abdomen is totally unprotected and vulnerable. In order to prevent this area from being attacked, the Plated Beetle will attempt to keep its target in front of itself. The first one encountered is the guardian of the Morph Ball, along with a pack of normal Beetles. They then appear as normal enemies later in the game when Samus has acquired more powerful weaponry.

Logbook entry

 * Metroid Prime: "Plated Beetle, well armored burrowing insect. Vulnerable only in the rear abdomen. Creature’s thick cranial plating can repel frontal attacks. This gives it an advantage in combat, allowing it to make ramming attacks. Only surfacing when it detects vibrations above, it then maneuvers itself so as to always face its rival, keeping its exposed abdomen protected."

Battle
The Plated Beetle appears after a large swarm of Beetles. They will ram Samus with their large frontal horns, but this can be evaded with a dash, exposing the creature's weak point to attack. Later on in the game it appears as a regular enemy in certain areas which previously held beetles and can be killed nearly instantly with the Flamethrower or Wavebuster.

Samus will earn the Morph Ball after she defeats this beetle.

Trivia

 * If killed by a Charge Combo other than Super Missiles, the death animation is much different.
 * The Wavebuster will cause it to glow with the Wave Beam's electrical charge and have a seizure.


 * When killed with the Plasma Beam, the death animation is also different, showing the creature burn into ashes like most creatures killed by the Plasma Beam.
 * The Plated Beetle's theme was remixed for the Parasite Purge and Burrower Bash minigames in Metroid Prime Pinball.