Tallon Metroid

Tallon Metroids are a fictional race of energy-draining predators from the Metroid Prime series. They are smaller and weaker than normal metroids, but they feed on the life energy of their prey in the same manner as other metroids. As their name implies, they originated on Tallon IV.

Differences between Tallon and True Metroids
Although no difference between the Tallon metroids of the Prime series and the metroids that appear in 2-D games is ever stated in canon, the differences are appearent to anyone who's played both genres. Tallon metroids are much smaller than other Metroids, for one thing, and take damage when a bomb is used to shake them off. In addition, Tallon metroids can be destroyed by conventional weaponry, though they can take a beating before being destroyed. When a Tallon metroid is frozen, it only takes one missile to destroy it. Normal metroids are immune to all weapons but the ice beam, and once frozen, they require five missiles to destroy. Though a bomb could shake them off, it didn't do any damage. It is possible that genetic engineering by the space pirates or else exposure to phazon caused these differences.

Life Cycle
The life cycle of a Tallon metroid is far different from that of a normal metroid, which, after hatching from an egg, go through the normal, alpha, gamma, zeta, and omega phases.

Cocoon
Tallon Metroids start life as infants in cocoons. The cocoons are used by the Space Pirates to substain the metroids and transport them. A cocoon can support numerous infants for several cycles, and the Metroids are usually content to remain in the cocoons as long as necessary. If they sense Phazon, however, they emerge to seek it.

Infant
Infant Tallon metroids are used by the Space Pirates as an energy source. The creatures are small and docile when compared with adult Tallon metroids, making them efficient organic batteries. Exposure to Phazon will cause the infants to age rapidly and reach adulthood in a matter of seconds.

Adult
Though this is not the actual adult stage, Tallon Metroids spend most of their lives in this form. Adult tallon metroids are the most common variety of metroids from the Prime series, and are the most similar to the true metroids from the sidescrolling games. The Space Pirates enslave the Tallon metroids as energy sources, especially by exposing them to Phazon ennergy. A free Tallon metroid attacks by latching onto its target with its pincers and proceeding to drain all the energy from its prey. A morph ball bomb will cause them to detach. They are vulnerable to all types of weaponry, but are particularily weak to the chilling effects of cold and dark energy.

Hunter
Hunter Metroids are adult Tallon metroids. They have become more efficient at energy draining than younger Tallon metroids, having developed an energy-siphon tentacle that enables them to attack from a distance, increasing their threat level. The new tentacle also disables bombs from affecting them. The disadvantage to this tentacle is that a target can still attack the metroid while being drained, and, if they are equipped with a cold-based weapon like the Ice Beam, that means the end for the Metroid.