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Registered Phenomena Code: 076
Object Class: Beta-Yellow
Hazard Types:Additional Properties: | Aggression | Grouped | Sentient | Organic |
Containment Protocols: All RPC-076 specimens1 are contained in a 10m x 10m x 5m terrarium located within Site-031-1. This enclosure is surrounded by four glass walls and is positioned in the center of an observation area. RPC-076 is to be fed every two days by any available personnel, who should remain at the enclosure's entrance. In addition to the diet outlined in Document S031-14, a live rabbit is to be released into the chamber every week to observe hunting behaviors.
UPDATE 12/19/████: Following Incident 076-3, personnel are prohibited from entering RPC-076's enclosure. Food should be dispensed through the newly-installed hatch on the enclosure's far wall. If RPC-076 becomes aggressive, this hatch and the main door must be closed and bolted shut. Reclassification of RPC-076 to Beta-Orange is currently being considered.
Description: RPC-076 is a colony of Geosesarma dennerle2 capable of shedding and re-attaching segments of their limbs at will. Though they are incapable of regrowing lost limbs, RPC-076 are capable of using parts from other specimens or non-anomalous Geosesarma dennerle as replacements. In addition to these physical abnormalities, RPC-076 display a tendency towards cooperation atypical of their species and will live and travel in groups. This behavior only extends towards other RPC-076 instances, and encounters with their non-anomalous counterparts result in mutual hostility and often physical conflict. If an RPC-076 emerges from such an altercation victorious, it will remove and assimilate its opponent's appendages.
Limbs acquired by RPC-076 through previously described conflict or willing donation from other specimens can be used to extend an instance's limbs indefinitely. In doing so, RPC-076 instances may construct themselves into biological snares, with the end goal of capturing birds and small mammals for consumption. Food acquired in this manner is distributed among all instances involved, be it through donation of segments or by assisting in the hunting process.
Below is an abridged list of hunting techniques used by RPC-076. The target in all cases is a single Oryctolagus cuniculus3.
Addendum 076-1: Incident 076-3
On 12/17/████, CSD-16318 entered RPC-076's enclosure in violation of feeding protocols and was attacked by several RPC-076 instances. Instead of their usual reactive hunting methods, RPC-076 specimens made use of elongated limbs to assault CSD-16318, prioritizing the face, throat, and joints. Though CSD-16318 escaped mostly unharmed, the incident resulted in 8 RPC-076 instances escaping the enclosure. Full recontainment was accomplished after 40 minutes.
Addendum 076-2:
Following Incident 076-3, personnel have reported odd behavior that I believe warrants further investigation, if not additional caution. Specifically, those outside the enclosure have noticed a single RPC-076 specimen seemingly observing them, occasionally tapping against the glass. Others have claimed that specimens will cease all movement whenever they enter the observation room.
Additionally, several specimens have been left in the far corner of the enclosure, all lacking limbs. This coincides with a recent increase in the population of RPC-076, which has risen from 46 to at least 70 in just four months.
Even though we have contained RPC-076, we do not fully understand RPC-076. And while RPC-076 collectively seems content with its current conditions, events such as Incident 076-3 indicate that this contentment is tenuous at best.
-Dr. Banks