Whirligigas

Whirligigas is a Neopteron that greatly resembles water beetles and utilizes bubbles in battle.

Physiology
Whirligigas greatly resembles whirligig beetles, having a smooth, waxy shell, short, plump antennae that are placed at water level, curved mandibles, long forelegs designed to grip prey, and flat, bristled middle and hind legs designed for swimming. Its main body is bright red, and its limbs are jet-black. It has four large compound eyes, two on the top of its head that allow it to see anything above it, and two on the bottom of its head that allow it to see anything below it. Its front legs have three long, hook-like claws that allow it to grip prey and mates alike.

Behavior
Whirligigas is both a predator and a scavenger, using the claws on its long forelegs to grip its prey before killing them with a bite to the head or crushing them with an iron grip, and males of the species will use them to hold onto females so they can mate. They sometimes appear in groups to maximize protection against predators, though hungry individuals will often break apart from said groups to avoid competing for food, and males will leave the groups when they reach sexual maturity so they can find mates. When angered or scared, it will spin rapidly in circles, and it can use this to its advantage, creating whirlpools to ensnare targets or firing bubbles at them from all directions.

Abilities
Whirligigas is able to breathe bubbles and hold them in place with its elytra, using them as a source of air. Its long, clawed forelegs allow it to grip targets with ease, and its middle and hind legs allow it to quickly swim away from predators if attacked. Its habit of spinning rapidly in circles can produce whirlpools, and it can couple the spinning with its bubble and water breath to trip up its attackers. It is fast and agile, using its fast swimming speed to overwhelm opponents, and it fly for a short amount of time, which gives it another method of escape.

Habitat
Whirligigas is encountered in the Deserted Island and the Flooded Forest.

Attacks
Foreleg Swipe

Whirligigas swims towards the hunter and swings its forelegs at them. This attack deals low-medium damage.

Flying Swipe

Whirligigas takes to the air, then swoops in on the hunter. This attack deals low-medium damage. It cannot use this attack in areas that are completely submerged.

Pin

Whirligigas rears its forelegs back, then does a hugging motion with them, dealing low damage. It will then pin the hunter, holding them in place with its forelegs while biting them, dealing low damage with every bite. If the hunter fails to escape in time, it will use its Water Blast attack on them.

Water Ball

Whirligigas spits a ball of water at the hunter. This attack deals low-medium damage and inflicts Waterblight.

Bubble Beam

Whirligigas spits a large number of bubbles at the hunter. This attack deals no damage, but inflicts the Bubble condition.

Whirlpool Spin

When enraged, Whirligigas will spin in place, summoning a whirlpool around it. This attack deals medium damage, inflicts Waterblight, and depletes the hunter's oxygen meter.

Water Ball Spin

When enraged, Whirligigas will spin in place, spitting balls of water from all directions. This attack deals low damage if hit by the body and low-medium damage along with Waterblight if hit by the water balls.

Bubble Spin

When enraged, Whirligigas will spin in place, spitting large clusters of bubbles from all directions. This attack deals low damage if hit by the body and deals no damage but inflicts the Bubble condition if hit by the bubbles.

Trivia

 * Whirligigas is based on whirligig beetles, a species of water beetle that gets their name from their habit of swimming rapidly in circles when alarmed.
 * Whirligigas' name is a portmanteau of whirligig and gigas.
 * Whirligigas' colouration is based on cardinals, who are often used as a basis for whirligigs modeled after birds.
 * Whirligigas never goes on land, forcing hunters to use Shock Traps if they wish to capture it.