Pileated Snagret

Pileated Snagret
Appears in	Pikmin 2
Scientific name	Shiropedes ambulatria
Family	Snavian
Areas	None
Caves	Snagret Hole, Hole of Heroes
Challenge Mode stages	Rumbling Grotto
2-Player Battle stages	None
Attacks	Eats Pikmin

The Pileated Snagret is a larger and more powerful species of the Snavian family. It has a green scaly body, and a much larger head, which is coloured with red feathers. It is called 'pileated' because it has a crest of feathers on its head. Its eyes are also covered by some ear-like features. This Snagret is definitely more powerful, as it has a lot more health, and it is able to walk on the ground. It is also much taller than the slightly more common Burrowing Snagret.

This makes it very hard to hurt it by throwing Pikmin onto it. However, Purple Pikmin are the best choice, because it is still possible to throw them on there with good aim, but an ultra-spicy spray is strongly advised so that they can run fast enough and cause enough damage. The reason Purple Pikmin are great here is that when the creature emerges from the ground, the Purples will make the Snavian 'bounce', like in most cases of enemies, and in the small seconds of those bounces, the Pikmin attached to the Snavian will deal damage, and then it will probably return to the ground without eating any Pikmin. Sometimes, it may get stunned, making it extremely vulnerable. When this tactic is repeated, it should be easy to defeat this creature. As a side note, its cousin, the Burrowing Snagret, can't be stunned because it is attached to the ground.

Another, safer, yet more time-consuming strategy, is to run around and wait for the Pileated Snagret to emerge. Every now and then, the Snagret will have trouble coming out of the ground (similar to the Burrowing Snagret). Toss the Pikmin on it during this time. When it fully emerges, it'll be too weak to attack, and burrow underground again. Repeat until the creature dies. Of course, the creature can always be petrified when the head is emerging, even when it is not having trouble getting out, making it possible to attack the head easily.

The Pileated Snagret is found only in Pikmin 2. It can only be found on Sublevel 7 of the Snagret Hole, Sublevel 4 of the Hole of Heroes, and the last (2) sublevel of the Rumbling Grotto in Challenge Mode.

If a Pikmin stands directly where the Pileated Snagret dives into the ground, the Pikmin will be taken under the ground, and will die with the sound as if it were thrown off into an abyss. Sometimes the Pikmin will make the sound, but will not die. This is most likely because they were shoved into the ground, and then knocked back by the Snagret's foot at the same time, saving them.

Notes

Olimar's notes

“This variety of snagret has the ability to both burrow underground and walk above it. Its earthy red coloration and distinct yellow ear and eye markings make it immediately recognizable. Despite featuring a chimeralike merging of serpent and avian features, the pileated snagret has poor eyesight for a bird, perhaps due to extended periods spent underground. To compensate for this, its nose features a thermal-sensing organ common to many snakes, making it a dangerously effective hunter.”

Louie's notes

“You haven't lived until you've tasted a mint-braised snagret shank! Or if you're feeling especially saucy, stuff a bird with a can of your favorite savory nectar, throw it on the barbeque, and let the juices mingle to make a mean beverage-canister snagret!”

Glitch

Select the Valley of Repose on the area select screen, then switch to the Piklopedia. Wait until the scenes displaying the enemies reach sunset, then switch to the Pileated Snagret. When it digs out of the ground, it hops around inside the hill instead of on top of it. A video can be seen here.

Gallery

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  Concept art of a Pileated Snagret.