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[[Image:Dinosaurs.jpg|thumb|300px|Some Thorn Beasts being passed by [[Marines]].]]
The '''thorn beasts''' are creatures used as food by the [[Covenant]], and [[Jiralhanae]] in particular. Named for the five "thorns" that ridge their backs, they are docile herd animals, and may have been domesticated for consumption. Their head and neck contain high concentrations of neurotoxins, likely a defensive adaptation against predators that go for the head or neck to kill.<ref>'''[[Halo: Contact Harvest]]''', ''page 195''</ref>
[[Image:ThornBeastHW.png|thumb|300px|Thorn Beast in an early version of ''[[Halo Wars]]''. The concept of wildlife in-game was cut before release.]]


The '''thorn beasts''' are used as food by the [[Covenant]], and [[Jiralhanae]] in particular. They appear to be docile herd animals, and may have been domesticated for consumption. Their head and neck contain high concentrations of neurotoxins, likely a defensive adaptation against predators that go for the head or neck to kill.<ref>'''[[Contact Harvest]]''', ''page 195''</ref>  
[[Jiralhanae]] seem especially partial for the animal. Chieftain [[Maccabeus]] enjoyed eating the ball of muscle under the smallest of the five thorns that ridge its back when it was properly prepared, and the [[Brute Army Commander]] enjoyed it immensely, saying that it was "both an appetizer and dessert". The Jiralhanae prefer the thorn beast as served back up, showing its five spikes and its legs splayed forward. The head and neck is cut off, due to the high amount of neurotoxins. The thorn beast's entrails are often reduced into dipping sauces. Given the Jiralhanae's enjoyment of the animal, it may have originated on [[Doisac]]. When the Jiralhanae vessel ''[[Valorous Salvation]]'' landed on [[Beta Gabriel]] and the Jiralhanae began hunting the humans there, it was noted that one Brute named [[Golubus|Brother Golubus]] came close to making the fatter humans taste like thorn beast.<ref>'''[[Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe]]''', "[[Stomping on the Heels of a Fuss]]"</ref>


Thorn beasts were originally meant to appear in ''[[Halo: Combat Evolved]]'', but were cut from the final game. They were also originally meant to appear in ''[[Halo Wars]]''. The game developers stated that they would have reacted to units and battles around them. In the videos however, they merely ran away from units, not battles; if there was a bombing next to it, it wouldn't have flinched. However, since the videos were made as the game was still in development, this lack of a reaction may have been changed for a more real gaming experience if the creature would have made the final cut. Its first ''canonical'' appearance was in ''[[Halo: Contact Harvest]]'', where it is consumed by a Jiralhanae pack. In the book Contact Harvest, it is described that thorn beast is served back up, showing its five spikes and its legs splayed forward. The head and neck is cut off, due to the high amount of neurotoxins.  
==Production notes==
Thorn beasts were originally meant to appear in ''[[Halo: Combat Evolved]]'', but were cut from the final game. The thorn beasts were going to be rideable creatures for [[Marine]]s before they were cut for AI issues. They were also originally meant to appear in ''[[Halo Wars]]''. The game developers stated that they would have reacted to units and battles around them. In the videos however, they merely ran away from units, not battles; if there was a bombing next to it, it wouldn't have flinched. However, since the videos were made as the game was still in development, this lack of a reaction may have been changed for a more real gaming experience if the creature would have made the final cut. Its first ''canonical'' appearance was in ''[[Halo: Contact Harvest]]'', where it is consumed by a Jiralhanae pack.


==Trivia==
==Gallery==
*The thorn beast gets its name from the five "thorns" that ridge its back.
<gallery>
*Because they are served as food, it is possible that they were kept at the agricultural ship ''[[Infinite Succor]]'', and perhaps the deranged, half-infected creature seen by the Spec Ops Elites moments before being consumed by the [[Flood]] was in fact a thorn beast.
File:Dinosaurs.jpg|Some thorn beasts being passed by [[Marines]] in the [[Halo E3 2000 trailer|''Halo: Combat Evolved'' E3 2000 trailer]].
*The thorn beast's entrails could be reduced into dipping sauces.
File:ThornBeastHW.png|Thorn beast in an early version of ''[[Halo Wars]]''. The concept of wildlife in-game was cut before release.
*[[Jiralhanae]] seem especially partial for the animal. Chieftain [[Maccabeus]] enjoyed eating the ball of muscle under the smallest of the five thorns that ridge its back when it was properly prepared, and the [[Brute Army Commander]] enjoyed it immensely, saying that it was "both an appetizer and dessert". Given the Jiralhanae's enjoyment of the animal, it may have originated on [[Doisac]].
</gallery>
*The thorn beasts were going to be rideable creatures for [[Marine]]s before they were cut for AI issues.
*When the Jiralhanae vessel ''[[Valorous Salvation]]'' landed on [[Beta Gabriel]] and the Jiralhanae began hunting the humans there, it was noted that one Brute named [[Golubus|Brother Golubus]] came close to making the fatter humans taste like thorn beast.<ref>'''[[Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe]]''', "[[Stomping on the Heels of a Fuss]]"</ref>


==List of appearances==
==List of appearances==

Revision as of 02:17, July 8, 2013

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The thorn beasts are creatures used as food by the Covenant, and Jiralhanae in particular. Named for the five "thorns" that ridge their backs, they are docile herd animals, and may have been domesticated for consumption. Their head and neck contain high concentrations of neurotoxins, likely a defensive adaptation against predators that go for the head or neck to kill.[1]

Jiralhanae seem especially partial for the animal. Chieftain Maccabeus enjoyed eating the ball of muscle under the smallest of the five thorns that ridge its back when it was properly prepared, and the Brute Army Commander enjoyed it immensely, saying that it was "both an appetizer and dessert". The Jiralhanae prefer the thorn beast as served back up, showing its five spikes and its legs splayed forward. The head and neck is cut off, due to the high amount of neurotoxins. The thorn beast's entrails are often reduced into dipping sauces. Given the Jiralhanae's enjoyment of the animal, it may have originated on Doisac. When the Jiralhanae vessel Valorous Salvation landed on Beta Gabriel and the Jiralhanae began hunting the humans there, it was noted that one Brute named Brother Golubus came close to making the fatter humans taste like thorn beast.[2]

Production notes

Thorn beasts were originally meant to appear in Halo: Combat Evolved, but were cut from the final game. The thorn beasts were going to be rideable creatures for Marines before they were cut for AI issues. They were also originally meant to appear in Halo Wars. The game developers stated that they would have reacted to units and battles around them. In the videos however, they merely ran away from units, not battles; if there was a bombing next to it, it wouldn't have flinched. However, since the videos were made as the game was still in development, this lack of a reaction may have been changed for a more real gaming experience if the creature would have made the final cut. Its first canonical appearance was in Halo: Contact Harvest, where it is consumed by a Jiralhanae pack.

Gallery

List of appearances

Sources

  1. ^ Halo: Contact Harvest, page 195
  2. ^ Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe, "Stomping on the Heels of a Fuss"
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