Cacatac

Cacatacs are a group of cactus-like mobile flora found living within Brinstar on the planet Zebes. While they are exclusive to Brinstar, they cannot be found throughout it, and although they mainly prefer to spend their lives within Lower Brinstar, they can be found in a corner of Upper Brinstar, as well. Two species or subspecies appear to exist - one seen as green and another seen as red in color.

They are covered in thorns that are so sharp that they can even pierce Chozo armor, and if touching a Cacatac and getting pricked wasn't bad enough, they seem to sense vibrations in both the ground and the air, and will fire their thorns as deadly projectiles at trespassing foes; these are fired in a "death blossom", covering as much area around them as possible. They have a frighteningly fast regenerative ability when it comes to these weapons, and can (and will) regenerate them immediately after firing to prepare for another volley.

It appears that they reproduce sexually using some species of pollinator, as they produce flowers which would serve no other obvious purpose. Considering that they exist in Brinstar, it is not a leap to assume that one or both of the local flying Mellow or Zeb may fill the niche of bees, pollinating the multitude of subterranean flora in existence in the area.