 Item Number – SCP-218 Object Class – Euclid Special Containment Procedures – SCP-218 is contained within a standard aquatic specimen tank, saltwater. Tank maintenance is to be carried out by remote drone only. No further procedures are required. Description – SCP-218 is a predatory colonial organism, weighing approximately 1,800 kilograms, consisting of several hundred parasitic lampreys of the family Petromyzon today, designated Petromyzon animalus. Individual Petromyzon animalus specimens average between 50 and 90 centimeters in length and are similar in appearance to the common sea lamprey, Petromyzon marinas, with the primary exception of complex ultraviolet spectrum skin pattering. The lampreys can break off from the primary mass and move under their own power, acting similar to non-anomalous specimens. These modal units will remain in the vicinity of SCP-218's primary body until captured and eaten by colony members. The central mass of SCP-218 contains the organism's primary organs, as well as a muscular foot for locomotion. SCP-218 is capable of surviving out of the water for up to an hour, though it is greatly inhibited in mobility. Modal units of SCP-218 produce a paralyzing toxin, applied by bite or through the lamprey's mucus sheath. This toxin inhibits locomotor muscles and will numb the target to pain. All other internal and mental processes will continue unaffected. The paralyzing effect has not been observed to dissipate, and no effective counter-agent has yet been discovered. Early observation led researchers to believe that SCP-218 reproduced through the parasitic implantation of modal units into a host body. This behavior has since been determined to be a typical feeding behavior, where numerous modal units will burrow within the body of still-living prey for upwards of 48 hours before normal consumption resumes. Addendum 1. Physical examination of SCP-218 shortly after containment revealed that the primary mass contained several foreign objects, preserved within the main body cavity, SCP-218 was removed from its containment tank and tranquilized to allow for surgery. Objects removed from SCP-218 include 33 pearls, averaging 3 cm in diameter. Holes bored through each indicate that they were previously part of a necklace, one dolphin figurine carved out of smoothed coral, two gold bracelets. Four bone hairpins, one tortoise shell hair comb, one bone figurine of SCP-218, show signs of heavy wear through handling. One human skeleton, being that of a female child, estimated to be between 4 and 6 years of age. Skeleton was similar to chalk in consistency and embedded with 135 pearls. Scapula believed to be that of a red deer, engraved with three humanoid figures, two adults, and one child, presumed to be the subject and parents. Both the skeleton and artifacts state to approximately 7,500 BCE, though do not resemble the artifacts of other Neolithic groups in the region of recovery. Addendum 2. SCP-218's behavior became significantly more agitated after removal of the aforementioned objects. SCP-218 would repeatedly beat against the walls of its tank, or attempt to scale them. When one of the hairpins was placed back in the containment tank, SCP-218 used one of its colony members as a manipulator to retrieve the pin, and then place it back inside its central cavity, through the means of a large sphincter. This dorsal sphincter was not present until the removal of the body and artifacts. Lesson complete. If you missed the previous orientation, go watch SCP-217, The Clockwork Virus, right now. Or for the complete course, watch this playlist.