 Item number SCP-371 Object Class Euclid Special Containment Procedures All specimens of SCP-371 are to be contained in ocean water tanks filled with at least 750 liters of water, approximately 200 gallon per specimen at between 2 and 5 degrees Celsius. Walls may be constructed of any waterproof metal or plate glass and at least 2 inches thick. Once every 30 days, a live animal weighing between 25 and 45 kilograms, preferably oceanic fish. Although in emergencies, any terrestrial vertebrate, including humans, with the head kept suspended above water will suffice. This is to be deposited in the containment unit. Following the completion of the lighting cycle after 10 days, several SCP-371 specimens may be maintained, and all extra are to be strained out of the excurrent water, dried, and incinerated. Any personnel entering SCP-371's containment chamber intentionally must be equipped with scuba gear, commercially available shark-proof diving armor, thick faceplates, and Kevlar helmets. If these measures fail or are breached for any reason, the animal supply for that month may be skipped. There are currently 15 SCP-371 specimens in containment. Description SCP-371 is a macroscopic marine virus, similar in appearance to a bacteriophage. SCP-371 specimens range in size from between 20 centimeters to 2.5 meters, are somewhat transparent, and can be mistaken for jellyfish in water. SCP-371's physiology and behavior appear similar to ordinary microscopic viruses, although with several adaptations that make it a notable marine predator. The contractile tail fibers, shown in image A, are composed of stiffened proteins and are adapted for locomotion, swimming, grasping, walking on the ocean floor. A sharpened and hardened beak-like base plate, rendering the virus capable of injecting genetic material through the dermal skin of multicellular prey, and presumably unknown sensory organs. SCP-371 cannot see or hear, but appears to hunt by sensing heat, vibrations, and pressure and salinity gradients. Most notable is SCP-371's encoding mechanism, which does not use the direct injection of DNA or RNA, but rather numerous microscopic DNA encoding packets, which enter host cells and use them to respawn the macroscopic organism inside the host. Stages of SCP-371 infection Zero hours, infection. SCP-371 pierces host's skin and injects genetic material into the host, usually into the cranial or abdominal cavity, causing significant pain. Eight hours, transcription, bonding. SCP-371 genetic packets begin normal transcription and translation process, bonding with host RNA. Ninety-five hours, synthesis, spawning. As host cells replicate, they begin to encode extracellular proteins in the abdominal cavity, which form new SCP-371 specimens over time, between 10 and 100, depending on host size. Specimen size also changes with host size. 240 hours, lysis, bursting. Once specimens have reached 20 cm in size, they exit the host body in a modified bursting pattern, causing severe trauma to the host, and often resulting in serious bleeding, internal injuries, and death. SCP-371 lysis only in water, and for terrestrial prey, will postpone this stage until the host enters water again. For the rest of its life cycle, SCP-371 hunts, and apparently filters salts and sediments from ocean water in order to grow up to 2.5 m in size. The virus's average life cycle is 60 days, although the oldest-contained specimen is currently 109 days old. Addendum 371A The initial SCP-371 specimens were found in the area of the Caribbean Sea, following the death of a f*** who was attacked when diving with a partner, who managed to capture film of three SCP-371 specimens clinging on to him, two on the head, one on the chest. The specimens laced 10 days later when Mr. F*** was taking a bath. Foundation-prepared explorational vehicles discovered and contained the initial specimens. Recently, a civilian research expedition to the Guimas Basin Trench brought up footage of more specimens, and it is theorized that SCP-371 is native to hattle areas of the ocean floor, including vent areas, surfacing when prey becomes scarce. Lesson complete. If you missed the previous orientation, go watch SCP-370, a key, right now. Or for the complete course, watch this playlist.