Horned Cannon Beetle In-game icon.
Full render of the Horned Cannon Beetle.
Appears in Pikmin 4
Scientific name Granitus ferrous
Family Lithopod
Areas Sun-Speckled Terrace (Olimar's Shipwreck Tale), Hero's Hideaway
Caves Subterranean Swarm, Cavern for a King
Dandori Challenge stages None
Dandori Battle stages None
Attacks Crush Pikmin

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This article is about the lithopod that first appears in Pikmin 4. For the version unique to Pikmin, see Armored Cannon Beetle.

The Horned Cannon Beetle (フタクチカブト?, lit.: "Two-Mouthed Beetle") is a boss in Pikmin 4. It appears very similar to the Armored Cannon Beetle, but with a less metallic and more segmented shell, along with longer mandibles. The blowhole is also larger and higher up on the shell, pointing at an angle instead of being front facing. It's overall more detailed, but as these details are shared with the Arctic Cannon Beetle, these differences are likely due to graphical improvements. When breeding with the mature Armored Cannon Beetle, the larva will be highly aggressive and territorial. This behavior could explain either the wandering larva in Pikmin 2, or the larva that constantly shoot boulders in Pikmin 3 and Pikmin 4.

Relation to other lithopods

It is unclear whether the Horned Cannon Beetle is a new lithopod, or supposed to be the lithopod encountered in Pikmin, having been misidentified in said game. Evidence supporting it being renamed includes the exact same behavior, being featured in promotional material alongside returning enemies, Olimar mentioning that it was once mistaken for an Armored Cannon Beetle (possibly referring to Pikmin where it was referred to as an Armored Cannon Beetle) and being a migrant lithopod just like the Armored Cannon Beetle is stated to be in the first game. It also shares its Japanese name with the Armored Cannon Beetle, and Olimar's notes in the Japanese version of Pikmin 4 appear to incorporate the Armored Cannon Beetle's notes from Pikmin's enemy reel. The only evidence for it being a new creature includes differences in design beyond graphical improvements, and the unclear nature of Olimar's statement.

Judging by the Japanese version, it seems that the Armored Cannon Beetle in Pikmin is indeed the same as the Horned Cannon Beetle in Pikmin 4. The new name seems to be an attempt to better distinguish it from the Armored Cannon Larva, as the larva was never meant to belong to the same species as the Pikmin enemy, with the Armored Cannon Beetle's name being repurposed as referring to the Armored Cannon Larva's species outside of its larval stage. It is unknown why the species introduced first was renamed, especially considering the lithopod is said to have a stronger carapace than its relatives.

Stats

Weight Max.
carriers
Seeds Value Health
30 60 50   × 20 5000

Behavior

It behaves almost identically to the Armored Cannon Beetle, the only differences being longer charge time, larger boulders, and the fact that it doesn't idly shake. Before engaging it will wander within a set area, scanning its surroundings. Upon noticing a threat, it will lock onto it, and after a moment, start inhaling. After it inhales, it will spit out a massive boulder, which will crush Pikmin, including Rock Pikmin when fighting it in Hero's Hideaway, due to the hard surface. If a Pikmin is thrown into the horn while it's inhaling, the Beetle will choke, opening it's shell to vent heat through the holes in its fleshy back. This provides an opportunity to attack. Once defeated, the beetle will fall over forwards, its shell slightly exposed.

Locations

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A Horned Cannon Beetle can be found on the coffee table in the Hero's Hideaway area, the same table where Olimar fights a Porquillion in the prologue and his Shipwreck Tale. It holds a Divine Balloon. Another one is present on the third sublevel of the Subterranean Swarm cave in the Primordial Thicket. This one drops the Creativity Conduit.

In Olimar's Shipwreck Tale, a Horned Cannon Beetle guards the Meandering Slope landing site in the Sun-Speckled Terrace.

Strategy

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The strategies shown are just suggestions.

The Horned Cannon Beetle is a deceptively simple and easy fight. Once the player begins to engage it, wait for the Beetle to inhale through its top blow hole. Once it does, you have a rather generous amount of time to throw a single Pikmin into it to clog it. Once stops, the beetle's rear shell opens up, exposing its abdomen for attack. Rush the back of the creature with Oatchi and a large squad of Pikmin, or if he is not available simply throw them on. Once it shuts its shell, whistle your Pikmin back and repeat the process until the boss is defeated. Using a squad that has Rock Pikmin and/or Purple Pikmin is recommended.

Notes

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Dalmo's Notes

Its giant shiny-black carapace is one of the precious stones of the natural world! When it lifts its ebony wings, the briefly visible flesh beneath creates a striking color contrast. This is a living work of art that transcends the imagination.

Olimar's Notes

Males of this species are known for their hornlike blowholes. When females reach maturity, their blowhole closes and they lose the ability to launch rocks.

At the start of breeding season, the females lay eggs on rocks launched by a male. The rocks then become food for the growing larvae.

Though once mistaken for adult Armored Cannon Beetles, this species is actually a naturalized non-native species that migrated here from another continent.

The Horned Cannon Beetle can breed with adult Armored Cannon Beetles, but only about half of the eggs will actually hatch. This hybrid species has the potential to seriously pollute the gene pool. Furthermore, it exhibits aggressive territorial behavior, sometimes launching boulders at young Armored Cannon Beetles, which has driven the latter species to the verge of extinction.

Louie's Notes

Drop into boiling water, and let it cook until the shell turns red. Remove from the pot and peel. Sprinkle the drained meat with rock salt.

Naming

See more: Lithopod family#Naming.
  • Common name: Horned Cannon Beetle. "Horned" refers to its hornlike blowhole.
  • Japanese nickname: フタクチカブト?, lit.: "Two-Mouthed Beetle". "Two-Mouthed" refers to how its blowhole resembles a second mouth.
  • Japanese name: クロガネオオイシツツミ 成虫?, lit.: "Black Iron Giant Stone Wrapper (adult)". クロガネオオイシツツミ is the Japanese name for the Armored Cannon Beetle in Pikmin.
  • Scientific name: Granitus ferrous. Ferrous means "of or containing iron", referring to its iron shell.
  • Internal names: FUTAKUCHIADULT. FUTAKUCHI is the internal name for the Armored Cannon Larva, so "adult" is used to distinguish age.
  • Prerelease: Unknown

Names in other languages

Language Name Meaning Notes
  Japanese フタクチカブト?
Futa Kuchi Kabuto
Two-Mouth Rhino Beetle
  Chinese
(traditional)
雙口甲蟲
Shuāng-Kǒu Jiǎchóng
Two-Mouth Beetle
  Chinese
(simplified)
双口甲虫
Shuāng-Kǒu Jiǎchóng
Two-Mouth Beetle
  Dutch Gehoornde kanonkever Horned cannon beetle
  French Scaracanon cornu Horned cannon beetle "Scaracanon" is a portmanteau of "scarabée" (beetle) and "canon" (cannon)
  German Horn-Crustabitze Horn Crustowitzer "Crustabitze" is a portmanteau of "Crustacea" and "Haubitze" (howitzer)
  Italian Scarabeo grancorno Great-horn beetle
  Korean 두입투구호롱
Du-Ip-Tugu-Horong
Two-Mouth Helmet Oil Lamp
  Portuguese Escaracanhão-de-chifre Horned scarannon "Escaracanhão" is a portmanteau of "escaravelho" (scarab) and "canhão" (cannon)
  Spanish Escarabajo tirador cornúpeta Horned cannon beetle

Gallery

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See also