Wanamingo

This strange mutant animal lives mostly underground. Another name for them is aliens, although they have no relation to extraterrestrials. Wanamingos were created using the FEV virus either by the Enclave or perhaps even the pre-war US government for deployment in China, and after the Great War, they spread across the Wasteland. Their name comes from the Wanamingo Mine in Redding, where many of these creatures were found.

It is unknown what species Wanamingos descended from. They have powerful legs like kangaroos, a smooth head that blends into their torso without any visible sensory organs, and a pair of writhing tentacles instead of front limbs. They use echolocation in an undefined range to detect their prey and navigate, similar to bats. They also possess some telepathic abilities, behaving like social insects with a collective "mind." Regular Wanamingos are brown in color; Wanamingo Queens are gray.

Although Wanamingos have a long lifespan, by 2241, they are already a dying species. The Wanamingo eggs found in the mine are the last generation of these creatures. The young that hatch will live no more than five years after 2241, and their parents will die even sooner. This is a dead-end mutation, a relic of a bygone era. Their main habitat, the Wanamingo Mine in Redding, is cleared out by the Chosen One during a related quest, and the remaining eggs are removed and destroyed by the Redding townsfolk.

By the time of the events in the game, Wanamingos are already extinct (or are they?), and to some, they are nothing more than a scary tale. One quest in Redding references a living Wanamingo.

They are a very strong and fast enemy, never traveling alone. They flee the battlefield if they are near death and/or have broken limbs. Somehow, regular firearms seem to do little damage to them, as do physical attacks with fists or melee weapons. Only fire, plasma, and laser weapons are truly effective against them. Their attacks can also cause radiation poisoning. Wanamingos can pose a threat even to experienced and well-equipped players.