Tunneler

Tunnelers are creatures $$

Background
Tunnelers are subterranean predators that emerged when nuclear explosions created The Divide, allowing for them to hunt prey on the surface. They reproduce quickly, hunt in large groups, are capable of killing other predators such as Deathclaws, and may even pose a threat to the Mojave Wasteland in the future. The bite of Venomous Tunnelers can be just as lethal as a sting from a Bark Scorpion. As for their origin, Ulysses suspects that they have been around for a long time, and that radiation might have had an effect on them.

Gameplay
Tunnelers are classified as Abominations and count toward related challenges. They are susceptible to direct hits from Flash Bangs and Flare Guns, which causes them to flee temporarily. Damaging them with a Flamer or exposing them to daylight causes them to burrow and resurface in another location. While burrowed, they are invulnerable. When emerging from the ground, they appear as neutral on the compass.

Tunneler
Scaled to 1.0, this fast moving creature is the most common type of Tunneler.

Hulking Tunneler
Scaled to 1.1, this variant moves more slowly, it has more health and deals slightly more damage than the common Tunneler. It has a chance to knock down its target. The knock down effect can be mitigated by having the Stonewall perk.

Venomous Tunneler
Scaled to 0.9, this variant moves slightly slower, it has less health and deals less damage than the common Tunneler. It has a bite attack that applies a poison effect to its target, similar to a sting from a Radscorpion. When killed, it explodes in a cloud that also poisons the target. Both effects can be mitigated by having the Heartless perk.

Tunneler Queen
Scaled to 1.5, the queen is capable of taking lots of damage and has powerful melee attacks. She also possesses the same poisonous bite attack that the Venomous Tunnelers have. She is located in the Cave of the Abaddon.

Appearances
Tunnelers appear $$

Behind the scenes
Chris Avellone stated that the creatures took inspiration from the 1956 film The Mole People.

Bugs
Sometimes when attacking in V.A.T.S they will not take any damage, even with an obviously successful attack.