They are strange mutant animals that live mostly underground. They were designed as FEV-tailored weapons for waging war on other countries and they escaped into the wastes.[1] In that aspect, they are similar to deathclaws.
Characteristics
Biology
Wanamingoes have an exceptional life span, but by the year of 2241, they have started to die out. They hatch from eggs laid by the wanamingo queen - a large and grey of color wanamingo which the others fearlessly protect. They aren't intelligent in the usual sense, but they do seem to have a hive-mind mentality.[2]
The only known queen lived in the Wanamingo Mine in Redding, owned by Ascorti. All "aliens" living in that mine were killed by the Chosen One in 2242. Other wanamingos could be found scattered throughout the wasteland, most notably in the San Franciscotanker. The name "wanamingo" was originally only used locally in Redding but eventually came to be used for the species as a whole across the wastes.
Gameplay attributes
Wanamingos are fierce foes and a potent threat even to higher-level player characters. They shrug off laser fire with ease, due to their high laser damage resistance, and can hurl a flurry of powerful attacks at their enemies in close combat. However, they have a natural weakness to fire and will flee if one of their feet becomes crippled.
Variants
Wanamingo
Wanamingos are strange mutant animals that live mostly in underground colonies. They are often mistaken for extra-terrestrial beings, due to their otherworldly anatomy. They can easily shrug off damage which would tear the flesh from the bone of a human, and are truly a force to be reckoned with.
The wanamingo queen is the matriarch of the wanamingos, found in the depths of the mine in Redding. This is the only queen known to exist in 2241. She can lay eggs for the reproduction of the wanamingos and can be found deep underground in her breeding room.
Mutant wanamingo is a creature cut from the final version of Fallout 3. This is a wanamingo very mutated by radiation. Its mouth has been enlarged, it has been rendered sans tentacles and has taken a pinkish color. It appears wildly different than those encountered in Fallout 2.
Wanamingos appear only in Fallout 2. Mutant wanamingos do not appear in the files of Fallout 3, but can be found in the book The Art of Fallout 3, an art book available with the Collector's Edition of the game. This book also includes a new version of wanamingo mutated by radiation.
