Malanthrope

Hive fleet Scorpio uses the creature called the Malanthrope like other Hive fleets. The Malanthrope moves behind the main swarms, gathering dead and dying prey and injesting it into it's body-sacs where the DNA is extracted. The Malanthropes seen with Scorpio are noted for being very selective about who or what they target. Typically this involves them singling out neutralized prey that was highly resistant.
 
The Malanthrope is also used to control swarms inside Tyranid territory. This will often mean the organization of Rippers and of various Gaunt workers such as Scorptigaunts. The Malanthrope will also work to organize defense of these areas, often they work with the dreaded Hive scorpions to control the swarms.
 
The Malanthrope works within the hives and the massive processing plant bio-ships of the Hive fleet. Their role is to help organize and maximise the efficiency of processing biomass and new gene sequences. During these periods any useful genetic information the Malanthrope acquired can be extracted for analysis and use.