The Needler Mango (dev nickname “dart-throwing shark”) is one of the few genuinely ranged predators in Subnautica 2. It fires six needles per volley from six upper-jaw tusk sockets, and the tusks regenerate continuously through mineral intake and enzymatic processes.
It evolved from nibbler mango ancestors that originally used their tusks to crack hard shells, before weaponising them as projectiles. It is a social predator that nests and hunts cooperatively in family groups, which is why it congregates around the Needler Nest and Observatory Island.
Its constant need for minerals drives heavy territorial aggression. Counterplay: stay out of its line of fire, break sightlines with terrain, and use a Distraction Flare — a common trick in the Alien Ruins where Needlers guard the approach. Submersibles are heavily targeted, so avoid lingering in open water near a nest.