Item #: SCP-179
Object Class: Safe
Special Containment Procedures: SCP-179 is to be contained in a bare cell, painted white. There must be at least one security checkpoint between SCP-179's containment unit and the rest of Site-██, with a distance no less than thirty meters between the security door and the guard on watch responsible for opening the door. It is not to be fed unless in the process of an experiment approved by the Site Director of Site-██, or any member of O5 Command. In the event of a containment breach, SCP-179's containment wing is to be locked down for a period of time no less than 48 hours before recontainment teams enter.
Description: SCP-179 is a diminutive humanoid entity, possessing exceptionally long, multi-jointed arms and legs, and weighing in at approximately 22 kg (48 lbs) in its unfed state. SCP-179 will remain on its side in the fetal position (typically having camouflaged itself, if possible, before becoming inert), awaiting the approach of humans. When an individual reaches approximately twenty meters of the object, the subject is affected by a crippling apathy, initially manifesting itself as aboulia. At this point, SCP-179 will begin to stir, crawling on all fours towards the afflicted subject unless there are threats visible. As SCP-179 nears the subject, the inability to respond to stimuli progresses to akinetic mutism, causing the subject to ignore SCP-179 as the entity begins to climb it, typically finding a perch on the subject's head or shoulders to cling to until it is done feeding.
Researchers have not yet determined the exact mechanism by which SCP-179 feeds, but it is apparent that the 'feeding' consists of the subject's complete loss of neurological motivational capacity, eventually concluding in death as subconscious life support mechanisms such as heartbeat cease. Upon the death of an initial subject, SCP-179 loses interest in the remains and will immediately begin searching for additional subjects to feed upon.
Feeding causes SCP-179's abdomen to swell noticeably, a property that neither discourages it from seeking additional 'sustenance' nor impedes its movement. Current hypotheses suggest that SCP-179's extremities are lengthened specifically to making crawling after eating less difficult, as SCP-179 will not cease feeding given unlimited subjects. (Note: Current research only indicates this after spending 15 Class Ds - no idea what it would do in a population center. - Dr. Berry) SCP-179 uses its feeding to provide for its own hunting patterns, and given a lack of prey, will eventually settle into its inert state, attempting to camouflage itself if possible before becoming completely incapacitated. An average subject provides roughly 35 minutes worth of mobility to SCP-179, and additional subjects seem to contribute at a diminishing rate to this. (See [DATA EXPUNGED] for a chart of SCP-179 feeding patterns and time estimates.)
In the event that SCP-179 is prevented from directly engaging its prey by the presence of additional threats, it will remain inert. Proximity to SCP-179 alone seems to be sufficient for it to feed, and if a subject remains within its proximity for a sufficient duration, SCP-179's abdomen will distend and the subject will die as if SCP-179 had been in physical contact with the subject. The duration required for SCP-179 to feed seems to be directly correlated to the distance between the target and SCP-179, explaining its tendency to close to direct physical contact when possible.
