Every leviathan in Subnautica and Below Zero: sizes, aggression, spawn biomes, health and how to deal with each — plus the extinct giants.
Subnautica All Leviathans — Complete List With Locations and Sizes
Subnautica has six living leviathan species in the original game (Sea Emperor, Sea Dragon, Ghost, Reefback, Reaper, Sea Treader) plus three fossil/extinct giants, and Below Zero adds six more (Ventgarden, Ice Worm, Shadow Leviathan, Chelicerate, Glow Whale, Squidshark). Leviathan-class is a size category, not a single species — the smallest (the 11 m Squidshark) is still bigger than an elephant, and the largest (the 160–200 m Sea Emperor) is cruise-ship length. This guide is the complete roster with sizes, attitudes, spawn biomes and how to handle each one.
Official resources: Steam store page · Official Subnautica Wiki — Leviathan Class Organisms · IGN Subnautica page · Interactive map — Leviathan spawns
Per the official Subnautica Wiki: "Leviathan class species are vast organisms at the top of their respective food chains." The databank entry appears on scanning any leviathan-class fauna and describes the category the game uses for anything that large.
All Living Leviathans in Subnautica (4546B)
| Creature | Size | Health | Attitude | Where to find it |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sea Emperor | 160–200 m | — | Peaceful (sapient) | Primary Containment Facility, Lava Lakes |
| Sea Dragon | 112 m | 5,000 | Aggressive | Inactive Lava Zone (2), Lava Lakes (1) |
| Ghost Leviathan | 110 m adult / 67 m juvenile | 8,000 | Aggressive | Grand Reef (2 adults), Northern Blood Kelp (1 adult), Lost River (3 juveniles), Crater Edge (spawned) |
| Reefback | 70 m | 10,000 | Passive | Grassy Plateaus, Mushroom Forest, Bulb Zone, Sparse Reef, Crag Field |
| Reaper | 55 m | 5,000 | Aggressive | Crash Zone (9), Dunes (8), Mountains (7), Bulb Zone edge (1) |
| Sea Treader | 20 m | 3,000 | Defensive | Sea Treader's Path |
Six living species in the original, but ~80 individual leviathans on the map once you count every fixed spawn (25 Reapers + 6 Ghosts + 3 Sea Dragons + 1 Sea Emperor + dozens of Reefbacks and a Sea Treader herd). The fossil giants add three more species you can never fight. That's why "all leviathans" lists vary — different guides count species, individuals, or include fossils.
Deep Dives on the Dangerous Ones
- Sea Emperor (160–200 m) — the largest leviathan in the franchise and the story's heart: a sapient, telepathic creature imprisoned in the Primary Containment Facility, producing the Enzyme 42 that cures the Kharaa infection. It never attacks; its babies spawn into the crater at the endgame.
- Sea Dragon (112 m) — apex predator of the Lava Zones, the only creature that hunts Reapers. Fireballs, 5,000 HP, three fixed spawns. Full guide: Subnautica sea dragon.
- Ghost Leviathan (110 m) — translucent and territorial. Two adults guard the Grand Reef, one the Northern Blood Kelp, three juveniles patrol the Lost River's corridors (Bone Fields, Ghost Forest, Mountains Corridor). The 8,000 HP makes it the tankiest aggressive leviathan. The lost river guide shows where each juvenile sits.
- Reaper (55 m) — the icon. 25 spawns, grab-and-kill behavior, handled in full in our reaper guide.
- Reefback (70 m) — a passive moving island carrying its own ecosystem (barnacles with copper/silver, sometimes Tiger Plants). The safest leviathan to approach and the best source of free resources in the mid-game.
- Sea Treader (20 m) — the only walking leviathan, peacefully stomping the Sea Treader's Path and churning up Shale Outcrops. Kick damage (40) if you swim in front of its face; its feces power Bioreactors. Best lithium/diamond farm in the game — see our lithium guide.
The Extinct Giants (Fossils)
| Fossil | Size | Where |
|---|---|---|
| Gargantuan Fossil | 1,100–1,500 m (estimated) | Lost River Bone Fields and Ghost Forest |
| Ancient Skeleton | Unknown (armored, larger than a Sea Emperor) | Lost River Laboratory Cache |
| Frozen Leviathan | 150 m | Below Zero — trapped in the Glacial Basin ice |
The Gargantuan Fossil is the biggest thing in the game's lore — its head alone is the size of seven leviathans, and its skeleton spans the Lost River. You can't fight any of them; they're worldbuilding set pieces and databank entries.
Below Zero's Leviathans (Sector Zero)
| Creature | Size | Attitude | Where |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ventgarden | 110 m | Passive | Tree Spires, Purple Vents (anchored over thermal vents) |
| Ice Worm | 95 m | Aggressive (unkillable) | Arctic Spires — the only land leviathan |
| Shadow Leviathan | 60 m | Aggressive | Crystal Caves, Fabricator Caverns |
| Chelicerate | 40 m (65 m in the Void) | Aggressive | East Arctic, Purple Vents, Tree Spires |
| Glow Whale | 30 m | Passive | East Arctic, Lilypad Islands |
| Squidshark | 11 m | Aggressive | Deep Twisty Bridges, Lilypads Crevice |
Notable: Ice Worm can't be killed (you counter it with Thumpers), Ventgarden is the only leviathan you can swim inside (it hosts Spiral Plants you need for progression), and Shadow Leviathan is the closest Below Zero gets to a Reaper-equivalent terror. The BZ map and its creature zones are covered in our Below Zero map guide.
If you're doing the "kill every hostile leviathan" run: 25 Reapers + 3 Sea Dragons + 5 Ghosts (2 Grand Reef + 1 Blood Kelp + 3 Lost River juveniles — note the two Grand Reef adults are the same 2, so it's 5 total hostile Ghosts) + 2 Shadow Leviathans + 4 Chelicerates in BZ. Killed leviathans never respawn. The tools: Stasis Rifle + Thermoblade, or Prawn Drill Arm + Grappling Arm — both covered across our reaper guide and sea dragon guide.
"Below Zero Leviathan 16:9" — Wallpapers, Explained
The "subnautica below zero leviathan 16:9" search is wallpaper intent: players want widescreen screenshots of Sector Zero's monsters. Where to get them legitimately:
- Steam store pages — both games' screenshot galleries are full 1920×1080 (16:9) official captures. Right-click → save image.
- Official wiki galleries — every creature page (like the Leviathan Class page) hosts high-res official art and screenshots.
- The community subreddits — r/subnautica has a constant stream of screenshot posts; filter by "Media" and grab the highest-res versions.
The original game's leviathans are equally photogenic in 16:9 — the Reaper and Ghost shots from the Crash Zone and Lost River are the community's most-shared wallpapers.
FAQ
How many leviathans are in Subnautica?
Six living species in the original (Sea Emperor, Sea Dragon, Ghost, Reefback, Reaper, Sea Treader) plus three extinct/fossil species. Counted individually, roughly 80 leviathans roam the map. Below Zero adds six more species.
What is the biggest leviathan in Subnautica?
The Sea Emperor Leviathan at 160–200 m — the largest living creature in the franchise. The extinct Gargantuan Fossil (estimated 1,100–1,500 m) is the biggest ever, but it's only a skeleton.
What is the smallest leviathan in Subnautica?
The Squidshark in Below Zero at 11 m. In the original game, the smallest leviathan is the 20 m Sea Treader.
Which leviathans are in Below Zero?
Ventgarden, Ice Worm, Shadow Leviathan, Chelicerate, Glow Whale and Squidshark. The Reaper and Sea Dragon do not appear in Below Zero.
Where can I find leviathan wallpapers in 16:9?
The Steam store screenshot galleries and the official wiki creature pages host full 1080p official images; r/subnautica's media posts are the best community source.
Related Guides
- Subnautica Reaper Leviathan — Spawns, Stats & Survival
- Subnautica Sea Dragon Leviathan — Locations and Survival
- Subnautica Lost River — Entrances, Biomes and Resources
- Subnautica Below Zero Multiplayer — Co-Op and Mods
Last updated: August 13, 2026.
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