Exposed membrane

The exposed membrane is a large nest present on the wall of the first half of the Metroid Cavern on Phaaze in Metroid Prime 3: Corruption. Its scan states that it is a small section of a nest containing hundreds of juvenile Metroids. The membrane is purple in coloration and has a black, oval-shaped "core" with a turquoise border, which is surrounded by vein-like lines. Phazon Metroids will spawn infinitely from this hive; the aforementioned core will glow with a turquoise aura when spawning Metroids. Samus Aran cannot destroy the hive or access its interior. Scores of Phazon Metroids can be seen within the membrane, stretching far into the background.

It is unknown exactly how this nest came to be, but based on the Metroids' habit of creating organic structures with a similar purpose on their homeworld of SR388, it is likely the mutated Metroids built this themselves.

Official data

Scan (Metroid Cavern)

"Exposed membrane is a small section of a nest, which contains hundreds of juvenile Metroids."

Trivia

• The sheer quantity of Metroids occupying the nest has led some fans to the belief that the species has inhabited Phaaze long before the start of the Metroid Prime series. However, Phazon has demonstrated the capacity to multiply Metroids (akin to Beta-Ray exposure) on some occasions and several Phazon-mutated breeds are known to be capable of reproduction as well, potentially explaining the massive population. These facts, in addition to various official sources stating SR388 to be the only planet of origin of the species, render it more probable that Dark Samus and the Space Pirates imported Metroids to Phaaze sometime prior to the events of Metroid Prime 3: Corruption.