When a venomous plant catches its prey, a zanuko appears. It usually waits until the prey stops moving, watching it or perhaps considering its escape, before disappearing.

Research on these entities was conducted by mexican neuroscientist Dr. Vicente Ventura in the Xatinian Islands, an archipelago in the Pacific Ocean where the Xatin Civilization lived until british colonizers massacred their population.

The islands are notable for containing the ultra-rare compound Xatyne, a bright natural radioactive material that can levitate on its own. It resembles colored plastic and has the fragrance of a grapefruit or a mango, depending on the time of day.