Maguma

Maguma (マグマ Maguma) is a giant walrus-like kaiju that appeared in the 1962 Toho film, Gorath.

A huge prehistoric reptile resembling a modern walrus, Maguma lived in Antarctica tens of thousands of years ago before he was disturbed and awakened in the modern day by the jet pipes used by the United Nations to change the Earth's orbit and avoid a collision with Gorath. Maguma lashed out and nearly sabotaged the operation, but the UN was able to exterminate him using the laser mounted on a VTOL aircraft. Despite only appearing in a single film in a very minor role, Maguma has made sporadic appearances in non-film media along with Toho's other kaiju, primarily in video games. Most recently, Maguma was featured in GODZILLA: Monster Apocalypse, the first official prequel novel for the GODZILLA anime trilogy.

name
Maguma's name is the Japanese approximation of the word "magma." The name is somewhat ironic given that Maguma emerged from an iceberg in Antarctica, though this may be in reference to the dormant volcanism of the continent. The name "Maguma" was chosen by a public poll.

appearance
Despite canonically being a giant prehistoric reptile, Maguma resembles a giant walrus with elongated fore and hind limbs, green eyes, pale tusks, and smooth brown skin with no visible hair. Unlike real-life walruses, which possess vestigial tails, Maguma has no tail at all.

origins
Maguma is a walrus-like creature which inhabited Antarctica tens of thousands of years ago and was reawakened due to changes in the climate caused by the ignition of the jet pipes. Despite its appearance, Maguma is actually a member of a species of reptiles, determined by examining samples of its blood under a microscope.

history
Maguma was disturbed from its hibernation by changes in the Antarctic climate caused by the ignition of the hydrogen jet fields on the continent used to propel the Earth out of the path of the rogue star Gorath. Irritated by the increased temperatures, Maguma attacked the power station of a jet field before returning to its home in a neighboring canyon. As the dysfunction of the fields and continued attacks would spell doom for the Earth, a VTOL aircraft was sent to dispose of Maguma. The VTOL strafed the walls of the canyon with its laser, causing Maguma to be buried in an avalanche. The creature broke free shortly afterward, only to be killed by direct hits from the aircraft's laser.

abilities

 * Due to possessing no extraordinary abilities, Maguma relies exclusively on its forelimbs to cause destruction. This is demonstrated when it uses one of its flippers to breach and destroy part of a jet pipe power station. Although not taken advantage of in its sole film appearance, Maguma also possesses sizable tusks which could be used to wreak further havoc.
 * Maguma can reach speeds of up to 200 kilometers per hour underwater.
 * Maguma displays at least a moderate measure of durability, surviving a forcible avalanche and being buried under a number of boulders and other chunks of rock

weakness
Although surviving the first attempt on its life by way of burying, Maguma was less fortunate against the lasers of the VTOL and was quickly dispatched.