Saibaiman

Saibaimen are vicious, obedient, animalistic, and eager to attack. They follow the commands of whoever plants their bulbs and display little independent motivation beyond combat.

Despite their small size, they show signs of cunning. A Saibaiman may feign vulnerability, rush an unsuspecting opponent, or resort to self-destruction rather than simply fight conventionally.

Each Saibaiman has a stated battle power of 1,200 and possesses substantial speed, strength, jumping ability, and durability.

They can fire highly corrosive acid from the opening in their heads, powerful enough to melt the ground. Their most dangerous technique is self-destruction: a Saibaiman can latch onto an opponent and detonate its own body in a powerful explosion.

Akira Toriyama later explained that Saiyans obtain the bulbs from a rare species found on a particular planet, making Saibaimen portable weapons rather than creations personally invented by Vegeta or Nappa.

Nappa plants six Saibaiman bulbs after arriving at the battlefield where Earth's fighters are waiting for the Saiyans. Vegeta allows the creatures to fight first so he can assess the defenders' strength.

The first Saibaiman attacks Tenshinhan, who quickly outclasses it. Vegeta destroys the creature himself when it fails to win.

Another faces Yamcha. After Yamcha appears to defeat it, the Saibaiman suddenly grabs him and self-destructs, killing him. An enraged Krillin then destroys several of the remaining creatures, while Piccolo eliminates another.

Nappa plants the six Saibaimen used during the Saiyan invasion of Earth.

Vegeta treats them as disposable testing weapons and personally destroys one after it fails.

Tenshinhan, Yamcha, Krillin, Piccolo, and Gohan are among the Earth fighters who confront the creatures.