Item Sphere

A Chozo Statue holding an Item Sphere in Super Metroid.

Usually found within the firm grasp of a Chozo Statue, an Item Sphere holds a power-up for Samus Aran to equip. She merely needs to shoot the Item Sphere with any beam or missile to reveal the power-up contained within. In Metroid: Samus Returns, Item Spheres are replaced with Big Aeion Orbs after their respective items have been acquired, similar to Aeion Ability Artifacts.

Mimics

• The Arachnus fought in Metroid II: Return of Samus and its remake, Metroid: Samus Returns curls itself up to resemble an Item Sphere. The creature jumps out and attacks Samus when she tries to shoot it.
• In the Torizo battles in Super Metroid, the statues will drop Item Spheres that are actually bombs.
• The Elephant Bird in Metroid Fusion holds a fake Item Sphere, which is revealed when Samus shoots it.

Metroid II: Return of Samus manual

"Usually, the power items (except missile type and energy type items) are hidden in an Item Sphere. Shoot the Item Sphere with a beam to make the item appear, then touch it to equip."

Trivia

• In the Super Metroid manga strip The Chozo Statue, Samus finds a Chozo Statue holding an Item Sphere. Samus admires its roundness before shooting it. It reveals a Missile Tank. Despite her commander's protests, Samus walks away without collecting it, saying, "Eh, it's not round anymore."