Research Notes - Mudkip
Ambystoma lustrum
The amphibious Mudkip line has been an anomaly for taxonomists across the world. At first, they overlooked the limbs of these Pokémon and classified them as highly-diverged fish, having adapted hands and feet to push aside thick mud. This was mainly due to the fact that they possessed clear gills and did not breathe through their skin like most amphibians. However, many have now reversed this placement; it seems more likely that they developed specialized gill organs to breathe in muddy waters that would suffocate most other Pokémon. Regardless, this old classification has stuck and lived on in the line’s nickname as “the Mud Fish Pokémon.”
Diet |
All members of this family are hunters. Their diets consist primarily of fish and crustaceans that can tolerate the murky water they dwell in. Marshtomp and Swampert will use their powerful limbs to upheave silt and catch exposed shellfish.
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Care |
All members of this line need to keep their skin and especially gills moist. Marshtomp and Swampert have special water-retaining slime coating their bodies that enable them to stay out of the water for longer periods of time than Mudkip, but all of them will become lethargic and ill if their skin dries out. These Pokémon actually prefer muddy water; they have adapted to swim and navigate in such conditions.
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Caution |
Mudkip are cute and friendly, but are also deceptively strong for their size. They can throw boulders to defend themselves if threatened. Marshtomp are surprisingly territorial, though few trainers are willing to wade into the muck they dwell in. Swampert nest on beaches or near estuaries; they are protective of their nests, so trainers should not approach them. If one sees a Swampert building up a barricade of boulders, a storm is likely coming; one should find cover immediately.
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Behavior |
Mudkip are friendly Pokémon. They like humans and may even help them out if they need aid. They may either fight or flee when they sense danger. (1 / -2 / 0)
Marshtomp are friendly Pokémon. They like humans and may even help them out if they need aid. They tend to fight when they sense danger. (2 / -1 / 1) Swampert are curious Pokémon. They are unafraid of humans and may approach travelers to investigate them. They almost always fight when they sense danger. (1 / 0 / 2) |