Pokemon #090, Shellder, Water type, Bivalve pokemon.
Intro: Shellder is a common water-type pokemon that is quite often fished up in the Kanto region. It has a purple shell that opens horizontally, with two spikes on top and two on the bottom. Inside the shell are its black, pearl-like body with two big white eyes and its trademark tongue.
Habitat: Shellder lives solely in saline water and in caves surrounded by it. It is often encountered by fishers who cast their hook at the pier. The Seafoam Islands are a good example of non-submerged habitat of Shellder.
Diet: Shellder has quite a non-specific diet, and will eat any small sea-creature that passes by.
Biology: The shell-pokemon is quite cheeky, and is more often than not seen with his tongue stuck out of his mouth, taunting anyone who happens to be nearby. This tongue is actually quite well developed, and is used to bury itself in the sand and to taste and catch oncoming prey with great accuraty. Shellder has a preference for specific tastes. One of the more unique favored flavors is the liquid that drips from the tail of a Slowpoke. Shellder loves this taste and will bite the tail, somehow triggering evolution in itself and in the subject Slowpoke. During evolution, it changes form to a spiral, spiky shell, though it retains the cry it has prior to evolution. Shellder can also attach to the head of a Slowpoke if it is wearing a King's Rock. In this case, Shellder undergoes the same transformation on Slowpoke's head, evolving into Slowking instead. After evolution, Shellder will inject its poison into Slowking's head, which actually boosts its intelligence. It will do this whenever the Slowking yawns.
Shellder can also evolve into Cloyster when exposed to a water-stone.
Shellder is well-known for its ability to produce beautiful pearls. These pearls often fetch a decent price if sold to a specialist.
Disregardless of what most people think, Shellder in captivity do not produce pearls. The production of pearls requires almost absolute peace and quiet, which is impossible to obtain for Shellder that battle regularly.
During battle, Shellder uses mostly water and ice-type moves. Its trademark moves are Clamp and Icicle Spear. Shellder exposes its soft inside body while clamping, and will naturally only use this move as a last resort. Icicle Spear is a move that hits 2-5 times, but some Shellder are so skilled with this move that they will always hit all 5 times.
Shellder moves in water by facing backwards and opening and closing its shell to create a current. Its speed is higher than initially expected.
Pokemon League Commission notes:
Class D. Catching Shellder is not restricted by any laws or regulations.
