View source for Caterpie (Pokémon)

{{PokémonPrevNextHead | species=Caterpie | type=bug | prevnum=009 | nextnum=011 | prev=Blastoise | next=Metapod }}
{{PokémonInfobox|
name=Caterpie |
tmname=Caterpie |
pron=<sc>''cat''-er-pee</sc> <ref>Barbo, Maria. ''The Official Pokémon Handbook''. Scholastic Publishing, 1999. ISBN 0-439-10397-5</ref> |
jname=キャタピー |
art=FRLG |
size=170px |
ndex=010 |
jdex=024 |
hdex=212 |
typen=1 |
type1=Bug |
type2= |
species=Worm |
height-ftin=1'00" |
height-m=0.3 |
weight-lbs=6.4 |
weight-kg=2.9 |
abilityn=1 |
ability1=Shield Dust |
ability2= |
abilityd=Run Away |
egggroupn=1 |
egggroup1=Bug |
egggroup2= |
eggcycles=10 |
evhp=1 |
expyield=39 |
lv100exp=1,000,000 |
gendercode=127 |
color=Green |
catchrate=255 |
body=02 |
pokefordex=caterpie |
generation=1 |
footnotes=}}
'''Caterpie''' ([[List of Japanese Pokémon names|Japanese]]: '''キャタピー ''' ''Caterpie'') is a {{type2|Bug}} Pokémon introduced in [[Generation I]].

It [[Evolution|evolves]] into {{p|Metapod}} starting at [[level]] 7, who evolves into {{p|Butterfree}} starting at level 10.

==Biology==
===Physiology===
Caterpie resembles a green caterpillar with yellow ring-shaped markings down the sides of  its body. Its most notable characteristic is the bright orange antennae on its head. These and the large eye-shaped markings help to startle predators. It shares many characteristics with other larval Pokémon such as {{p|Weedle}} and {{p|Wurmple}}, suggesting that their evolutionary lines are closely related. 
====Gender differences====
None.

===Special abilities===
The antennae on its head will emit a terrible stench from it if the Caterpie is frightened or if the antennae are touched. This serves as an effective protective mechanism against most predators. Its feet are tipped with suction cups, permitting this Pokémon to scale most surfaces with minimal effort. It can also {{m|String Shot|spit a string from its mouth}} in order to entangle foes as the viewers see in ''[[EP003|Ash Catches a Pokémon]]'', when Caterpie uses string shot on the villainous Team Rocket.

===Behavior===
Caterpie grow very quickly, and need to eat voraciously in order to meet their energy requirements. They have various adaptations which permit them to safely devour plant material, including an antennae that releases a horrible smell. It will shed its skin many times before finally cocooning itself in thick silk. While some {{pkmn|Trainer}}s are disgusted by the idea of {{type2|Bug}} Pokémon, they are ideal targets for new Trainers as they are fairly weak in the wild and evolve into their final forms at a low level.

===Habitat===
[[File:Forest.gif|right|frame|{{DL|List of Pokémon by habitat|Forest Pokémon}}]]
Caterpie can often be found in wooded areas, such as the [[Viridian Forest]]. It is native to the [[Kanto]] and the [[Johto]] region, but has also been encountered in [[Sinnoh]] as well.

===Diet===
{{main|Pokémon food}}
Caterpie primarily feed on vegetation, such as tree leaves. According to [[Pokémon Adventures]], its favorite food is the Vermilion flower.

==In the anime==
[[File:Caterpie anime.png|thumb|220px|Caterpie in the anime]]
===Major appearances===
====[[Ash's Butterfree|Ash's Caterpie]]====
A Caterpie was the first Pokémon that [[Ash Ketchum]] caught from the wild, in ''[[EP003|Ash Catches a Pokémon]]''. It evolved into {{p|Metapod}} in the same episode, and then into {{p|Butterfree}} [[EP004|the following episode]].

====Other====
A Caterpie that appeared in ''[[AG142|Caterpie's Big Dilemma]]'' belonging to a young trainer named [[Xander]] ate some of [[Dr. Gordon]]'s enhanced [[Rare Candies]] and turned [[Giant Pokémon|giant]]. Xander's Caterpie eventually evolved into a {{wp|Mothra|Mothra-sized}} {{p|Butterfree}}.

===Minor appearances===
A Pink Caterpie appeared in ''[[EP088|In the Pink]]''.

A Caterpie appeared in ''[[EP161|The Bug Stops Here]]''. Misty chases it away when it is talking with {{TP|Misty|Togepi|Togetic}}.

A Caterpie appeared in ''[[EP227|For Ho-Oh the Bells Toll]]''.

A Caterpie was used by one of the students of the [[Pokémon Trainer's School]] in ''[[AG015|Gonna Rule The School!]]''.

A Caterpie appeared under the possession of a Coordinator in ''[[AG121|Hi Ho Silver Wind!]]''

A Caterpie also appeared in ''[[DP038|One Big Happiny Family!]]'' in [[Jessie]]'s fantasy.

A Caterpie appeared in ''[[DP091|One Team, Two Team, Red Team, Blue Team!]]''.

In the English dub of ''[[The Legend of Thunder!]]'', [[Attila]] mentioned he used to collect Caterpie and says that they are "very sweet creatures".

===Pokédex entries===
{{Animedexheader|Emerald}}
{{Animedexbody|AG142|Caterpie|May's Pokédex|Caterpie, the Worm Pokémon. Caterpie uses the suction cups on its feet to climb trees and feed on its favorite leaves.}}
{{Animedexfooter/Pokémon|''Advanced Generation''|Emerald}}

==In the manga==
===The Electric Tale of Pikachu===
{{main|Ash's Butterfree}}
{{Ash}}'s Caterpie appears in the manga series [[Electric Tale of Pikachu|The Electric Tale of Pikachu]].

Caterpie is the second wild Pokémon that Ash captures in the manga. It was caught in ''[[ET01|Pikachu, I See You!]]''. It evolves twice in ''[[ET02|Play Misty For Me]]'' - first into {{p|Metapod}} while Ash is showing off his Pokémon to {{an|Misty}}, and then into {{p|Butterfree}} during his Gym Battle against Misty.

Ash is not shown releasing his Butterfree in the manga, although it is not seen after ''[[ET04|Haunting My Dreams]]''.

===Pokémon Adventures===
{{main|Kitty}}
Caterpie's first appearance is a cameo in ''[[PS002|Bulbasaur, Come Home!]]'' as one of the Pokémon that escapes from [[Professor Oak's Laboratory]]. It also makes a cameo in ''[[PS003|The Secret of Kangaskhan]]''. 

{{adv|Yellow}} had a Caterpie named Kitty, which she did not want to [[evolution|evolve]]. However, in the battle against [[Lance]], she did not have her [[Pokédex]], which she needed to stop her Pokémon from evolving, and so Caterpie evolved into {{p|Metapod}} and then into {{p|Butterfree}} right afterwards.

===Pokémon Get da ze!===
[[Shū]] has a Caterpie that he uses in various creative ways, mostly involving strange uses of its {{m|String Shot}}.

===Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Ginji's Rescue Team===
In ''[[Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Ginji's Rescue Team]]'', a Caterpie was attacked by an {{p|Ariados}}. [[Ginji]] had to save the Caterpie from harm.

==In the TCG==
{{main|Caterpie (TCG)}}

==Game data==
===NPC appearances===
* [[Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Red Rescue Team and Blue Rescue Team|Pokémon Mystery Dungeon]]: Caterpie is rescued in the first mission of the game. It is too young to be of any help to the rescue team but remains a strong fan throughout the game, even in its darkest hour.

===Pokédex entries===
{{Dex
|gen=1
|type=bug
|redbluedex=Its short feet are tipped with suction pads that enable it to tirelessly climb slopes and walls.
|yellowdex=If you touch the feeler on top of its head, it will release a horrible stink to protect itself.
|stadiumdex=It has large, eye-like patterns on its head as protection. They are used to frighten off enemies.
|golddex=For protection, it releases a horrible stench from the antennae on its head to drive away enemies.
|silverdex=Its feet have suction cups designed to stick to any surface. It tenaciously climbs trees to forage.
|crystaldex=It crawls into foliage where it camouflages itself among leaves that are the same color as its body.
|stadium2dex=For protection, it releases a horrible stench from the antennae on its head to drive away enemies.
|rsdex=Caterpie has a voracious appetite. It can devour leaves bigger than its body right before your eyes. From its antenna, this Pokémon releases a terrifically strong odor.
|emeralddex=Its voracious appetite compels it to devour leaves bigger than itself without hesitation. It releases a terribly strong odor from its antennae.
|firereddex=It is covered with a green skin. When it grows, it sheds the skin, covers itself with silk, and becomes a cocoon.
|leafgreendex=Its short feet are tipped with suction pads that enable it to tirelessly climb slopes and walls.
|dpptdex=It releases a stench from its red antenna to repel enemies.  It grows by molting repeatedly.
|heartgolddex=For protection, it releases a horrible stench from the antennae on its head to drive away enemies.
|soulsilverdex=Its feet have suction cups designed to stick to any surface. It tenaciously climbs trees to forage.
|bwdex={{tt|あかい　しょっかくから　においを　だして　てきを　おいはらう。だっぴを　くりかえし　おおきくなる。|It releases a stench from its red antenna to repel enemies.  It grows by molting repeatedly.}}
}}

====Alternate games====
;[[Pokémon Pinball]], [[Pokémon Trading Card Game]] ({{TCG|Base Set}}, {{TCG|Base Set 2}}, {{TCG|Legendary Collection}})
:Its short feet are tipped with suction pads that enable it to tirelessly climb slopes and walls.
;[[Pokémon Trading Card Game]] ({{TCG|Neo Discovery}})
:For protection, it releases a horrible stench from the antennae on its head to drive away enemies.

===Game locations===
{{Availability|
type=bug |
gen=1 |
rbrarity=Rare (Red)<br>Common (Blue) |
rbarea={{rt|25|Kanto}}, [[Viridian Forest]] (Red)<br>[[Route]]s {{rtn|2|Kanto}}, {{rtn|24|Kanto}}, and {{rtn|25|Kanto}}, [[Viridian Forest]] (Blue) |
yrarity=Common |
yarea=[[Viridian Forest]] |
gsrarity=Common |
gsarea=[[Route]]s {{rtn|2|Kanto}}, {{rtn|30|Johto}}, and {{rtn|31|Johto}}, [[Ilex Forest]], [[National Park]], [[Bug-Catching Contest]], {{m|Headbutt}} trees (Gold)<br>[[Bug-Catching Contest]] (Silver) |
crarity=Common |
carea=[[Route]]s {{rtn|2|Kanto}}, {{rtn|24|Kanto}}, {{rtn|25|Kanto}}, {{rtn|30|Johto}}, and {{rtn|31|Johto}}, [[Ilex Forest]], [[National Park]], [[Bug-Catching Contest]] |
gen3ex=frlg |
frlgrarity=Common |
frlgarea=[[Route]]s {{rtn|2|Kanto}}, {{rtn|24|Kanto}}, and {{rtn|25|Kanto}}, [[Viridian Forest]], [[Pattern Bush]] |
dprarity=Dongle |
dparea={{rt|204|Sinnoh}} |
ptrarity=Dongle |
ptarea={{rt|204|Sinnoh}}, [[Eterna Forest]] |
dongledp=FireRed|
donglept=FireRed|
hgssrarity=Common |
hgssarea=[[Route]]s {{rtn|2|Kanto}}, {{rtn|30|Johto}}, and {{rtn|31|Johto}}, [[Ilex Forest]], [[National Park]], [[Bug-Catching Contest]], [[Viridian Forest]], {{m|Headbutt}} trees (HeartGold)<br>[[Bug-Catching Contest]] (SoulSilver) |
palarea=Forest |
}}

====In side games====
{{SidegameAvail
|type=bug
|channel= {{OBP|Viridian Forest|Channel}}
|pinball=[[Viridian Forest]]<br>[[Cerulean City]]
|trozei={{PM|1|Phobos Train}}<br>Endless Level 9<br>Trozei Battle<br>[[Mr. Who's Den]]
|md=[[Wish Cave]] (2F-4F)
|md2=[[Apple Woods]] (1F-4F)<br>[[Oran Forest]] (1F-4F)
|scramble=[[Silent Forest]]
}}

===Held items===
{{HeldItems
|type=bug
|rby1=Berry|rby1type=Berries (Generation II)|rby1image=no|rby1rar=100
}}

===Stats===
====Base stats====
{{BaseStats with RBY|
HP=     45 |
Attack= 30 |
Defense=35 |
SpAtk=  20 |
SpDef=  20 |
Special=20 |
Speed=  45 |
type=Bug }}

====Pokéathlon stats====
{{Pokéthlon
|type=Bug
|Speed=2
|SpeedMax=3
|Power=1
|PowerMax=3
|Technique=4
|TechniqueMax=4
|Stamina=2
|StaminaMax=3
|Jump=2
|JumpMax=2
}}

===Type effectiveness===
{{Type effectiveness|
type1=bug|
Normal=  100 |
Fighting= 50 |
Flying=  200 |
Poison=  100 |
Ground=   50 |
Rock=    200 |
Bug=     100 |
Ghost=   100 |
Steel=   100 |

Fire=    200 |
Water=   100 |
Grass=    50 |
Electric=100 |
Psychic= 100 |
Ice=     100 |
Dragon=  100 |
Dark=    100 |
notes=yes|
gen1bug=yes|
oldpoison=2|}}

===Learnset===
====By [[Level|leveling up]]====
{{learnlist/levelh|Caterpie|Bug|Bug|5|1}}
{{learnlist/level5|Start|Tackle|Normal|Physical|50|100|35}}
{{learnlist/level5|Start|String Shot|Bug|Status|&mdash;|95|40}}
{{learnlist/level5|15|Bug Bite|Bug|Physical|60|100|20||'''}}
{{learnlist/levelf|Caterpie|Bug|Bug|5|1}}

====By [[TM]]/[[HM]]====
{{learnlist/tmh|Caterpie|Bug|Bug|5|1}}
{{learnlist/tm5null}}
{{learnlist/tmf|Caterpie|Bug|Bug|5|1}}

====By {{pkmn|breeding}}====
{{learnlist/breedh|Caterpie|Bug|Bug|5|1}}
{{learnlist/breed5null}}
{{learnlist/breedf|Caterpie|Bug|Bug|5|1}}

====By tutoring====
{{learnlist/tutorh|Caterpie|Bug|Bug|4|1}}
{{learnlist/tutor4|Bug Bite|Bug|Physical|60|100|20|Tough|0||'''|no|no|yes}}
{{learnlist/tutor4|Snore|Normal|Special|40|100|15|Cute|3|||no|yes|yes}}
{{learnlist/tutor4|String Shot|Bug|Status|&mdash;|95|40|Smart|2|||no|no|yes}}
{{learnlist/tutorf|Caterpie|Bug|Bug|4|1}}

===={{Trading Card Game}}-only moves====
*{{m|Headbutt}} {{ic|Normal}}

===Side game data===
{{Sidegame|
type=bug |
ndex=010 |
pinball=Catch |
Trozei=yes |
rarity=Common |
Dungeon=yes |
body=1 |
rate=10.2 |
area=Mist-Rise Forest |
P1=I'll eat lots and grow big. |
P2=This is so hard... My health is down to half. |
P3=I can't keep up... I can't {{m|String Shot|spit silk}} anymore... |
PL=I leveled up! Happy! |
Dungeon2=yes |
body2=1 |
rate2=8.2 |
iq=A |
Pad=Caterpie fell out of the White Tree on the other side of the bridge in the Meadow Zone! Her favorite Attraction is Bulbasaur's Daring Dash.
}}

===Evolution===
{{evobox
|family=Normal
|sprite1=010
|name1=Caterpie
|type1-1=Bug
|evotype1=Level
|level1=7
|sprite2=011
|name2=Metapod
|type1-2=Bug
|evotype2=Level
|level2=10
|sprite3=012
|name3=Butterfree
|type1-3=Bug
|type2-3=Flying}}

===Sprites===
{{Sprite|
type=bug|
gen=1|
gender=none|
ndex=010|
name=Caterpie|
}}

==Trivia==
* Caterpie was the first Pokémon to be seen [[Evolution|evolving]] in the anime.
** It is also the first Pokémon to be seen being caught in the anime, by [[Ash Ketchum]].
* Caterpie, along with {{p|Weedle}} and {{p|Wurmple}}, evolve at level 7, the lowest level required for any Pokémon that evolves by leveling up.
* Caterpie is the first {{type2|Bug}} Pokémon in [[National Pokédex]] order.
* Caterpie is the first Pokémon in National Pokédex order which has the same name in English and Japanese. 
* Caterpie shares the same [[species]] name with {{p|Wurmple}}. They are both known as Worm Pokémon.
* Though Caterpie's ability to release a terrible smell is mentioned in many of its Pokédex entries, it cannot have the ability {{a|Stench}}.
* Caterpie shares its in-game [[cry]] with {{p|Goldeen}}.
* Until the release of {{game|Platinum}}, when it became able to learn {{m|Bug Bite}}, Caterpie was unable to do anything to a {{type2|Ghost}} outside of {{m|Struggle|struggling}} except {{m|String Shot|lower its Speed}}. This is also true for {{p|Weedle}} against {{type2|Steel}}s before {{game|Platinum}} was released. 
* Caterpie is the first Pokémon in [[National Pokédex]] order that isn't related to a starter Pokémon.

===Origin===
Caterpie is a stylized {{wp|caterpillar}}, most resembling a {{wp|Spicebush Swallowtail}} caterpillar. Its "antenna" is an {{wp|osmeterium}}, an organ unique to Swallowtail caterpillars which, like Caterpie, they use to emit a foul odor.

====Name origin====
Caterpie's name is a corruption of ''caterpillar''.

==In other languages==
* [[List of German Pokémon names|German]]: Raupy - A tweaking of ''Raupe'' (caterpillar).
* [[List of French Pokémon names|French]]: Chenipan - From ''chenille'' (caterpillar), and ''pan'' (trail); also a pun on ''chenapan'' (rascal).
* [[List of Korean Pokémon names|Korean]]: 캐터피  ''Kaeteopi'' - Corruption of caterpillar.
* [[List of Chinese Pokémon names|Chinese (Taiwan)]]: 綠毛蟲 ''Lǜ Máo Chóng'' - "Green caterpillar" or, literally, "green furry worm".
* [[List of Chinese Pokémon names|Chinese (Hong Kong)]]: 綠毛蟲 ''Lǜ Máo Chóng'' - Green caterpillar.

==Related articles==
* [[Ash's Butterfree|Ash's Caterpie]]
* [[Kitty]]

==External links==
* {{wp|Caterpie|Article on Wikipedia}}

==Notes==
<references />

<br clear="all">

{{PokémonPrevNext | type=bug | prevnum=009 | nextnum=011  | prev=Blastoise | next=Metapod }}
{{Project Pokédex notice}}

[[de:Raupy]]
[[es:Caterpie]]
[[fr:Chenipan]]
[[ja:キャタピー]]
[[pl:Caterpie]]
[[pt:Caterpie (pokémon)]]