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 Weedle and 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 spit a string from its mouth in order to entangle foes as the viewers see in 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 Trainers are disgusted by the idea of Template:Type2 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.
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.
Caterpie is the second wild Pokémon that Ash captures in the manga. It was caught in Pikachu, I See You!. It evolves twice in Play Misty For Me - first into Metapod while Ash is showing off his Pokémon to Misty, and then into Butterfree during his Gym Battle against Misty.
Ash is not shown releasing his Butterfree in the manga, although it is not seen after Haunting My Dreams.
Yellow had a Caterpie named Kitty, which she did not want to 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 Metapod and then into Butterfree right afterwards.
Pokémon Get da ze!
Shū has a Caterpie that he uses in various creative ways, mostly involving strange uses of its String Shot.
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
This Pokémon was unavailable prior to Generation I.
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.
Caterpie is the first Pokémon in National Pokédex order that isn't related to a starter Pokémon.
Origin
Caterpie is a stylized caterpillar, most resembling a Spicebush Swallowtail caterpillar. Its "antenna" is an 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
German: Raupy - A tweaking of Raupe (caterpillar).
French: Chenipan - From chenille (caterpillar), and pan (trail); also a pun on chenapan (rascal).
This Pokémon article is part of Project Pokédex, a Bulbapedia project that aims to write comprehensive articles on each Pokémon species, as well as Pokémon groups and forms.
For other sprites and images, please see Caterpie images on Bulbagarden Archives.
