Wartortle are bipedal, indigo-blue turtle-like Pokémon with brown shells and long, furry tails and ears. Wartortle has small fangs protruding out of its mouth, brown irises, and three sharp claws on its arms. To maintain balance while swimming at high speeds, Wartortle move their unusual furry ears and tails. This tail, covered in rich, angelic thick fur, is so long that it sticks out a bit even when Wartortle withdraw into their shell. They use the fur to store air for extended underwater diving. As a Wartortle ages, algae may grow on its shell, and the color of its tail fur deepens.
Gender differences
None.
Special abilities
Wartortle can spit water out of its mouth at higher speeds than Squirtle. It can swim faster, as well. However, being bigger they are a little less maneuverable out of the water than Squirtle. Its shell also provides a great defense.
Behavior
Wartortle are loyal to their trainers. They are also more aggressive than Squirtle. They tend to hide in water when hunting and emerge to surprise their prey. They are known to be very tough Pokémon that often have scratches on their shell which serve as reminders of past battles. They are conceived to be a popular pet, as they are long-lived. Wartortle, and in particular their tails, are considered a symbol of longevity. It is said that this Pokémon can live for up to 10,000 years, although this is likely a myth.
Wartortle can be found living on island beaches near the ocean, but their preferred habitat seems to be freshwater ponds and lakes. They are most commonly found in Kanto region.
Another group of Wartortle are part of a fire-fighting squad. Team Wartortle work alongside Team Squirtle and Team Blastoise depending on which evolutionary form is best for the situation. Ash's Squirtle joined Team Wartortle to prove its strength in The Pokémon Water War. Team Wartortle later went up against the Squirtle Squad - this time with the opponents being led by Ash's Squirtle - in a fire-fighting competition in The Fire-ring Squad.
In Pokémon Adventures, Green had a Wartortle named Blasty during her first appearance, which evolved from the Squirtle that she stole from Professor Oak. It has since evolved into Blastoise very quickly, and became a mainstay in her team ever since. Perhaps to attest to the fact that the Masked Man took interest in her ability (enough to kidnap her as a child), it learned and perfected the move Hydro Cannon in a remarkably short time. Early on, she also made usage of its ability to blast water from its cannons to propel herself in the air as a substitute for using the move Fly due to her fear of birds.
Often hides in water to stalk unwary prey. For swimming fast, it moves its ears to maintain balance. Its fur covered tail is considered a symbol of longevity.
Its tail is large and covered with a rich, thick fur. The tail becomes increasingly deeper in color as Wartortle ages. The scratches on its shell are evidence of this Pokémon's toughness as a battler.
Its large tail is covered with rich, thick fur that deepens in color with age. The scratches on its shell are evidence of this Pokémon's toughness in battle.
Anime promotional art depicting Wartortle with the same color on its ears and its face.
Even though Wartortle's ears are depicted lighter than its face in the official Sugimori stock art and most of its game sprites, the official promotional pictures usually have the ears the same color as its face.
Wartortle's name is a combination of war, tortoise, and turtle. The kame in Kameil comes from the Japanese word for tortoise/turtle, 亀, and may be a combination of 亀 and テール kame and "tail." It is also a corruption of 噛める kameru, to be able to bite.
In other languages
Chinese (Taiwan): 卡咪龜 Kǎ Mī Guī - Transliteration of Wartortle's Japanese name, Kameil. The last character in the name means turtle.
Chinese (Hong Kong): 卡美龜 Ka Míi Gui - Probably the same as the Taiwanese name.
French: Carabaffe - From carapace (shell) and baffe (swipe/slap).
German: Schillok - From Schildkröte (turtle) and Locke (curl) or possibly Schillerlocke, a kind of fish delicacy whose name references its own curly appearance.
Korean: 어니부기 Eonibugi - Portmanteau of sister and turtle.
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 Wartortle images on Bulbagarden Archives.
