* Shellder and {{p|Cloyster}} share the same [[species]] name with {{p|Clamperl}}. They are all known as the Bivalve Pokémon.
* Shellder and {{p|Cloyster}} share the same [[species]] name with {{p|Clamperl}}. They are all known as the Bivalve Pokémon.
* Shellder are one of the few Pokémon to show their entire body in a backsprite before [[Generation V]], which it does in [[Generation II]].
* Shellder are one of the few Pokémon to show their entire body in a backsprite before [[Generation V]], which it does in [[Generation II]].
* Shellder and {{p|Cloyster|its evolution}} were shown to be capable of floating through the air in [[Pokémon Snap]], a trait that has been seen in no other media.
* Shellder were shown to be capable of floating through the air in [[Pokémon Snap]], a trait that has been seen in no other media.
* In the episode ''[[EP066|The Evolution Solution]]'', it's revealed that Shellder is still capable of speech as the shell of a Slowbro.
* In the episode ''[[EP066|The Evolution Solution]]'', it's revealed that Shellder is still capable of speech as the shell of a Slowbro.
Shellder have a two-piece, purplish-blue shell with four spikes, two on the top shell and two on the bottom shell. They use their shell for propulsion in swimming by rapidly closing and opening the two halves. Shellder have a large, red tongue which they use for burrowing. Their inner body is round, black, and shaped similar to a pearl. The body of a Shellder is known to be soft and tender.
After attaching to a Slowpoke's tail and evolving into Slowbro, Shellder's shell becomes a cement-grey color. It transforms into a spiny, spiraled cone with four tiers. In this form, Shellder has a circular mouth lined with sharp teeth, which securely anchor it onto the host Slowbro's tail. On the top side of the lowest segment of its shell, it has two aggressive-looking eyes peeking out and facing Slowbro's back. As can be seen when they blink, the color of the eyelids matches its shell. Slowbro's tail seems to be lodged down its throat, where the Shellder enjoys the sweet taste of Slowbro's sap secretions. Despite having Slowbro's tail in its mouth, it is capable of pronouncing its name. It also seems to possess some ability to manipulate and move Slowbro's tail on its own, possibly by somehow shifting its own weight.
After attaching to a Slowpoke's head and evolving into a Slowking, Shellder's shell becomes a light grey color. It also becomes a spiny, spiraled cone, but with three tiers. In this form, Shellder has a circular mouth lined with several sharp teeth, which securely anchor it onto the host Slowking's head, with at least two pressed into its forehead. On the bottom side of the lowest segment of its shell, it has two aggressive looking eyes peeking out and facing the opposite direction of Slowking. As can be seen when they blink, the color of the eyelids matches its shell.
Gender differences
None.
Special abilities
Shellder's shell is harder than a diamond and can withstand powerful attacks. When sand combines with the body fluids inside of Shellder, beautiful pearls are formed. As clamping on to an opponent reveal their vulnerable parts, they use the move only as a last resort. When a Shellder latches onto the tail of a fishing Slowpoke, the two Pokémon undergo a fusion evolution as a Slowbro is created and the Shellder changes in appearance. Likewise, if a Shellder bites a Slowpoke on the head due to the attraction of a King's Rock or some other reason, that Slowpoke will instead become a Slowking, the poison secreted by the Shellder reaches its head making it extremely intelligent.
Behavior
Its tongue is always hanging out, as it sits on the sea floor. Shellder swims facing backward by opening and closing its two-piece shell. When Shellder sleeps it uses its broad tongue to burrow a hole in the sand and then sleeps in it. While Shellder is sleeping, it closes its shell, but leaves its tongue hanging out. Attaching to a Slowpoke and evolving into either Slowbro or Slowking causes the Shellder to become parasitic and using the Slowbro or Slowking as a host. It feeds on Slowbro's sap secretions which taste so sweet it refuses to let go. It will also feed off Slowbro's leftovers. Shellder are apparently attracted to the King's Rock since it is this item that makes the Shellder bite Slowpoke on the head and transform it into a Slowking. Slowking's yawn provokes it to release more toxins, thus causing the Slowking host to become more intelligent.
Shellder lives on the sea floor. Their native range includes Kanto and Johto, but it can be fished up in Sinnoh and Unova as well. It can also parasitically inhabit the head of a Slowking or the tail of a Slowbro.
When Shellder's mouth is clamped on Slowbro's tail, it will feed on Slowbro's sap secretions, as well as the leftovers of food eaten by the host Slowbro. When it's on its own, Shellder is most likely a filter feeder. The Pokédex entry in Pokémon Stadium states that it hides in sand on the seafloor and catches prey with its soft tongue. It is unknown if or how it feeds while attached to Slowking's head.
In the anime
For a list of Shellder's appearances in the anime as part of Slowbro or Slowking, see the anime sections of Slowbro and Slowking.
Shellder in the animeSpiral Shellder in the animeCrown Shellder in the anime
Pokémon Pinball: Three Shellder appear on the Red Table and give the player points when hit. When Catch'em Mode is activated, they also reveal the silhouette of the Pokémon attempting to be captured upon being hit.
Pokédex entries
For Shellder's Pokédex entries as part of Slowbro or Slowking, see the Pokédex entries sections of Slowbro and Slowking.
This Pokémon was unavailable prior to Generation I.
At night, this Pokémon uses its broad tongue to burrow a hole in the seafloor sand and then sleep in it. While it is sleeping, Shellder closes its shell, but leaves its tongue hanging out.
At night, it burrows a hole in the seafloor with its broad tongue to make a place to sleep. While asleep, it closes its shell, but leaves its tongue hanging out.
In the anime, Shellder is required to evolve Slowpoke into Slowbro or Slowking. Shellder clamps onto a Slowpoke's tail to evolve into Slowbro, or onto its head while wearing the King's Rock to evolve into a Slowking. Even though Shellder changes form drastically when it bonds with Slowpoke to evolve (see above), it is not considered an evolution in and of itself.
Some of Slowbro's Pokédex entries states that if the Shellder becomes detached, it will devolve back into a Slowpoke, one of the very few references to devolution.
It is also mentioned that if the Shellder on Slowking's head comes off, it forgets everything it knows. However, unlike Slowbro's entries there is no indication of devolution. It's possible that the Slowking evolution is irreversible for both Pokémon, and that Shellder is not detachable like a crown.
Though Slowbro and Slowking's Silver Pokédex entries mentions that Shellder secretes venom, it cannot learn any Poison-type attacks by leveling up. However, it is still able to learn Toxic via TM.
Shellder and Cloyster share the same species name with Clamperl. They are all known as the Bivalve Pokémon.
Shellder are one of the few Pokémon to show their entire body in a backsprite before Generation V, which it does in Generation II.
Shellder were shown to be capable of floating through the air in Pokémon Snap, a trait that has been seen in no other media.
In the episode The Evolution Solution, it's revealed that Shellder is still capable of speech as the shell of a Slowbro.
Origin
Shellder is similar to bivalves, more specifically the clam, with its tongue representing a clam's "foot".
Its parasitic relationship to Slowpoke may be inspired by leeches. Interesting enough, Slowbro is known as the Hermit Crab Pokémon and many real-world parasites, including leeches, often target crabs.
Name origin
Shellder is derived from shell. It also may be a pun on shelter, referring to the fact that it lives in a shell.
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.
Pearl (25%)
Big Pearl (8%)
For other sprites and images, please see Shellder images on Bulbagarden Archives.
