** Sandshrew has the lowest base Special Attack stat of all {{type|Ground}} Pokémon.
** Sandshrew has the lowest base Special Attack stat of all {{type|Ground}} Pokémon.
* Both Sandshrew and Alolan Sandshrew have {{Abilities}} that boost evasion in certain weather ({{weather|Sandstorm}} for Sandshrew and {{weather|Hail}} for Alolan Sandshrew) and Hidden Abilities that boost Speed in those same weather conditions.
* Both Sandshrew and Alolan Sandshrew have {{Abilities}} that boost evasion in certain weather ({{weather|Sandstorm}} for Sandshrew and {{weather|Hail}} for Alolan Sandshrew) and Hidden Abilities that boost Speed in those same weather conditions.
* Alolan Sandshrew can be seen as a parallel to {{p|Vulpix|Alolan Vulpix}}. Both were initially introduced in [[Generation I]] and got {{rf|Alolan|Form}}s in {{pkmn|Sun and Moon}}. Both Pokémon are {{type|Ice}} with Vulpix being exclusive to Sun and Sandshrew being exclusive to Moon. Furthermore, both Pokémon evolve when exposed to an [[Ice Stone]].
* Alolan Sandshrew can be seen as a parallel to Alolan {{p|Vulpix}}. Both were initially introduced in [[Generation I]] and got {{rf|Alolan|Form}}s in {{pkmn|Sun and Moon}}. Both Pokémon are {{type|Ice}}s, with Vulpix being exclusive to Sun and Sandshrew being exclusive to Moon. Furthermore, both Pokémon evolve when exposed to an [[Ice Stone]].
Sandshrew is a bipedal mammalian Pokémon, but runs on all fours in the anime. Its brick-patterned yellow hide is dry, tough, blends in with desert sand, and protects its soft white underbelly and muzzle. Sandshrew has blue, almond-shaped eyes, a pointed snout, and triangular ears with white insides. Its tail is thick and conical. It has two long claws on each foot and three sharp claws on its forepaws, which are used to burrow.
Sandshrew spends much of its time hidden underground in deep burrows. It only emerges to lunge and drag in passing Bug-type Pokémon. Sandshrew can quickly curl into a tight ball to protect itself from great falls and opponents, but may also throw sand at attackers. While its body can efficiently absorb water to facilitate life in the desert, Sandshrew has been found in caves as well. It also lives deep underground in nests it has created from digging tunnels. Should hard rocks get in the way of digging, Sandshrew will use its sharp claws to remove them before continuing to dig. If it is too wet, its skin becomes wrinkly. It dries itself out by using the geothermal heat near a volcano.
In the Alola region, Sandshrew migrated to snowy mountains due to the volcanic activity near the desert areas. Its body is a light, icy blue, with a cream-colored belly and muzzle. This results in Sandshrew developing a body of ice that is as hard as steel. Thicker plates form a dome around its head and its ears resemble an igloo's entrances. In adapting to this cold climate, its body became larger and heavier with a shell of ice covering its hide. This steel-like covering grants it extra defense from predators like Sneasel, but it is unable to curl into a ball like its desert counterpart. It can burrow itself in the snow to avoid being blown away by blizzards. Predators, such as Weavile, exploit of its soft underbelly. Alolan Sandshrew's claws allow it to move without slipping on icy surfaces, but it slides on its stomach when it needs to move quickly.[1]
In the anime
In the main series
Sandshrew in the animeAlolan Sandshrew in the anime
Major appearances
Sandshrew debuted in The Path to the Pokémon League, under the ownership of A.J. Despite A.J.'s seemingly harsh and barbaric training methods, like using a whip on it and training in a pool, it was very loyal to him.
In Pikachu's PikaBoo, a Sandshrew was one of the Pokémon that played hide-and-seek. Sandshrew hid by camouflaging itself in front of a brick wall.
In Sandshrew's Locker!, Mira enlisted Ash and his friends to help retrieve her Sandshrew after it was lost at the bottom of an artificial lake created by a dammed river.
Near the beginning of Clefairy and the Moon Stone, an ailing Sandshrew was seen lying down. Seymour described as it "drying out" because of the significant increase of light sources inside Mt. Moon.
Sandshrew's body is configured to absorb water without waste, enabling it to survive in an arid desert. This Pokémon curls up to protect itself from its enemies.
Sandshrew has a very dry hide that is extremely tough. The Pokémon can roll into a ball that repels any attack. At night, it burrows into the desert sand to sleep.
Sandshrew's body is configured to absorb water without waste, enabling it to survive in an arid desert. This Pokémon curls up to protect itself from its enemies.
Sandshrew has a very dry hide that is extremely tough. The Pokémon can roll into a ball that repels any attack. At night, it burrows into the desert to sleep.
It burrows into the ground to create its nest. If hard stones impede its tunneling, it uses its sharp claws to scatter them and then carries on digging.
No other Pokémon has the same typecombination as Alolan Sandshrew and its Alolan evolved form.
Sandshrew and its evolved form both share their category name with Rattata, Raticate, Pikachu, and Raichu. They are all known as the Mouse Pokémon, though Rattata and Raticate have also been called the Rat Pokémon.
Sandshrew has the lowest base Special Attack stat of all Ground-type Pokémon.
Both Sandshrew and Alolan Sandshrew have Abilities that boost evasion in certain weather (Sandstorm for Sandshrew and Hail for Alolan Sandshrew) and Hidden Abilities that boost Speed in those same weather conditions.
Alolan Sandshrew can be seen as a parallel to Alolan Vulpix. Both were initially introduced in Generation I and got Alolans in Sun and Moon. Both Pokémon are Ice-types, with Vulpix being exclusive to Sun and Sandshrew being exclusive to Moon. Furthermore, both Pokémon evolve when exposed to an Ice Stone.
Sandshrew may be based on the armadillo, a mammal that curls up into a ball, has sharp claws, and lives in desert regions. Both Sandshrew and Sandslash are mentioned to have poisonous claws, similar to how some species of the shrew are poisonous. Sandshrew also closely resembles a pangolin.
Alolan Sandshrew seems to also be based on an igloo and a curling stone.
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.
Quick Claw (5%)
Grip Claw (5%)
For other sprites and images, please see Sandshrew images on the Bulbagarden Archives.
