Larvitar is a small, green reptilian Pokémon with rocky skin. It has a blunt spike on top of its head, a short, rounded snout, and triangular, black markings below and on the upper corners of its red eyes. Red scales cover its diamond-shaped belly, and there are several small holes in its body. Its short arms lack fingers, while its feet have a single toenail each. It has a tail with a conical center surrounded by a ring of plate-like scales, causing it to resemble a tunnel-boring machine. Larvitar is born deep underground, far from its parent. It grows by consuming soil, and will enter its pupal stage upon eating an entire mountain's worth of earth. Larvitar usually lives in mountains, hills, and caves.
Larvitar first appeared in Pikachu's PikaBoo. Pikachu and co. invited Larvitar and its friends to a game of Hide 'n' Seek, though Larvitar refused. Later, it was feeling left out and viciously kicked a rock at a lawnmower (which went ridiculously haywire afterwards).
Afterwards, once Pikachu and co., along with Larvitar, destroyed the lawnmower, Larvitar started a new game of Hide 'N' Seek with fellow Pokémon. Larvitar is also shown to fix one of the smaller stones on the larger stone, along with Togepi, whom he had roared at, earlier in the short.
In Pinch Healing, a Larvitar was being babysat by a Poké-Sitter named Matt. Ash and his friends were helping him with his job. The Larvitar was shy, and used Sandstorm when confronted. By the end of the episode, however, it warmed up to the group, particularly May.
Crystal's Archy was attacked by a Larvitar and injured five years prior to the plot of the volume, causing it to go on a rampage until Crystal calmed it down. The same Larvitar returned when Crystal returned to Mt. Mortar, tormenting Crystal and Arcanine until her newly-evolved Megaree defeated it, allowing her to capture it and regain her shattered confidence from failing to catch Suicune earlier in the volume.
Larvitar is born deep under the ground. To come up to the surface, this Pokémon must eat its way through the soil above. Until it does so, Larvitar cannot see its parent's face.
Yogiras may be a combination of 幼児 yōji (baby or child) or 幼生 yōsei (larva) and 嫌い kirai (hate). Giras may derive from Gojira, the Japanese name for the character Godzilla, or Angiras, the Japanese name for the character Anguirus. Both are dinosaur-like tokusatsu movie monsters that share some characteristics with Tyranitar, its evolution.
In other languages
Language
Title
Meaning
Japanese
ヨーギラス Yogiras
From 幼児 yōji, 幼生 yōsei, 嫌い kirai, Godzilla, and Angiras.
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.