Gastrodon have two different appearances: West Sea (pink and brown) and East Sea (blue and green), found on the respective sides of Sinnoh's mountain range.
Gastrodon is a sea slug-like Pokémon and appears much the same as its pre-evolution, but it gains four more stubby legs and is noticeably larger. They both have plain black eyes with white irises, with a third eye in the center of their forehead. Like Shellos, Gastrodon has two forms which is influenced by its diet and the sea it lives in.
In its West Sea form, the flower-like crest it had as a Shellos has now turned into horns adorning the side of its head, which point directly upwards in a crescent moon shape. Its underside up to the bottom of its mouth is pink, its back and the top of its head is completely brown, and it has two small protrusions on its back with several pink spots dotted around them. It also has two small protrusions on its neck underneath the horns, and it has a yellow border running down its body from its head, separating the brown and the pink coloration.
In its East Sea form, it retains the horns it had as a Shellos, although now fully colored green which point at a 45-degree angle. Its underside up to the bottom of its mouth is blue, its back and the top of its head is completely green, and it has two yellow "fins" adorned on its back with a third bordering its side and rear, as well as two small blue spots between them. It has a yellow border running down its body from its head, separating the blue and the green coloration.
Gastrodon and its pre-evolution Shellos are examples of allopatric speciation, though they are still able to breed. It is also a relative of Shellder and Cloyster. When it is threatened, it oozes purple fluid and flees. Gastrodon lives in shallow tidal pools. Gastrodon has strong regenerative capabilities that allow it to recover from injures within a few hours. Gastrodon's main diet consists of plankton. However, it is known occasionally looks for food on land leaving a sticky trail of slime in the process. It is known to have a surprisingly resilient body despite its soft and squishy appearance. Gastrodon cannot stay on land for too long due to its body being highly vulnerable to dehydration. In ancient times, it used to have a shell on its back which has changed into a thin yet hard vestigial plate.
In the anime
West Sea Gastrodon in the animeEast Sea Gastrodon in the anime
Gastrodon, the Sea Slug Pokémon and the evolved form of Shellos. Gastrodon inhabits the shallow tidal pools of the ocean, and its sturdy shell serves to protect its body.
Gastrodon, the Sea Slug Pokémon and the evolved form of Shellos. A sturdy shell covered Gastrodon's back long ago. Its cells still contain evidence of it today.
In Diamond and Pearl, no in-game Trainer uses East Sea Gastrodon in battle, even on the east side of Mt. Coronet.
Prior to Generation VI, Gastrodon's shape was .
Gastrodon and its pre-evolution were accidentally released in Pokémon GO on April 29, 2019, but were removed shortly after. On May 17, 2019, they made their official debut along with various other Pokémon from Generation IV.
Origin
Gastrodon is based on a sea slug, perhaps specifically of the order Opisthobranchia.
The East Sea Gastrodon seems to be based on a sea hare.
Name origin
Gastrodon is a combination of gastropod and don (Spanish for lord). It may also derive from Gastropteron, a genus of sea slug.
From Tritoniidae or Triton (referring to either the aquatic Greek god or the common name of the gastropod genus Charonia) and don. May also involve the word torito (Spanish for little bull)
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.