Yanma is a large, red insectoidPokémon that resembles a dragonfly. Compared to its long, thin abdomen, its thorax is short and wide. It has three pairs of gray two-toed legs and two pairs of wings with red bands on them. The see through wings are described as frail and thin. A bright green mask marking covers most of its face, and it has two spikes on top of its head. Its blue eyes can see all around its body at 360 degrees without even moving its head. This allows Yamma to have a high evasiveness. The end of Yanma's tail has two flat extensions from the sides and two gray spikes in the center.
Yanma is a skillful flier. It can make sudden stops, turn in midair and hover in place by flapping its wings at a high speed. Yamma's eyes ensure the prey will not escape its sight, even when behind. It can also generate shock waves capable of breaking glass or even launching a house skyward by flapping its wings very fast. Yanma is often found in wooded and swampy areas. It hunts insects for food, using its eyesight to spot and its flight abilities to pursue prey. Yanma is also territorial, flitting around to guard its territory.
If it flaps its wings really fast, it can generate shock waves that will shatter windows in the area. (Pokémon Red, Silver, or Crystal inserted) Its large eyes can scan 360 degrees. It looks in all directions to seek out insects as its prey. (Pokémon Blue, Gold, or Yellow inserted)
Yanma is capable of seeing 360 degrees without having to move its eyes. It is a great flier that is adept at making sudden stops and turning midair. This Pokémon uses its flying ability to quickly chase down targeted prey.
It can see 360 degrees without moving its eyes. It is a great flier capable of making sudden stops and turning midair to quickly chase down targeted prey.
Yanma is capable of seeing 360 degrees without having to move its eyes. It is a great flier that is adept at making sudden stops and turning midair. This Pokémon uses its flying ability to quickly chase down targeted prey.
Its frail wings are so thin that one can see clear through them. However, during flight these wings exhibit the power to churn air with force enough to launch a house skyward.
Yanma debuted in Wings n' Things, under the ownership of Zachary Evans. Because it was breaking glass in a town due to its inability to control its wings' sonic aspect, Zachary reluctantly abandoned it. Yanma was then captured by Team Rocket and used for one of their schemes, but Zachary rescued it and had it blast the trio off.
In Zoroark: Master of Illusions, multiple Yanma were living in Crown City. Three took part in surrounding Zorua in the park along with the other Pokémon with the intention of attacking him in retribution for what Zoroark did to the city. Before a fight could break out, the Sunkern, along with the other Pokémon, were calmed down by Celebi.
Yanma, the Clear Wing Pokémon. Through the use of its two large eyes, Yanma can see in all directions at once. Yanma is capable of beating its wings at a high rate of speed, generating a powerful shockwave strong enough to shatter glass.
A trio of Yanma was accidentally let loose in Yikes, It's Yanma!, causing minor chaos at the Indigo Plateau by taking an infant hostage. Gold quelled them by taking advantage of their near-360-degree vision with Sudobo's Poké Ball and then successfully rescued the child.
Yanma seems to be based on a dragonfly, possibly the banded darter. Because of its size and weight, it might have been inspired by prehistoric ancestors to modern dragonflies and damselflies in the Meganeura genus, commonly referred to as "griffinflies". This is further supported by its evolution, Yanmega, which is much more closely linked to ancient dragonflies, and whose offspring did not have a larval stage, instead hatching directly into a smaller version of their adult phase, as Yanma is a fully formed dragonfly. This connection is further referenced by its evolution method.
Name origin
Yanma and Yanyanma derive from 蜻蜓 yanma (large dragonfly).
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.