Zubat is a small, blue bat-like Pokémon. It has two long, skinny legs. Zubat's face lacks any eyes and a nose. The insides of Zubat's ears and undersides of its wings are purple. Zubat's wings are supported by elongated 'fingers', and four teeth can be discerned from inside its mouth, two on the lower jaw and two on the upper.
Gender differences
A female has smaller fangs.
Special abilities
Though blind, they get around well with echolocation. They can also confuse foes with their high-pitched squeals.
Zubat can also attack with its fangs with moves like Bite and Poison Fang. It is also capable of energy-draining moves such as Leech Life and Giga Drain.
Zubat is one of the few Pokémon that can use Air Cutter. Even though Zubat is actually mammalian, it can use Brave Bird.
Behavior
Zubat is mostly nocturnal, forming colonies in perpetually dark places and hanging upside-down when asleep. When they awake, Zubat will constantly swarm around caves during the night-time. Zubat avoids sunlight and bright places because prolonged exposure to the sun causes its body to become slightly burned, and otherwise causing it to become unhealthy.
Since Zubat prefer the dark, their primary habitat is caves, although during the daytime Zubat may also stay under the eaves of old buildings or in forests. However, at night, they can be found roaming outside, usually for food. It has a very wide range which includes Kanto, Johto, Hoenn, Sinnoh and even Orre.
At night it goes in search of other Pokémon and sometimes humans to suck blood from, although the information is not documented as clearly as that of its evolution, Golbat.
One of Brock's love interests, Dr. Anna, used the Supersonic soundwaves made by her Zubat (nicknamed Mimi) to scan her patients in Hassle in the Castle.
Minor appearances
Like in the games, Zubat are commonly found in any random caves in the anime, and sometimes outdoors at night.
Zubat remains quietly unmoving in a dark spot during the bright daylight hours. It does so because prolonged exposure to the sun causes its body to become slightly burned.
Zubat avoids sunlight because exposure causes it to become unhealthy. During the daytime, it stays in caves or under the eaves of old houses, sleeping while hanging upside down.
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Zubat and its evolution, Golbat, have been in every single regional Pokédex.
Zubat is the only Pokémon that can be caught in the wild in every known region, including Orre and the Ranger series.
Zubat is the last Pokémon in alphabetical order.
To date, every villainous team in the main series of games have had at least one of their members use Zubat and/or one of its evolutionary family members.
Naturally, Zubat's design is inspired by bats. Its wings are shaped like sound waves.
Name origin
Zubat may be a pun on a combination of the word bat and ずばっと zubatto, which is when an edged tool forcefully pierces something (possibly referring to its fangs).
French: Nosferapti - Nosferatu is another word for vampire. The "rapti" part probably comes from the root rapt which relates to predatory characteristics. The "pti" can also come from petit (little), to go with the alto (high) in Golbat's French name.
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.
For other sprites and images, please see Zubat images on Bulbagarden Archives.
