Lapras is a large, blue sea creature with a cream-colored underside. It has four flippers and wears a purple shell on its back that's dotted with blunt "spikes". Lapras has a long neck, short rounded ears and a single horn in middle of its forehead.
Gender differences
None.
Special abilities
Lapras can sing Pokémon and people to sleep and can carry Pokémon and people on their backs. Some Lapras are able to develop Psychic abilities such as telepathy, like the one belonging to Santa Claus or Satoshi's in Pokémon Zensho. Lapras has the rare ability (among fellow Water-typed Pokémon) to wield Electrical attacks.
Behavior
Lapras swim through the sea in large pods. They keep track of their fellow pod members through use of high-pitched songs they constantly sing, much like whales.
Lapras first appeared in "Holiday Hi-Jynx". This one helped Ash and co. reunite a Jynx with Santa Claus.
In EP084, Ash and co. saved a baby Lapras from a trio of thugs, and then again from Team Rocket. Ash captured this Lapras and mostly used it as transportation between the islands of the Orange Archipelago. It was returned to its family in EP113. Ash's Lapras made a return appearance in EP257.
Pryce of Mahogany Town owns multiple Lapras in EP238.
The most notable role of Lapras in Pokémon Special was being one of the Pokémon of Pryce. In his youth, Pryce lost two of his favourite Lapras in an avalanche, just as the egg borne by them hatched. Unable to get over his loss, Pryce swore to save his Lapras and thus began researching into time travel, setting the events of the Johto saga in motion. Eventually, Pryce was able to capture Celebi and enter time, only to lose Celebi as the Poké Ball containing it was shattered, causing him to be unable to override time any further. However, the baby Lapras, Hewger, was able to enter the time in which Pryce's Lapras were separated, and the family enjoyed a happy reunion while Pryce was eventually lost in time.
In The Electric Tale of Pikachu, Ash saves a Lapras from a swarm of Krabby tormenting it. Like in the anime, Ash used this Lapras as a mode of transportation through the Orange Islands saga. It is not known in this version if he releases it.
People have driven Lapras almost to the point of extinction. In the evenings, this Pokémon is said to sing plaintively as it seeks what few others of its kind still remain.
People have driven Lapras almost to the point of extinction. In the evenings, this Pokémon is said to sing plaintively as it seeks what few others of its kind still remain.
People have driven Lapras almost to the point of extinction. In the evenings, it is said to sing plaintively as it seeks what few others of its kind still remain.
Lapras will not appear in Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Red Rescue Team until a rescue mission involving it has been completed, using the following Wonder Mail code:
F ? J ? 6 9 0 ? 4 Q 6 C
C ! ? ? 8 ? 6 6 8 Q ? ♀
Objective: Rescue Lapras on floor 2 of Tiny Woods.
This Pokémon is based on the fabled Loch Ness Monster in Scotland. The creature and this Pokémon are said to resemble the aquatic dinosaur known as the plesiosaurus. However, Lapras does not have the plesiosaurus's long neck, whereas the body is very similar to the creature that is said to be in Loch Ness.
Name origin
Lapras's name seems to be a corruption of its Japanese name, Laplace. The name may be a reference to Pierre-Simon Laplace, a mathematician who wrote several books on the mathematical properties of the sea and tides, or also from the French word la place, referring to how passengers sit on its back like a seat to be ferried across bodies of water. Its name might also be derived from Lapis, a bright blue gem.
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 Lapras images on Bulbagarden Archives.
