Caterpie (Pokémon)

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Caterpie キャタピー Caterpie #010
Artwork from FR/LG
Type Bug ' Unknown Unknown Blue-Striped Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown	Category Worm Pokémon
Ability Shield Dust Blue-Striped -----	Exp. at Lv. 100 1,000,000
Regional Pokédex numbers Kanto #010 Johto #024 Hoenn #212 Sinnoh — Unova Not in any regional Pokédex
Regional Browser numbers Fiore R— Almia R— Oblivia
Height 1′00″ Imperial 0.3 m Metric 1′00″/0.3 m Red-Striped 0'0"/0.0 m Blue-Striped 0'0"/0.0 m
Weight 6.4 lbs. Imperial 2.9 kg Metric 6.4 lbs./2.9 kg Red-Striped 0.0 lbs./0.0 kg Blue-Striped 0.0 lbs./0.0 kg
Dex color Green	Catch rate 255 (33.3%)
Body style Blue-Striped	Footprint      Blue-Striped
Gender ratio Gender unknown Unknown Gender unknown
Breeding Bug group 1 cycles (255 minimum steps)
EV yield HP 0 Atk 0 Def 0 Sp.Atk 0 Sp.Def 0 Speed 0 Base Exp.: 53 Battle Exp.: 531*
External links On Smogon Pokédex: Generation I Generation II Generation III Generation IV Generation V Generation VI Generation VII Generation VIII Generation IX Artwork on Bulbagarden Archives

Caterpie (Japanese: キャタピー Caterpie) is a Template:Type2 Pokémon.

Caterpie comes with the ability Shield Dust.

Caterpie evolves via level, into Metapod starting at Level 7, then into Butterfree starting at Level 10.

Biology

Physiology

Caterpie resembles a green caterpillar with yellow ring-shaped markings down its body. Its most notable characteristic is the bright orange antennae on its head. These and the large eye-shaped markings help to startle predators. It shares many characteristics with other larval Pokémon such as Wurmple and Weedle, suggesting that their evolutionary lines are closely related.

Gender differences

None.

Special abilities

The antennae on its head will omit a terrible stench from it if the Caterpie is frightened or if the antennae are touched. This serves as an effective protective mechanism against most predators. Its feet are tipped with suction cups, permitting this Pokémon to scale most surfaces with minimal effort. It can also spit a string from its mouth in order to entangle foes.

Behavior

Caterpie grow very quickly, and need to eat voraciously in order to meet their energy requirements. They have various adaptations which permit them to safely devour plant material, including an antennae that releases a horrible smell. It will shed its skin many times before finally cocooning itself in thick silk. While some Trainers are disgusted by the idea of Template:Type2 Pokémon, they are ideal targets for new Trainers as they are fairly weak in the wild and evolve into their final forms at a low level.

Habitat

File:Forest.gif

Forest Pokémon

Caterpie can often be found in wooded areas, such as Viridian Forest.

Diet

Main article: Pokémon food

Caterpie primarily feed on vegetation, such as tree leaves. According to Pokémon Special, its favorite food is the Vermilion flower.

In the anime

File:Ash's Caterpie.jpg

Ash's Caterpie

Ash Ketchum had a Caterpie he caught in Ash Catches a Pokémon! that evolved into Metapod in the same episode and then Butterfree the following episode.

A Caterpie that belonged to a young trainer named Zander ate some of Dr. Gordon's enhanced Rare Candies and turned giant. Zander's Caterpie eventually evolved into a Mothra-sized Butterfree.

In the manga

In Pokémon Get da ze!, Shuu has a Caterpie that he uses in various creative ways, mostly involving strange uses of its String Shot.

In Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Ginji's Rescue Team, a Caterpie was attacked by an Ariados. Ginji had to save the Caterpie from harm.

Pokémon Special

Caterpie's first appearance is a cameo in Bulbasaur, Come Home! as one of the Pokémon that escapes from Professor Oak's Laboratory. It also makes a cameo in The Secret of Kangaskhan.

Yellow had a Caterpie named Kitty, which she did not want to evolve. However, in the battle against Lance, she did not have her Pokédex, which she needed to stop her Pokémon from evolving, and so Caterpie evolved into Metapod and then into Butterfree right afterwards.

In the TCG

Main article: Caterpie (TCG)

Game data

NPC appearances

• Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Caterpie is rescued in the first mission of the game. It is too young to be of any help to the rescue team but remains a strong fan throughout the game, even in its darkest hour.

Pokédex entries

This Pokémon was unavailable prior to Generation I.
Generation I Red Its short feet are tipped with suction pads that enable it to tirelessly climb slopes and walls. Blue Yellow If you touch the feeler on top of its head, it will release a horrible stink to protect itself. Stadium It has large, eye-like patterns on its head as protection. They are used to frighten off enemies.
Generation II Gold For protection, it releases a horrible stench from the antennae on its head to drive away enemies. Silver Its feet have suction cups designed to stick to any surface. It tenaciously climbs trees to forage. Crystal It crawls into foliage where it camouflages itself among leaves that are the same color as its body. Stadium 2 For protection, it releases a horrible stench from the antennae on its head to drive away enemies.
Generation III Ruby Caterpie has a voracious appetite. It can devour leaves bigger than its body right before your eyes. From its antenna, this Pokémon releases a terrifically strong odor. Sapphire Caterpie has a voracious appetite. It can devour leaves bigger than its body right before your eyes. From its antenna, this Pokémon releases a terrifically strong odor. Emerald Its voracious appetite compels it to devour leaves bigger than itself without hesitation. It releases a terribly strong odor from its antennae. FireRed It is covered with a green skin. When it grows, it sheds the skin, covers itself with silk, and becomes a cocoon. LeafGreen Its short feet are tipped with suction pads that enable it to tirelessly climb slopes and walls.
Generation IV Diamond It releases a stench from its red antenna to repel enemies. It grows by molting repeatedly. Pearl It releases a stench from its red antenna to repel enemies. It grows by molting repeatedly. Platinum {{{platinumdex}}} HeartGold {{{heartgolddex}}} SoulSilver {{{soulsilverdex}}}
Generation V Black {{{blackdex}}} White {{{whitedex}}} Black 2 {{{black2dex}}} White 2 {{{white2dex}}}
Generation VI X Unknown Y Unknown

Alternate Games

Pokémon Pinball, Pokémon Trading Card Game (Base Set, Base Set 2, Legendary Collection)

Its short feet are tipped with suction pads that enable it to tirelessly climb slopes and walls.

Pokémon Trading Card Game (Team Rocket)

For protection, it releases a horrible stench from the antennae on its head to drive away enemies.

Game locations

This Pokémon was unavailable prior to Generation I.
Generation I Red Blue Red: Uncommon Blue: Common Red: Route 25, Viridian Forest Blue: Routes 2, 24, and 25, Viridian Forest Blue (Japan) None Trade Yellow Common Viridian Forest
Generation II Gold Silver Gold: Common Silver: Uncommon Gold: Routes 2, 30, and 31, Ilex Forest, National Park and Headbutt trees Silver: National Park during the Bug-Catching Contest Crystal Common Routes 2, 24, 25, 30, and 31, Ilex Forest, National Park
Generation III Ruby Sapphire None Trade Emerald None Trade FireRed LeafGreen Common Routes 2, 24, and 25, Viridian Forest, Pattern Bush Colosseum None Trade XD None Trade
Generation IV Diamond Pearl Uncommon Route 204 (dongle method: FireRed) Platinum None Trade HeartGold SoulSilver None Trade Pal Park Forest Pokéwalker None
Generation V Black White None Trade Black 2 White 2 None Trade Dream World None
Generation VI X Y None Trade

In side games

Game	Location
Pokémon Channel	Viridian Forest
Pokémon Trozei	Phobos Train Endless Level 9 Trozei Battle Mr. Who's Den
Pokémon Mystery Dungeon (Red and Blue)	Wish Cave (2F-4F)
Pokémon Mystery Dungeon (Time and Darkness)	Apple Woods (1F-4F) Oran Forest (1F-4F)

Base stats

Stat		Range
		At Lv. 50	At Lv. 100
HP: 45		105 - 152	200 - 294
Attack: 30		31 - 90	58 - 174
Defense: 35		36 - 95	67 - 185
Sp. Atk: 20		22 - 79	40 - 152
Sp. Def: 20		22 - 79	40 - 152
Speed: 45		45 - 106	85 - 207
Total: 195	Other Pokémon with this total
Minimum stats are calculated with 0 EVs, IVs of 0, and (if applicable) a hindering nature. Maximum stats are calculated with 252 EVs, IVs of 31, and (if applicable) a helpful nature. This Pokémon's Special base stat in Generation I was 20.

Type effectiveness

In Generation I, the effectiveness of Template:Type2 moves is 2×.

Learnset

By leveling up

|- style="text-align:center" | style="text-align:left" | bug | style="background:#91A119" |  bug 

| style=" background:#FFF" | 4 | style=" background:#FFF" | 1 | style=" background:#FFF" | Caterpie | style="display:none; background:#FFF" | {{{6}}} Template:Mlentry4 Template:Mlentry4 Template:Movelist/note

By TM/HM

None

By breeding

None

TCG-only Moves

• Headbutt

Sprites

Gen	Game
I	Red	Blue	Yellow		Red (Ja)	Green	Back
II	Gold	Silver	Crystal				Back
III	Ruby	Sapphire	Emerald		FireRed	LeafGreen	Back
IV	Diamond	Pearl	Platinum		HeartGold	SoulSilver	Back
V	Black	White	Black 2	White 2			Back

For other sprites and images, please see Caterpie images on Bulbagarden Archives.

Trivia

• Caterpie was the first Pokémon to be seen evolving in the anime.
• A common mistake involving Caterpie is that people believe it to be the smallest Pokémon, though there are several Pokémon shorter than its one-foot stature.
• Caterpie is the first Bug Pokémon in National Dex order.
• Caterpie has the same in-game cry as Goldeen.
• Caterpie shares the same species name with Wurmple. They are both known as the Worm Pokémon.

Origin

Caterpie is a stylized caterpillar, most likely resembling a Spicebush Swallowtail caterpillar.

Name origin

Caterpie's name is a corruption of caterpillar.

In other languages

• German: Raupy
• French: Chenipan - Chenille means caterpillar, and pan means trail. It is a pun on the word chenapan, meaning rascal.
• Korean: 캐터피 Kaeteopi - Corruption of caterpillar.
• Chinese (Taiwan): 綠毛蟲 Lú Máo Chóng - "Green caterpillar" or, literally, "green furry worm".
• Chinese (Hong Kong): 綠毛蟲 Lú Máo Zhu - Green furred caterpillar

Related articles

• Ash's Caterpie

External links

• Article on Wikipedia

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Pokémon

#{{{nextnum}}}: Metapod →

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.