Caterpie

Species          Quote “If you touch the feeler on top of its head, it will release a horrible stink to protect itself.” — Caterpie's Pokédex entry[src]     C Caterpie   [Edit]   [Talk]

Caterpie <sup>(JPJapanese: キャタピー

Romaji: Caterpie)</sup> is a species of Pokémon in the series of the same name. It is a Bug-type Pokémon that made its first appearance in the first generation games Red and Blue. It evolves into Metapod at level 7.

Physiology and Behavior

Caterpie is an insect Pokémon that resembles a green caterpillar with a yellow underside and teardrop-shaped tail. There are yellow ring-shaped markings down the sides of its segmented body, which resemble its eyes and are meant to scare off predators. Its most notable characteristic is the bright red antenna (osmeterium) on its head, which releases a stench to repel predators. Despite these features and its camouflage in green foliage, Caterpie is often preyed upon by Flying-type Pokémon. Its four tiny feet are tipped with suction cups, permitting this Pokémon to scale most surfaces with minimal effort.

Caterpie is easy to capture and grows quickly, making it ideal for new Trainers. As Caterpie grows and develops over time, it will shed its skin many times before finally cocooning itself in thick silk. It can also spit this silk in order to entangle foes as seen in the anime. It has a voracious appetite, which drives it to eat a hundred leaves a day. It will even eat leaves bigger than itself. According to Pokémon Adventures, its favorite food is the Vermilion flower. Caterpie lives in temperate forests and jungles. As shown in Pokémon Sleep, Caterpie is known to sleep occasionally while using String Shot. On occasion, it drools out strings instead of saliva.

Appearances

Main Pokémon games

Pokémon Mystery Dungeon

Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Red Rescue Team and Blue Rescue Team: 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.

Other Pokémon games

In the anime

Caterpie was the first Pokémon that Ash Ketchum caught in the anime. It would later evolve into Butterfree and release it afterwards in Bye Bye Butterfree.

In Working My Way Back to Mew!, Goh caught a Caterpie. It has since made further appearances in Pokémon Journeys: The Series.

In Pokémon Origins, a Caterpie was seen in Professor Oak's introduction, while Red caught another, which was registered in his Pokédex. It evolved into Metapod before his Gym battle with Brock.

Origin and inspiration

Caterpie is based on a caterpillar, perhaps specifically the Asian swallowtail, eastern tiger swallowtail, or spicebush swallowtail due to its green body, yellow eyespots, and red osmeterium. The tip of its tail resembles the horn that many species of hawk moth larvae have on their rear ends.

Caterpie may be a corruption, or shortening, of caterpillar.

In-game information

Pokédex entries

Game locations

Evolution

Caterpie	Reach level 7.	Metapod	Reach level 10.	Butterfree

Base Stats

Base Stats
HP	45
Attack	30
Defense	35
Sp. Attack	20
Sp. Defense	20
Speed	45
Total	195

Moveset

Main article: Caterpie/moveset

Gallery

Sprites

Sprites
Red Green	Red Blue	Yellow
Gold File:PKMNG010-S.png	Silver File:PKMNS010.png File:PKMNS010-S.png	Crystal File:PKMNC010.gif File:PKMNC010-S.gif
Ruby Sapphire File:PKMNRS010.png File:PKMNRS010-S.png	Emerald File:PKMNE010.gif File:PKMNE010-S.gif	Fire Leaf File:PKMNFRLG010.png File:PKMNFRLG010-S.png
Diamond Pearl File:PKMNDP010-S.png	Platinum File:PKMNP010.png File:PKMNP010-S.png	Heart Soul File:PKMNHGSS010.png File:PKMNHGSS010-S.png
Black White File:PKMNBW010-S.png	Black 2 White 2 File:PKMNBW2010.png File:PKMNBW2010-S.png	X Y File:PKMNXY010-S.png
Pikachu Eevee File:PKMNLGPE010-S.png	Sword Shield File:PKMNSS010-S.png	Brilliant Diamond Shining Pearl File:PKMNBDSP010.png File:PKMNBDSP010-S.png

Trivia

• Caterpie was both the first Pokémon to be caught and the first Pokémon to evolve in the anime.
• In the anime and the Pokémon Adventures manga, Caterpie holds the record as the Pokémon who takes the least amount of time to evolve twice, taking only one episode in the animated series and one chapter in Pokémon Adventures.
  • Poliwag and Togepi also share this record, but in Pokémon Adventures only.
• Caterpie is tied with Weedle, Magikarp, Igglybuff, Carvanha, Attack Forme Deoxys, and Stonjourner for having the lowest base Special Defense stat of all Pokémon.