Shellder

Shellder (Japanese: シェルダー Shellder) is a Water-type Pokémon introduced in Generation I. It is a bivalve mollusk Pokémon encased within a spiky, blue-violet shell. It has two round white eyes and a long red tongue. Shellder's tongue is often extended, used for burrowing, capturing prey, and sleeping. Its shell is extremely durable, said to be harder than diamonds, and protects its soft body. Shellder sometimes produces pearls but discards them as they are usually in its way. Shellder has an unusual appetite for Slowpoke tails and can develop a symbiotic relationship with them. When it bites a Slowpoke's tail, the two evolve together into Slowbro. Alternatively, if it bites a Slowpoke's head while it's holding a King's Rock, the two will evolve into Slowking. These relationships allow it to travel onto land and begin a new life cycle. In the Galar region, Shellder attaches to the forearms and heads of Galarian Slowpoke wearing Galarica Cuffs or Galarica Wreaths, causing them to evolve into Galarian Slowbro and Galarian Slowking, respectively. Regardless of the evolved form, Shellder's shell transforms into a spiny, spiraled cone with sharp teeth to anchor it securely to the evolved Slowpoke. In its crown form on Slowking, Shellder has a red jewel on its underside and horns on its shell. It periodically releases venom into Slowking's brain, which increases its intelligence. Shellder swims by rapidly opening and closing its shell while facing backward. Despite its shell, clamping on to an opponent will reveal its vulnerable parts, so it only does so as a last resort.