Shellder

Shellder, known in Japan as シェルダー () is a Water-type Pokémon resembling a clam. It will evolve into Cloyster when a Water Stone is used on it.
Officially, this Pokémon has no alternate forms. However, the thing attached to Slowbro and Slowking is often said to be a Shellder, despite its radically different appearance.
==Biology==
Shellder is a black, circular mollusk inside a purple bivalve shell, with each half decorated by two blunt spikes. The body features two large eyes with small pupils, as well as an enormous tongue. Shellder's body is soft and extremely tender. However, its shell is harder than diamond, so it usually keeps the shell as closed as possible in order to prevent its squishy body from being exposed. Because ing exposes its body to its enemies, it usually only does this as a last resort.
In Generations 1 and 2, Shellder was the only Pokémon that could learn Clamp. In Generations 3 and 4, it was the only Pokémon that could learn .
Shellder swims under the sea by repeatedly opening and closing its shell, as if it were moving backwards. While doing so, it always keeps its tongue hanging out, and despite this, Shellder can swim very quickly. Shellder's tongue isn't actually a hindrance; it can be used as a limb-like tool by digging a hole on the sea floor so Shellder can hide in it. Shellder usually does this at night, when it's going to sleep, but still keeps its tongue exposed after burying itself. Shellder does the same thing when it's hunting for prey, using its tongue as a bait. Occasionally, grains of sand fall into its shell when it's buried. These grains will mix with its body fluids and become shiny pearls as a result.
===Relations with Slowpoke===
Probably the most famous aspect of Shellder is its symbiotic relationship with Slowpoke. When a Shellder clamps a Slowpoke's tail or head, the Slowpoke will evolve into Slowbro or Slowking, respectively, and the Shellder in turn becomes a gray, menacing-looking conch shell with fangs. Shellder morphs so drastically that it might as well be a new Pokémon.
A Shellder that bit a Slowpoke's tail becomes a gray turban shell with four segments, with its eyes and teeth located on the biggest segment and the tip being the smallest segment. The biggest segment also has a lower jaw that can only be seen when looking behind Slowbro. Each segment features curved spikes and several darker spots. This Shellder won't let loose of Slowbro's tail because of its taste, and each time it bites, it injects a secretive poison that benumbs Slowbro off pain completely. Because Shellder now occupies Slowbro's tail, Slowbro now has to hunt prey manually, letting the Shellder feed on leftover scraps.
When Slowbro Mega Evolves, it is especially the Shellder that alters, due to Mega Slowbro's energy being gathered in the Shellder. The Shellder will completely engulf Slowbro, save for its head and arms, as it loses its jaw for a rim of serrated teeth, and also loses the smallest segment for room for Slowbro's tail. The curved spikes are gone, and replaced by four straight spikes on the now-smallest segment. Shellder has become an armor for Slowbro, as it grew so hard that even the harshest attack won't leave a single scratch.
In the Galar region, however, a Shellder will instead bite one of the Slowpoke's front legs, which will become its left arm upon evolving into the Galarian version of Slowbro. This Slowbro evidently uses the Shellder as a gun.
When a Shellder bites a Slowpoke's head when Slowpoke is wearing a King's Rock, Shellder becomes a different-looking conch. While still being a turban shell, this conch only has three segments from the get-go, and no spots. The tip of the shell is adorned with several spikes and a red jewel on its underside, making this segment resemble a small crown. Its lower jaw is more visible now, but each side is adorned with a curved spike so big, it resembles a tusk. This Shellder also has less fangs, which are arguably smaller too. The entire Shellder looks like a crown overall for Slowking.
Each time Shellder bites in Slowking's head, it releases a quantity of venom in its brain, which causes Slowking to become extremely intelligent. Slowking becomes even more intelligent when it yawns, because its yawning causes Shellder to release even more poison. When the Shellder gets off the head, however, Slowking reverts to a Slowpoke and forgets everything it has learned.
For the Galarian version of Slowking, the Shellder has a much more sinister role, in which it appears to actually be mind-controlling the Slowpoke.
==Stats==
==Fanon appearances==
===St. Clair Publications===
All canon Pokémon can be found in Tropes vs. Women in Pokémon Training, including Shellder. In this game, Shellder has a regional variant that actually resembles the Shellder found on Slowbro. This version's type changes to Water/Rock, its evolution changes to needing an Ice Stone, and its abilities change to , , and . Its Pokédex classification even changes, becoming the Conch Pokémon. However, its stats do not change.
==Trivia==
*Shellder and Cloyster share their category with Clamperl. All three Pokémon are categorized as the Bivalve Pokémon.
===Origin===
Shellder seems directly inspired by the clam, with its tongue representing the foot of the clam. Its behavior to Slowpoke is more similar to leeches, as it latches onto Slowpoke and releases beneficial toxins.
====Name Origin====
Shellder's name comes from shell, and possibly shelter.
==Names in other Languages==
==Gallery==
===Artwork===
===Sprites===
090.gif|Generation V
090Shellder.gif|Generation VI
Category:Pokémon (series)
Category:Pokémon Species