Skeledirge (Pokémon)

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Skeledirge (Japanese: ラウドボーン Laudbon) is a dual-type introduced in Generation IX.
It evolves from starting at level 36. It is the final form of .
==Biology==
Skeledirge is a large, red, crocodilian Pokémon covered in rectangular scales. Its belly is angular and has a white coloration flanked by black stripes on either side, resembling an open suit jacket and dress shirt. It also has various white-colored patterns on its head, lower jaw, neck, back, shoulders, arms, legs, and the cylindrical tip of its tail. The white coloration on the top of its head resembles a . Skeledirge has three black claws on each foot, and although it usually walks on all fours, it is capable of standing on its hind legs.
Skeledirge's head is delineated with a black circular shape at the top. It has black eyes with yellow irises and red eyelids, serrated jaws with purple insides, and various square and triangular patterns that come in red, orange, yellow, and purple. A wreath of solid orange-and-yellow fire energy emerges from the back of Skeledirge's jaws, which circles around its head.
There is an orange fiery bird resting on top of Skeledirge's head, which is a separate, independent entity from the Pokémon. This bird is spherical, with a yellow face, white eyes, a short crest and tail, and a singular tiny pointed "foot" it balances itself on. It is said that the bird was born when the egg-shaped fireball Skeledirge had as a gained a soul, which also gave Skeledirge its typing. The bird can sometimes be seen pecking at Skeledirge's jaws, supposedly cleaning its teeth.
As shown in Pokémon Sleep, Skeledirge and its pre-Evolutions are known to sometimes sleep with one eye open. The fiery bird on Skeledirge's head sometimes moves about and even plays pranks on it when Skeledirge's sleep is shallow, a behavior which Skeledirge tolerates.
Skeledirge has a meddlesome but caring personality. Its singing is gentle, but powerful and full of vitality, capable of soothing the souls of all who hears it. Opponents hearing its singing will feel warm and fulfilled inside, losing their will to battle.Skeledirge — Pokémon Scarlet and Pokémon Violet | Official Website Skeledirge burns its enemies by unleashing flames that exceed the temperature of 5,400 °F (3,000 °C). When Skeledirge sings, its fire bird transforms into a microphone for Skeledirge, growing its "foot" longer until it reaches the ground. .
Skeledirge is the only known Pokémon capable of learning .
Skeledirge microphone SV.png|Skeledirge's fiery bird changes into a microphone when it sings
Torch Song IX 2.png|The bird then gains fiery wings as it attacks
===Evolution===
Skeledirge evolves from and is the final form of .
(For specifics on this Pokémon's Evolution in the games, refer to Game data→Evolution data.)
==Game data==
===Pokédex entries===
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Skeledirge in the
===Game locations===
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====In side games====
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===Stats===
====Base stats====
===Type effectiveness===
===Learnset===
====By leveling up====
====By TM====
====By ====
====By a prior Evolution====
===Side game data===
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===Evolution data===
===Sprites===
==In animation==
===Main series===
====Major appearances====
====Minor appearances====
===Pokémon: Paldean Winds===
A Skeledirge appeared in Breathe Together, under the ownership of a .
===Biri-Biri===
A Skeledirge appeared in the music video for Biri-Biri, under the ownership of . It has access to stallization, and its Tera Type is .
==In the manga==
==In the TCG==
==Trivia==
* Skeledirge is the heaviest fully evolved first partner Pokémon, weighing 719.8 lbs (326.5 kg).
* In a trademark filed by The Pokémon Company on November 7, 2022, Skeledirge's Japanese name was romanized as "Loudbone" instead of "Laudbon".商願２０２２－１２７３３２ The name "Laudbon" was trademarked a month later on December 19, 2022.商願２０２２－１４４６１１
* In Generation IX, prior to the Version 2.0.1 update of , Skeledirge was unable to learn , while its pre-Evolutions could.
===Origin===
Skeledirge resembles a crocodile with a skull pattern or a on its forehead. In particular, Skeledirge together with the "hatched" fiery bird on its head may be based on a and its supposed cleaning symbiosis with the . The location of the bird might also be inspired by the bulbous protuberance at the tip of male s' snouts, which enables them to produce certain sounds. In , Skeledirge and its pre-Evolutions are revealed to sleep with one eye open, just like real-life crocodiles.
Like its pre-evolved form, Skeledirge's affinity to vocal performance could be based on the observed singing behavior in crocodilians during breeding and nesting times. Skeledirge's "suited" appearance and general behavior further alludes to this, resembling a singer such as those in , , or . The hair-like flames are also reminiscent of a . Its Fire typing and signature move, , may be inspired by the fact that crocodiles release excess heat through their mouths, as well as a reference to the phrase "spitting fire" for a good vocal performance. 
Skeledirge being a Ghost-type crocodile could be a reference to several crocodile-related ghost stories present in , such as the Catalonian ; the Lizard of Magdalena from ; or the Drac de Na Coca, whose body can be found on display in , from which Skeledirge's skeletal appearance may take inspiration from, due to the similar exposed skull in both. It may also be based on the bogeyman-esque monster , which is typically depicted as an alligator hag with long messy hair in Brazilian culture, and as a crocodilian creature with a dome-shaped body in the . The name may derive from a word for "skull" or "shell", and develops the meaning of "head" in colloquial Spanish or Portuguese. It also becomes the namesake for the fruit and has been associated with the crocodile since the . This reference may also be present in the design of and .
Skeledirge's Ghost-type and its overall design may also be inspired by the Mexican holiday of (literally "Day of the Dead"), with its face resembling a , and the fire energy around its neck resembling put on display to honor the dead. Its colorful look may be based on , a form of Mexican sculpture art depicting fantastical creatures in brightly colored patterns. Alternatively, it also resembles the works of art by such as the salamander statue dubbed "El Drac" (lit. "The Dragon"), located in , , as well as his architecture as a whole, which is usually very related to bones, most recognizably being the and the back of the .
Alternatively, its Ghost typing could draw inspiration from the crocodile-headed Egyptian deity , or more specifically Sobek-Ra in in and Egypt. The fire bird may also vaguely represent the acquired godhead of or in Sobek, as both deities are depicted with bird heads. It may also be inspired by the , which is said to resurrect from its ashes; or the , another folkloric bird said to have been resurrected after being roasted.
====Name origin====
Skeledirge may be a combination of skeleton and (a type of song or hymn performed in mourning, such as during funerals).
Laudbon may be a combination of (Spanish lute, a musical instrument), loud, and bone.
==In other languages==
==See also==
==References==
==External links==
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de:Skelokrok
es:Skeledirge
fr:Flâmigator
it:Skeledirge
ja:ラウドボーン
zh:骨纹巨声鳄