Skeeterskate

Skeeterskate
Appears in	Pikmin 3, Pikmin 4
Scientific name	Gerridus clavomacula
Family	Spitterspatter
Areas	Distant Tundra, Twilight River, Serene Shores
Caves	Doppelgänger's Den
Mission Mode Collect Treasure! stages	Silver Lake, Forgotten Cove
Mission Mode Battle Enemies! stages	Garden of Hope Remix, Fortress of Festivity, The Rustyard, Clockwork Chasm
Side Story days	Pikmin Reunion
Dandori Challenge stages	None
Dandori Battle stages	None
Bingo Battle stages	Stagnant Sea, Parched Brook
Attacks	Spit water at Pikmin

The Skeeterskate (ミズンボウ^?, lit.: "Watery Pond Skater") is an enemy that appears in Pikmin 3 and Pikmin 4. It skims around the surface of the water, and attacks by shooting small jets of water at the Pikmin and leaders. It can be killed in one hit by throwing a Pikmin on top of it, much like a Dwarf Bulborb.

Stats

Game	Weight	Max. carriers	Seeds	Value	Health
(?)	2	4 (normally)	3	× 5 × 5	45
	2	4	3	× 2	45

Behavior

The Skeeterskate stands over water when idle. When a leader or Pikmin is near it, the Skeeterskate will distance itself and will start shooting water, which will kill Pikmin that are not resistant to it. After three shots, it will run out of water comes, it will start drinking to recharge.

Appearance

Skeeterskates look similar to real-life pond skaters, with a dark-green body with white stripes and yellow eyes They have three legs situated to its sides and behind, each ending with orange protrusions, and a proboscis. A large transparent sac sits in its head, and is stored with water the Skeeterskate sucks up.

Locations

To do: List its locations.
Care to do so?

Pikmin 3

Story Mode

The Skeeterskate first appears in Distant Tundra where four of them can be found in the main area's river. Two of them appear on the east side, in the pocket with Water Dumples and the bamboo gate to the Shaggy Long Legs arena. The other pair are found on the opposite side of the map, both found guarding the Portable Sunset.

Only one is found in Twilight River in the second section near where the pole that contains orange bridge pieces. It can attack Pikmin on the Lily pads so be cautious.

Collect Treasures!

In Silver Lake four Skeeterskates can be found on the water in the south-east part of the map. Three of them contain a Cupid's Grenade each, while the fourth one the furthest south-east contains a Golden Grenade.

In Forgotten Cove two are found in the south of the westward pool, near the Sputtlefish.

Battle Enemies!

In Garden of Hope Remix, three Skeeterskates appear in the westward pocket of water where the Toady Bloyster is found during story mode.

In Fortress of Festivity, seven Skeeterskates are found in the level's only pocket of water in the south-west corner of the map.

Two Skeeterskates reside in The Rustyard and are the primary focus of the mission's icon. They are found on the east side of the river that divides the map, near the two extrusions with geysers on them.

Four Skeeterskates can be found in Clockwork Chasm in the only bodies of water in the stage. In the east body of water, closer to the base behind an electric gate, one Skeeterskate is found in the rectangle pool. The other three are found in the west square pool.

Side Stories

Three Skeeterskates are found in the first mission of Olimar's Assigment, Pikmin Reunion. They appear in the water like always, one spawning next to the bridge but being able to transverse through the eastern section of water and around the Blue Onion, and the other two appearing near the water's edge in the western section of water.

Bingo Battle

Skeeterskates can be found in Stagnant Sea layout B and layout C. In layout B, the two Skeeterskates appear inward next to the bridges, one for each bridge. In layout C, the two Skeeterskates are found near the boots, the one on blue team's side being behind the boot and on red team's side being at the front of the foot of the boot.

Skeeterskates also appear in two layouts in Parched Brook, this time layout A and layout B. In both layouts the Skeeterskates appear in the northern and southern bodies of water, one for each pool. In layout A this lands them next to bridge pieces

Pikmin 4

Four Skeeterskates appear in Serene Shores. The first one is close to the Blossoming Dunes base, being in the pool that separates you from the Dandori battle. The other Skeeterskates are adjacent to this one. Going east, and to the pool near the Hermit Crawmad, two more Skeeterskates can be found. The final Skeeterskate appears in the westward grassy section west of the Dandori battle, in the south pool, guarding pots that contain the level's two Chance Totems.

Two Skeeterskates appear in the first sublevel of Doppelgänger's Den, both being in the main room north of where you start in the pool with the Astringent Clump.

Strategy

The following article or section contains guides.
The strategies shown are just suggestions.

The Skeeterskate will skim across the water aimlessly until Pikmin are nearby. Once it spots Pikmin, it will inflate the sac atop its head and fire jets of water at them. A single shot of water will splash on the ground and affect all Pikmin within a small radius.

Skeeterskates are easiest to hit when the water sac is empty, as they will stop to refill it, so it is a good idea to run behind it with Blue Pikmin and throw them at such a time.

In certain areas of the game, the player is forced to fight them without any Blue Pikmin. In this case, it is possible to walk into the water underneath, then swarm them with Winged Pikmin. If a Skeeterskate is close enough to land, it is also possible to kill it with any other kind of Pikmin with a single toss, but the player must be ready to rescue any Pikmin that risk drowning.

Notes

Alph's comments

“Structural flaw: weak hide
Weight: 2

The genius of this design is that it uses its habitat of water to fuel its spout attacks. It can spray three times on one tank! Top marks for efficiency. The most glaring downside is that it can't move while it's refueling. You'd think someone would have realized what a golden opportunity that presents to attack.”

Brittany's comments

“Mostly what this thing does is suck up water and spit it out to attack. I completely hate it. It keeps getting in the way of collecting fruit! I need that fruit NOW! It's not like I asked anyone to wash it for me first!”

Charlie's comments

“I've been watching this one, and I have a little theory about how it skates on water without sinking. Ready for this? It's so busy getting from place to place that it doesn't have time to sink.”

Louie's comments

“The extremities cannot be used for food, but you can drink the liquid inside for a stimulating apéritif!”

Olimar's comments

US version

“Skeeterskate
Gerridus clavomacula
Spitterspatter family

It skates on water at high speed thanks to tiny hairs on the tips of its feet. These hairs are coated in an ultra-hydrophobic substance to minimize friction against the water's surface. Its long proboscis functions as a straw to take in water, which is stored in a reservoir in its head, as well as to spout it as a weapon against small insects. While taking in water, it also takes in microscopic plankton, meaning that its prime means of defense is also a feeding mechanism.”

European version

“Skeeterskate
Gerridus clavomacula
Spitterspatter family

It skates on water at high speed thanks to tiny hairs on the tips of its feet. These hairs are coated in an ultra-hydrophobic substance to minimise friction against the water's surface. Its long proboscis functions as a straw to take in water, which is stored in a reservoir in its head, as well as to spout it as a weapon against small insects. While taking in water, it also takes in microscopic plankton, meaning that its prime means of defence is also a feeding mechanism.”

Dalmo's notes

“Clean water is a necessity for this water-walking sweetheart, and a lot of it at that. In water soiled with oils, detergents, or other pollutants, it could lose the surface tension that supports its specially evolved feet and drown! This is an extraordinary creature that could only exist on such a water-rich planet.”

Olimar's notes (Pikmin 4)

“It skates on water at high speed thanks to tiny hairs on the tips of its feet. These hairs are coated in an ultra-hydrophobic substance to minimize friction against the water's surface.

Its long proboscis functions as a straw to take in water, which is stored in a reservoir in its head, as well as to spout it as a weapon against small insects. While taking in water, it also takes in microscopic plankton, meaning that its prime means of defense is also a feeding mechanism.”

Louie's notes (Pikmin 4)

“The extremities cannot be used for food, but you can drink the liquid inside for a zesty beverage!”

Pikmin 3 Prima Guide

“The Skeeterskate is a spindly aquatic creature that skims along the surface of the water. This creature utilizes long-range water attacks to drown its targets from an impressive distance.”

“To defeat a Skeeterskate, toss a Blue Pikmin onto its head, or use a squad of Blue Pikmin to charge the creature. When that's not an option, use Winged Pikmin to attack a Skeeterskate above the water – just be prepared to rescue any Winged Pikmin that get caught in the enemy's attack.”

Pikmin Garden

Text

“水上を滑るように素早く移動する、ミズンボウ。プランクトンを主食とし、ストロー状の口で水と一緒に吸い上げる。縄張り意識が強く、近くを通る小虫に対して見境なく水を撃ち出す。

特徴その1 水に浮く

足先が水をはじく毛で覆われていて、表面張力によって浮くことができる。

(Image text: 超疎水性の細かい毛がびっしり)

特徴その2 水を撃ち出す

ストロー状の口で水を吸い上げて、縄張りに入ってきた外敵に対して水を撃ち出して威嚇する。

(Image text: 貯水袋が空になるとまた水を吸い上げる)”

Translation

“The Skeeterskate moves quickly as if gliding on the water. Its main food is plankton, which it sucks up along with the water with its straw-like mouth. It is territorial and will shoot water at any small insects that pass nearby.

Feature #1: Floating on water

The tips of its feet are covered with water-repelling hairs, which allow it to float due to surface tension.

(Image text: "Full of ultra-hydrophobic tiny hairs")

Feature #2: Shooting out water

It sucks up water with its straw-like mouth and shoots it at enemies that enter its territory to intimidate them.

(Image text: "When the reservoir is empty, it sucks up water again")”

Technical information

Pikmin 3 technical information (?)
These values are the same in Pikmin 3 and Pikmin 3 Deluxe.
Internal name	`amembo`
HP	45
Rock Pikmin throw hits to kill	1
White Pikmin ingestions to kill	0
Bomb rock explosions to kill	1
Bomb rock ingestions to kill	0
Number of direct hits on top to kill	1
Damage to leaders	0
Territory radius	500
Mission Mode value	5

Other information

Pikmin 4 Piklopedia number: #52

Naming

See more: Spitterspatter family#Naming.

Common name: Skeeterskate. From "Skeeter", slang for "mosquito", and "skate", a reference to the pond skater.
Japanese nickname: ミズンボウ^?, lit.: "Watery Pond Skater".
Japanese name: タテジマミズンボウ^?, lit.: "Vertical Stripes Watery Pond Skater".
Scientific name: Gerridus clavomacula. Clavomacula could be derived from the macula part of the retina creatures use to see with 20/20 precision, possibly in reference to the Skeeterskate's accurate shots when hitting targets.
Internal names: Its internal name is amembo, which refers to the word アメンボウ^? (lit.: "pond skater").
Prerelease: None.

Names in other languages

Language	Name	Meaning	Notes
Japanese	ミズンボウ^? Mizunbō	Water Pond Skater	From 水^? (water) and アメンボウ^? (pond skater)
Chinese (traditional)	瓶子水黽 Píngzi Shuǐmǐn	Bottle Pond Skater
Chinese (simplified)	瓶子水黾 Píngzi Shuǐmǐn	Bottle Pond Skater
Dutch	Waterschieter	Water shooter
French	Ragnée d'eau	Water pider	The name comes from "araignée d'eau" (pond skater, lit.: "water spider")
German	Wasserflitzer	Water Dasher
Italian	Idrospruzzatore	Hydrosprayer	From "idro-" (hydro-) and "spruzzatore" (sprayer)
Korean	물쟁이 Mul-Jaengi	Water Pond Skater	From 물 (water) and 소금쟁이 (pond skater)
Portuguese	Hidrosquito	Hydrosquito	Portmanteau of "hidro-" (hydro-) and "mosquito" (mosquito)
Spanish	Acuatirador	Aquashooter	From "acua" (water) and "tirador" (shooter)