Skitterling family
The skitterling family is a group of creatures in the Pikmin series, of which three species have been cataloged so far. Most of the skitterling family resemble leaves, and are motionless until a leader or a group of Pikmin comes by.
Members
Desiccated Skitter Leaf
- Main article: Desiccated Skitter Leaf.
Official family unknown
Desiccated Skitter Leaves, introduced in Pikmin 3, are the more hostile members of the Skitterling family. They actually have a means of killing Pikmin by grabbing them and eating them swiftly. They resemble withered and dead leaves rather than the healthy ones Skitter Leaves imitate. The edges of the leaves are serrated and sharp, unlike its green relative.
Skitter Leaf
- Main article: Skitter Leaf.
The Skitter Leaf is a harmless enemy introduced in Pikmin 2. They resemble a regular, healthy leaf. Skitter Leaves are fairly uncommon enemies, but are often found in groups. If approached, a Skitter Leaf will try to scurry away as it has no means of defense or offense. They can often be more trouble than they're worth, since they are only worth one Poko and seed.
Other members
Pond Skater
Official family unknown
The Pond Skater is an airborne species equipped with wings capable of flight; when not in the air, it is typically found skating on bodies of water. According to Olimar's research conducted while he was visiting PNF-404 with Louie to pay back the debt for Hocotate Freight, some Pond Skaters adapted to life on dry land, losing their ability to skate on water. Over time, the Pond Skater's wings became useless for flying, but they began to mimic leaves of their environment. This evolution would eventually lead to the Skitter Leaf, which shares no residual traits of the Pond Skater.
Pond Skaters are mentioned in Pikmin 2[1], but are never encountered by either Louie or Olimar during the game. While not directly proven to be a Skitterling, it is regardless an evolutionary ancestor of the Skitter Leaf. The Skeeterskate, an enemy that skates over the surface of water, does exist in Pikmin 3 but its relation to the Pond Skaters is unknown.
Naming
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The following article or section needs help from someone who can translate Japanese text. |
"Skitter" is a verb that means "to run around", referring to how these creatures scurry about. This word is used in the family member's names, as well as the name of the family itself, which is a portmanteau of "skitter" and "ling", a suffix meaning that something is concerned with the root of the word it is found in.
Their Japanese names use the word ハンボ?, for which the closest translation is half-staff, making the relation between the name and the creature unknown. However, it should be noted that は? means "leaf".
References
- ^ “The skitter leaf is a relative of the pond skater that shed its wings and adapted to life on the ground. With no residual traits of its airborne past, the skitter leaf can neither fly nor skit across the surface of the water. The wings have since evolved into the leaflike structure on its back, which serves to hide the skitter leaf through mimicry. It appears quite effective, as few predators can see through this clever disguise.” – Captain Olimar in Olimar's notes for the Skitter Leaf
