The aerodentia family is a family of cave-dwelling, light-sensitive creatures introduced in Pikmin 3, although the family went unclassified until Pikmin 3 Deluxe. Its only member is a species known as the Phosbat, and its several stages of life. Members belong to the Tectupervus genus.
Members
Phosbat
- Main article: Phosbat.
Scientific name: Tectupervus pteromys (juvenile)
The Phosbat is the infant form of the Vehemoth Phosbat. It bears some notable resemblances to the adult form, including its orange wings, black, hairy head, and big bulging eyes that squint when exposed to light. The noises the Phosbat emits are also similar to that of the adult form. Its legs are stumpy, similar to those of the adult, but it lacks proper arms. It also lacks fluorescent lights upon its head, and only two fangs are visible in its mouth.
Phosbat Pod
- Main article: Phosbat Pod.
Scientific name: Tectupervus pteromys (egg sac)
Phosbat Pods are nest-like organism from which Phosbats spawn. If light from a Glowcap shines on top of one, it closes its opening, preventing it from spawning more Phosbats; it will also stop spawning Phosbats after it has spawned five of them. If a Phosbat Pod doesn't activate before the big light bulb in the Vehemoth Phosbat arena is turned on, it will remain small. It should be noted that attacking a Phosbat Pod will attract the attention of the Vehemoth Phosbat; this is a reasonable, motherly response.
Vehemoth Phosbat
- Main article: Vehemoth Phosbat.
Scientific name: Tectupervus pteromys
The Vehemoth Phosbat is a boss in Pikmin 3, and is the second boss encountered in Story Mode. It is a large, bioluminescent moth-like creature with massive orange wings, yellow eyes, small stumpy limbs, and a large gaping whale-like mouth. It can absorb small amounts of light to turn transparent and create a vortex in its mouth to consume prey without needing to descend.
Naming
"Aero" refers to the air or sky in Latin, and the adult form, the Vehemoth Phosbat, is seen to be able to fly. "Dentia" is related to teeth, possibly pointing out the adult Phosbat's teeth, and the young Phosbat's fangs.
Tectu itself doesn't have a Latin meaning, but its closest word, tectum, means shelter. This could point to how the aerodentia family live in dark caves, which shelter them from the sun. Pervus also lacks a meaning, but it is fairly close to the Latin word parvus, which means tiny. It is unknown how this relates to the aerodentia family, but if there has to be a meaning, it might be relating to the small size of the Phosbat and Phosbat Pod.
All in all, the genus Tectupervus might mean tiny shelter, or the tiny sheltered. The family name "aerodentia" could mean "toothed flier".
Names in other languages
| Language | Name | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
 Japanese |
オウモンガ科? Ou mon ga ka |
Yellow pattern moth family |
 Chinese(traditional) |
橫紋蛾科 | |
 French |
broyidés | From Broidunoir (Vehemoth Phosbat) or Broidugris (Phosbat) |
 German |
Flatterbeißer | |
 Korean |
노랑문양나방 과 | |
 Spanish |
Aerodentios | From English name |
