Caterpie (Pokémon)

Caterpie キャタピー Caterpie

Artwork from FR/LG

Type Species  Bug  Worm Pokémon Ability Exp. at 100 Shield Dust 1,000,000 Pokédex Kanto #010 Johto #024 Hoenn #212* Sinnoh #— Browser Fiore R— Almia R— Height Weight 1'00" 6.4 lbs. Pokédex color Body style Footprint Catch rate Green 255 Gender ratio   50% male   50% female Egg groups Egg cycles Bug 11 (2805 steps*) EV yield HP 1 Atk 0 Def 0 Sp.Atk 0 Sp.Def 0 Speed 0 Exp. 53 External links On Legendary Pokémon Pokédex: Generation III Generation IV On Pokémon Palace Network Pokédex (Gen. I-III) On Smogon Pokédex: Generation I Generation II Generation III Generation IV On Eevee's Pokédex (Gen. I-IV) On Psypoke Pokédex On Pokecharms Pokédex (Gen. III-IV) On Marriland Pokédex (Gen. IV) On Serebii's Pokédex: Generation I/II Generation III (Spin-Off games) Generation IV (Spin-Off games) On Azure Heights Pokédex (Gen. I) On Pokémon Dungeon Pokédex (Gen. I-II) On Ultimate Pokémon Center Pokédex (Gen. I-IV) Artwork on Bulbagarden Archives

Caterpie (Japanese: キャタピー Caterpie) is a Bug-type Pokémon.

It evolves into Metapod starting at level 7, who evolves into Butterfree starting at level 10.

Biology

Physiology

Caterpie resembles a green caterpillar with yellow ring-shaped markings down its body. Its most notable characteristic is the bright orange antennae on its head. These and the large eye-shaped markings help to startle predators. It shares many characteristics with other larval Pokémon such as Wurmple and Weedle, suggesting that their evolutionary lines are closely related.

Gender differences

None.

Special abilities

The antennae on its head will omit a terrible stench from it if the Caterpie is frightened or if the antennae are touched. This serves as an effective protective mechanism against most predators. Its feet are tipped with suction cups, permitting this Pokémon to scale most surfaces with minimal effort. It can also spit a string from its mouth in order to entangle foes.

Behavior

Caterpie grow very quickly, and need to eat voraciously in order to meet their energy requirements. They have various adaptations which permit them to safely devour plant material, including an antennae that releases a horrible smell. It will shed its skin many times before finally cocooning itself in thick silk. While some Trainers are disgusted by the idea of Bug-type Pokémon, they are ideal targets for new Trainers as they are fairly weak in the wild and evolve into their final forms at a low level.

Habitat

Forest Pokémon

Caterpie can often be found in wooded areas, such as Viridian Forest.

Diet

Main article: Pokémon food

Caterpie primarily feed on vegetation, such as tree leaves. According to Pokémon Special, its favorite food is the Vermilion flower.

In the anime

Caterpie in the anime

Major appearances

Ash's Caterpie

Ash Ketchum had a Caterpie he caught in Ash Catches a Pokémon that evolved into Metapod in the same episode and then Butterfree the following episode.

Other

A Caterpie that appeared in Caterpie's Big Dilemma belonging to a young trainer named Xander ate some of Dr. Gordon's enhanced Rare Candies and turned giant. Xander's Caterpie eventually evolved into a Mothra-sized Butterfree.

Minor appearances

A Caterpie was used by one of the students of the Pokémon Trainer's School in Gonna Rule The School!.

A Caterpie appeared in One Team, Two Team, Red Team, Blue Team!.

In the manga

In Pokémon Get da ze!, Shū has a Caterpie that he uses in various creative ways, mostly involving strange uses of its String Shot.

In Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Ginji's Rescue Team, a Caterpie was attacked by an Ariados. Ginji had to save the Caterpie from harm.

Pokémon Special

Caterpie's first appearance is a cameo in Bulbasaur, Come Home! as one of the Pokémon that escapes from Professor Oak's Laboratory. It also makes a cameo in The Secret of Kangaskhan.

Yellow had a Caterpie named Kitty, which she did not want to evolve. However, in the battle against Lance, she did not have her Pokédex, which she needed to stop her Pokémon from evolving, and so Caterpie evolved into Metapod and then into Butterfree right afterwards.

In the TCG

Main article: Caterpie (TCG)

Game data

NPC appearances

• Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Caterpie is rescued in the first mission of the game. It is too young to be of any help to the rescue team but remains a strong fan throughout the game, even in its darkest hour.

Pokédex entries

Alternate games

Pokémon Pinball, Pokémon Trading Card Game (Base Set, Base Set 2, Legendary Collection)

Its short feet are tipped with suction pads that enable it to tirelessly climb slopes and walls.

Pokémon Trading Card Game (Neo Discovery)

For protection, it releases a horrible stench from the antennae on its head to drive away enemies.

Game locations

In side games

Held items

Base stats

Type effectiveness

Learnset

Caterpie is capable of learning the following moves in Generation IV.

• Moves in bold are damaging moves to which STAB applies.

By leveling up

By TM/HM

None.

By breeding

None.

By tutoring

TCG-only moves

• Headbutt

Side game data

Pokémon Pinball
	Acquisition: Catch
Pokémon Trozei!
	Rarity: Common
Pokémon Mystery Dungeon Red Rescue Team and Blue Rescue Team
Body size: 1	Recruit Rate: 10.2%	Friend Area: Mist-Rise Forest
Phrases
51%-100% HP	I'll eat lots and grow big.
26%-50% HP	This is so hard... My health is down to half.
1%-25% HP	I can't keep up... I can't spit silk anymore...
Level Up	I leveled up! Happy!
Pokémon Mystery Dungeon Explorers of Time and Explorers of Darkness
Body size: 1	Recruit Rate: 8.2%	IQ Group: A

Evolution

	Unevolved	→ Level 7	First evolution	→ Level 10	Second evolution
	Caterpie  Bug		Metapod  Bug		Butterfree  Bug  Flying

Sprites

Gen	Game
I	Red	Blue	Yellow	Red (Ja)	Green	Back
II	Gold	Silver	Crystal			Back
III	Ruby	Sapphire	Emerald	FireRed	LeafGreen	Back
			File:Spr 3e 010 s.gif
IV	Diamond	Pearl	Platinum	HeartGold	SoulSilver	Back
				NO SPRITES AVAILABLE

For other sprites and images, please see Caterpie images on Bulbagarden Archives.

Trivia

• Caterpie was the first Pokémon to be seen evolving in the anime.
• Caterpie, along with Weedle and Wurmple, evolves at level 7, the lowest set level in the games (though Pokémon that evolve by level up with another method can evolve as low as level 1).
• Caterpie is the first Bug-type Pokémon in National Pokédex order.
• Caterpie shares the same species name with Wurmple. They are both known as the Worm Pokémon.
• Caterpie's belly appeared orange in Ruby and Sapphire. This was corrected in later games.
• Caterpie's Gold and Crystal sprites resemble its sprite from Red and Blue.

Origin

Caterpie is a stylized caterpillar, most likely resembling a Spicebush Swallowtail caterpillar.

Name origin

Caterpie's name is a corruption of caterpillar.

In other languages

• German: Raupy - A tweaking of Raupe (caterpillar).
• French: Chenipan - From chenille (caterpillar), and pan (trail); also a pun on chenapan (rascal).
• Korean: 캐터피 Kaeteopi - Corruption of caterpillar.
• Chinese (Taiwan): 綠毛蟲 Lú Máo Chóng - "Green caterpillar" or, literally, "green furry worm".
• Chinese (Hong Kong): 綠毛蟲 Lú Máo Zhu - Green caterpillar.

Related articles

• Ash's Caterpie

External links

Notes

This Pokémon article is part of Project Pokédex, a Bulbapedia project that aims to write comprehensive articles on each Pokémon as a species.