Aipom (Pokémon): Difference between revisions

Aipom is a monkey-like Pokémon with a three-fingered hand at the end of its tail. It is mostly purple with a beige face, ear insides, belly, feet and tail tip. Its face has round eyes, a constantly cheeky smile, and large, round ears. On top of its head is a {{wp|cowlick}}, which is longer on a female than on a male. Aipom's arms are completely purple with no actual paws or fingers present.

Aipom uses its powerful tail freely and cleverly for many purposes. These purposes include grappling and swinging onto tree branches, picking fruit, and manipulating objects. Aipom has even been known to wrap its tail around tree branches while sleeping so it does not fall. Due to Aipom using its tail so much, its actual arms are not as dexterous. Aipom lives high in the treetops, usually in {{DL|List of Pokémon by habitat|Forest Pokémon|heavily wooded areas.}}

A number of Aipom appeared in ''[[AG179|Slaking Kong]]''. One of them stole [[Ash's hat]]. In ''[[AG182|Channeling the Battle Zone]]'', Ash captured the aforementioned Aipom. Her behavior is similar to that of {{TP|Ash|Ash's Chikorita|Bayleef}}, being attention-seeking, very naughty at times and occasionally jealous. However, she developed a close bond with Ash. In ''[[DP055|Throwing the Track Switch]]'', Ash traded her to {{an|Dawn}} for {{AP|Buizel}} because Aipom had a love of Contests and Buizel was more interested in [[Gym]]s. Aipom evolved into {{p|Ambipom}} in ''[[DP060|Journey to the Unown!]]'' while battling the attacking {{p|Unown}}.

In [[Pokémon Adventures]], {{adv|Gold}} has an Aipom named [[Aibo]], one of the Pokémon he grew up with at his house in [[New Bark Town]]. Because it was not very powerful, it was typically used in situations that needed its dexterity or for distracting opponents with its {{m|Double Team}}. In the battle against the [[Masked Man]], it showed its worth by having {{DL|Gold (Adventures)|Sudobo}} inherit the speed boost of its {{m|Agility}} to restrain the villain. It was also very skilled with pulling fast ones or using Gold's equipment to send out multiple Pokémon at once, as displayed when it span Gold's billiard cue around to power up [[Exbo]]'s {{m|Blast Burn}} attack.

In the {{chap|HeartGold & SoulSilver}}, it was revealed to have evolved into an Ambipom, and subsequent flashbacks finally depicted its evolution.

* {{g|Stadium 2}}: Aipom makes a cameo in the "Eager {{p|Eevee}}" mini-game. Aipom is the one who lifts open the crate.

{{learnlist/tutor5|Covet|Normal|Physical|60|100|40||'''|no|yes}}

* Aipom is the only Pokémon that evolves by learning {{m|Double Hit}}; all other Pokémon which evolve after learning a move, besides {{p|Lickitung}}, share that specific method of evolution with at least one other Pokémon.

* The Japanese and international {{game3|Gold and Silver|Pokémon Gold and Silver|s}} have different sprites for Aipom, with the international versions adding the beige belly missing from the Japanese sprites. It is unknown why this was changed, as several other Pokémon in their Gold and Silver sprites differ from the official artwork until Crystal.

Aipom appears to have been based on a {{wp|monkey}}, with an exaggerated concept of a {{wp|prehensile tail}}. It may be specifically based on the {{wp|squirrel monkey}}, which is similar in appearance, and also shares its large smile with {{wp|Cymbal-banging monkey toy|cymbal monkeys}}. It is also similar to an {{wp|Ahuizotl (creature)|ahuizotl}}, a creature of Aztec mythology with monkey hands and a fifth human hand on its tail.  

Aipom and Eipam may be a combination of ''{{wp|ape}}'' (a name given to tailless monkeys) and ''palm'' (referring to the hand on its tail). It may also be in reference to a {{wp|pom-pom}}.