Caterpie, the tiny green bug-type Pokémon, was among the first characters introduced in the popular Japanese media franchise.
This caterpillar-inspired Pokémon quickly became a fan favorite thanks to its cute green appearance and trademark red antennae.
If you love bugs or Pokémon, you’re gonna love these Caterpie facts!
Caterpie is ranked #0010 in the Pokédex. Pokédexes are comprehensive lists of all known Pokémon in order of their introduction.
Caterpie (yep, that’s the plural) possess an extraordinary power that allows them to emit a foul stench from their antennae to repel enemies.
Additionally, Caterpie can use the suction cups on its short feet to scale high slopes and walls effortlessly. This ability enables Caterpie to climb endlessly, never getting tired.
In Pokémon battles, a Caterpie’s Shield Dust ability ensures it remains protected from the secondary effects of opposing moves. This ultimately strengthens its defensive powers.
Caterpie has three signature moves, including String Shot, with an accuracy rating of 95. The other two moves, Tackle and Bug Bite, have perfect accuracy ratings of 100!
Caterpie has three specific vulnerabilities and is especially susceptible to fire, flying, and rock-type moves and attacks, so avoiding these during battles is crucial.
Caterpie has made numerous appearances in the Pokémon anime series, with its first in the episode “Ash Catches a Pokémon” in the debut season back in 1997.
When Caterpie hit level 7, they evolve into a Metapod, which looks like a cocoon. At level 10, they break free of their cocoons and spread their wings as beautiful Butterfrees.
Caterpie’s base stats add up to a total of 195. Its highest are HP (45) and Speed (45), and its lowest are Special Attack (25) and Special Defense (25).
In the initial Pokémon video game series (Red, Blue, and Yellow) on the Nintendo Game Boy, Caterpie can be found in the Viridian Forest. They can also be found on Route 25 in Red and Blue, as well as on Routes 2 and 24 in Blue.
Caterpie has different names in other languages. The French Chenipan comes from chenille (caterpillar) + chenapan (rascal), and the German Raupy comes from Raupe (“caterpillar”) and “tiny.”
As Caterpie develop, they go through multiple cycles of shedding their skin. Eventually, they wrap themselves in thick silk, forming a cocoon as they prepare to evolve.
Caterpie is the first Pokémon to evolve on-screen in the anime series. It happens in the same episode Ash catches his first Caterpie, in the third episode of the first season, “Ash Catches a Pokémon.”
Caterpie have enormous appetites, working through their entire body weight in leafy goodness every day!
Although Caterpie consumes copious amounts of leaves to fuel its rapid growth, its favorite food is actually the rare vermilion flower.
Aside from making them look extra cute, Caterpie’s large eyes are there to trick predators. How, you ask? Their enormous size fools predators into thinking Caterpie are much larger Pokémon.
Caterpie is considered one of the top picks for rookie Pokémon Trainers because they are easy to capture and develop rapidly.
Many may think that Pikachu was the first Pokémon Ash Ketchum ever caught, but Pikachu was given to him. The first Pokémon he actually threw a Poké Ball at and caught was a Caterpie!
Caterpie belongs to the Worm Pokémon species. It shares its classification with other Bug-Types like Wurmple, a similar Pokémon that’s based on a worm.
Caterpie has been featured in numerous Pokémon manga, including As Gastly as Before, the 49th chapter of Pokémon Adventures. This particular piece saw a Caterpie be saved from a fire attack by Yellow.
Since debuting in Generation 1, it’s clear why Caterpie has become one of the most iconic and beloved Pokémon.
From its unique defense mechanism of unleashing a stench from its antennae to its taste for vermilion flowers, Caterpie continue to captivate Pokémon Trainers.
So whether you’re catching them in the various Pokémon games, enjoying them in manga, or watching them on screen, you’ll now be an expert on all things Caterpie.
