Sandshrew (Pokémon): Difference between revisions

Sandshrew is a bipedal {{wp|pholidota|pholidote}} {{OBP|Pokémon|species}}, but runs on all fours [[EP008|in the anime]]. Its brick-patterned yellow hide is dry, tough, blends in with desert sand, and protects its soft white underbelly and muzzle. Sandshrew has blue, almond-shaped eyes, a pointed snout, and triangular ears with white insides. Its tail is thick and conical. It has two long claws on each foot and three sharp claws on its forepaws, which are used to burrow.

Sandshrew spends much of its time hidden underground in deep burrows. It only emerges to lunge and drag in passing {{type|Bug}} Pokémon. Sandshrew can quickly curl into a tight ball to protect itself from great falls and opponents, but may also throw sand at attackers. While its body can efficiently absorb water to facilitate life in the {{DL|List of Pokémon by habitat|Rough-terrain Pokémon|desert}}, Sandshrew [[EP006|has been found]] in caves as well. It also lives deep underground in nests it has created from digging tunnels. Should hard rocks get in the way of digging, Sandshrew will use its sharp claws to remove them before continuing to dig. If it is too wet, its skin becomes wrinkly. It dries itself out by using the geothermal heat near a volcano. It is also known to bathe in sand, which helps remove dirt and moisture from its body.

In the [[Alola]] region, Sandshrew migrated to snowy mountains due to the volcanic activity near the desert areas. Its body is a light, icy blue, with a cream-colored belly and muzzle. Thicker plates form a dome around its head and its ears resemble an {{wp|igloo}}'s entrances. In adapting to this cold climate, its body became larger and heavier with a shell of hard ice covering its hide. This steel-like covering grants it extra defense from predators like {{p|Sneasel}}, but it is unable to curl into a ball like its desert counterpart; smarter predators such as {{p|Weavile}} exploit of its soft underbelly. Alolan Sandshrew can burrow itself in the snow to avoid being blown away by blizzards. Its claws allow it to move without slipping on icy surfaces, but it slides on its stomach when it needs to move quickly.<ref>[http://www.pokemon-sunmoon.com/en-us/pokemon/alolan-sandshrew/ Pokémon Sun and Moon site | Alolan Sandshrew]</ref> A traditional Alolan custom during festivals is a competition to see who can slide Alolan Sandshrew across ice the farthest.