Physiology
Latias is a bird-like dragon Pokémon vaguely resembling Lugia. The lower half of her body is red with jet-plane wings and stubby feet that are similar to ones Crobat has. Latias has a blue triangle-shaped ring on her chest that resembles one of the spots Togepi and Togetic have. Latias's white and red arms can be tucked into her body in order to reduce air-resistance when in flight. The upper-half of Latias's body is white. She has triangle-shaped ears and a red face with a white pentagon in the middle.
Gender differences
Latias are the female of the species, with the male being Latios. Latias are much smaller than Latios, and have red feathers, while Latios has blue feathers. The triangle pattern on Latias is blue, while the triangle on Latios is red.
Special abilities
Latias comes with the ability Levitate, which causes Template:Type2 moves to miss.
Latias can enfold her body with a glass-like down to refract light which can render her invisible or alter her appearance (an exclusive type of Transformation). She is highly intelligent and can understand human speech. She can telepathically communicate with others.
Latias's Dragon and Psychic typing has given her the ability to wield attacks of many different elements (except for Fire).
In the movie Pokémon Heroes, Latias and Latios also had the ability "Sight Sharing" which allowed Latias and people around her to see exactly what Latios is seeing.
Latias is the only known Pokémon that can learn Mist Ball.
Behavior
Latias will form small herds of several members. They will rarely make contact with people or other Pokémon. If Latias senses hostility towards herself, she will ruffle the feathers all over her body and cry shrilly to intimidate her foe. However, she will usually disappear if she senses an enemy.
Habitat
Latias rarely shows herself to humans, so her location is often found in isolated areas, or in secret havens. However, wherever they do make their homes usually has a body of fresh water.
Diet
- Main article: Pokémon food
Major appearances
Latias made her debut anime appearance in the fifth movie, Pokémon Heroes. Latias and her brother, Latios were the targets of Annie and Oakley. Latias assisted Ash in the mission to save Latios.
A Latias also appeared in Pikachu's Ocean Adventure where, along with Latios, she used her powers to help Pikachu, Meowth, and the other Pokémon search for the legendary "Wailord's Tear" beneath the ocean.
A Latias appeared in SS025 under the ownership of Nurse Joy. She was used against Forrest's Rhyperior in a battle to prove Forrest's capabilities as a potential Gym Leader, where Latias proved victorious.
Minor appearances
- Latias and Latios were the first legendary Pokémon to have set genders, or even genders at all.
- Before Generation IV, Latias and Latios either resisted or were weak to every type classified as special, taking no neutral hits from any.
- Despite being legendary Pokémon, regular battle music is played when Latias and Latios are encountered. They share this trait with Shaymin and Cresselia.
- Latias and Lugia are the only legendary Pokémon in the anime to be seen being able to produce offspring.
- Latias has the highest base Special Defense of all Dragon-type Pokémon.
- Latias and Latios both have the highest base Speed of all Dragon-type Pokémon.
- A pre-alpha sketch depicts an unused Pokémon or alternative form of Latias with the traits of both a Latias and a Blaziken.
- Latias weighs exactly as much as Ethan. It shares this trait with Clefable and Gurdurr.
- The triangle-shaped ring on the chest of Latias has the same color as the main body of her male counterpart Latios, even when Shiny.
- Latias and Jirachi are, to date, the only Generation III Pokémon to have not appeared in the main anime series.
- Latias is the only legendary Pokémon that can be summoned with a Ranger Sign in Pokémon Ranger: Guardian Signs that does not have red eyes in official Ken Sugimori artwork, although Entei is displayed with orange eyes in its Dream World artwork.
Origin
Latias appears to be a cross between a jet plane and a dragon. It and Latios may also draw inspiration from the philosophy of yin and yang. They may also be based upon the aeons in Gnosticism, being that certain aeons are immaterial beings of concepts existing in pairs of males and females emanated from God and one another; also, their species is "Eon." Latios and Latias are also based on birds, and due to Latias's shared origin with Blaziken, they could be based on Junglefowl.
Name origin
It is possible that Latias's name is based on the Latin word lateo, lie hidden. The -as suffix in her name indicates that it is female, while the -os in Latios indicates that it is male.