Zarude is a simian Pokémon resembling a baboon or mandrill. Its body is primarily covered in coarse black fur, though its chest and belly are patterned with shorter gray fur. Its upper snout, palms, and rings around its eyes are devoid of fur, and its skin is a light gray. The fur around the side of its head angles into wing-like crests on either side of its eyes. The eyes themselves have red sclerae, green irises, and black, slitted pupils. Its teeth are pointed and its canines are visible when its mouth is closed.
Zarude can extend prehensile vines from its wrists, neck, and the soles of its feet at will. It uses these vines to attack, swing from trees, and collect food from a distance. Zarude’s vines can also rapidly heal wounds when wrapped around them and absorb energy from trees. While resting, only the tips of the vines at Zarude's neck and feet extend beyond its skin. However, the vines extending from Zarude's wrists are typically wrapped around its forearms in four concentric rings. Occasionally, Zarude's vines tear off and become nutrients for the soil of the forests it lives in.
Zarude are social and live in packs. They're usually incredibly aggressive, and frighten most other Pokémon; excelling in battle with their sharp claws and quick wit. [1] However, Zarude occasionally exhibit a softer side. A caped Zarude named 'Dada' split from its pack to raise and nurture an orphaned human infant. It's said that this Zarude derived unique strength from its bond to the adopted human child.
Dada Zarude wears a pink, ripped cape bearing Celebi's National Pokédex number.
Zarude is the only known Pokémon capable of using Jungle Healing.
Origin
While Zarude has many standard monkey features, it seems to resemble baboons and mandrills the closest, with its fangs, claws, size, facial structure, and fur around its head. Its Dark-typing may be a reference to the baboons' aggressive and violent nature. It also possesses traits of spider monkeys with how they use vines to grapple enemies and trees, where spider monkeys use their prehensile tails. Zarude could also be based on the Shug Monkey in English Folklore and the "Carew Ape" that's said to haunt Carew Castle in Wales.
Name origin
Zarude may be a combination of 猿 saru (monkey) and rude.