Skeledirge is a large, red, crocodilian Pokémon covered in rectangular scales. Its belly is angular and has a white coloration flanked by black stripes on either side, resembling an open suit jacket and dress shirt. It also has various white-colored patterns on its head, lower jaw, neck, back, shoulders, arms, legs, and the cylindrical tip of its tail. The white coloration on the top of its head resembles a lute. Skeledirge has three black claws on each foot, and although it usually walks on all fours, it is capable of standing on its hind legs.
Skeledirge's head is delineated with a black circular shape at the top. It has black eyes with yellow irises and red eyelids, serrated jaws with purple insides, and various square and triangular patterns that come in red, orange, yellow, and purple. A wreath of solid orange-and-yellow fire energy emerges from the back of Skeledirge's jaws, which circles around its head.
There is an orange fiery bird resting on top of Skeledirge's head, which is a separate, independent entity from the Pokémon.[1] This bird is spherical, with a yellow face, white eyes, a short crest and tail, and a singular tiny pointed "foot" it balances itself on. It is said that the bird was born when the egg-shaped fireball Skeledirge had as a Crocalor gained a soul; this also gave Skeledirge its Ghost typing.[1] The bird can sometimes be seen pecking at Skeledirge's jaws.
Skeledirge has a meddlesome but caring personality. Its singing is gentle, but powerful and full of vitality, capable of soothing the souls of all who hears it. Opponents hearing its singing will feel warm and fulfilled inside, losing their will to battle.[1]
Skeledirge burns its enemies by unleashing flames that exceed the temperature of 5,400 °F (3,000 °C). As seen during its signature move Torch Song, when Skeledirge sings, the fiery bird transforms into a microphone-like shape, with its "foot" growing much longer towards the ground. Then, the bird powers up with the singing, gains fiery wings, and flies towards its enemy. Skeledirge is the only known Pokémon capable of learning the move Torch Song.
Origin
Skeledirge and the fiery bird on its head may be based on a Nile crocodile and its supposed cleaning symbiosis with the Egyptian plover. The location of the bird might also be inspired by the bulbous protuberance at the tip of male gharials' snouts, which enables them to produce certain sounds.
Skeledirge's "suited" appearance and general behavior resemble a singer, such as those in rock music, mariachi, or opera. It being a Ghost type crocodile could be a reference to all the crocodile-related ghost stories present in Spanish folklore, such as the catalonian Cocollona, the Lizard of Magdalena from Jaén, or the Drac de Na Coca, whose body can be found on display in Palma de Mallorca, from which the skeletal appearance of Skeledirge may take inspiration, due to the similar exposed skull in both.
Its overall design may also be inspired by the Día de Muertos holiday, with its face resembling a Calavera, and the fire energy around its neck resembling Mexican marigolds put on display to honor the dead. Its colorful look may be based on alebrije, a form of Mexican sculpture art depicting fantastical creatures in brightly colored patterns; or the mosaic works of art by Antoni Gaudí such as the salamander statue dubbed "El Drac" (lit. "The Dragon"), located in Park Güell, Barcelona. It may also be based on the bogeyman-esque monster Cuca, which is typically depicted in Brazilian culture as an alligator hag with long messy hair.
Name origin
Skeledirge may be a combination of skeleton and dirge (a type of song or hymn performed in mourning, such as during funerals).
Loudbone may be a combination of loud or laúd (Spanish lute, a musical instrument) and bone.