Physiology
Paras is a coconut crab-shaped insectoid creature, with the unique feature of having mushrooms known as tochukaso growing from its back. They grow from spores that are doused on this Pokémon's back at birth by the mushroom on its parent's back. The tochukaso can be removed at any time.
Though tochukaso are parasitic in nature, Paras manages to make use of the mushrooms by creating a semi-symbiotic relationship; the mushrooms draw their nutrients from the host Paras's body in order to grow, and Paras is able to use the mushrooms spores along with its own pincers for self-defense.
Paras may have fairly long life spans, because the tochukaso is known for having properties that are beneficial for longevity.
The mushrooms on Paras's back are often prized by collectors.
Gender differences
None.
Special abilities
The mushrooms growing out of its back will release irritating spores that can paralyze, poison, or put to sleep.
Behavior
The mushrooms on its back have a very commanding influence over Paras and order it to extract juice from tree trunks. It is also very timid as shown in the anime when it runs away from a battle with a Charmeleon.
Habitat
Paras can often be found in caves, since sunlight and dry air hurt their skin. They can also thrive in damp forests with high amounts of humidity where conditions are ideal for fungi. It is most commonly found in Kanto and Johto, but occasionally can be found in Sinnoh as well.
Diet
- Main article: Pokémon food
It is unknown if Paras eats regular food in the wild or if it gets all of its nutrients from the roots that it sucks, though most of the food is absorbed by the mushrooms on its back.
- Paras's name was originally "Parasyte". The name was probably abandoned because it was also the official English name of an extremely graphic Japanese horror comic.
- Paras is the only Pokémon with a total EV yield of 1 to evolve at a fixed level directly into a Pokémon with an EV yield of 3, Parasect. In Generation II, the 1 EV yielding Slowpoke, who previously only evolved at Level 37 into the 2 EV yielding Slowbro, gained the ability to evolve directly into the 3 EV yielding Slowking when traded with a King's Rock, and in Generation IV the 1 EV yielding Nosepass was given the 3 EV yielding direct evolution Probopass when gaining a level in Mt. Coronet.
- In Generation I, Poison attacks are super effective against Bug, making Paras and Parasect the only Pokémon to have ever had three 4× weaknesses or double weakness to Poison.
- Due to the ability Dry Skin, Paras and Parasect are also the only Pokémon to have a 5× weakness (to Fire).
- No other Pokémon has the same egg group combination as Paras and its evolution.
- In Finnish, Paras means "the best".
- Paras and its evolved form, Parasect, share their species name with Shroomish, Breloom, Foongus, Amoonguss. They are all known as Mushroom Pokémon.
- Paras can be seen as a parallel to Shroomish. Both of them are Grass-type Pokémon. Paras is exclusive to Pokémon White, while Shroomish is exclusive to Pokémon Black, with both Pokémon found in a Mass Outbreak in the same location in their respective versions. Additionally, both are based on fungi.
Origin
Bulbanews has an article related to this subject:
There are many forms of fungus that grow on insects, any one of which could have inspired Paras's design, like the Entomophthora muscae, which grows on the back of the common housefly. As for the insect itself, it bears a resemblance to a cicada larva, more so than Nincada.
Name origin
Paras's name is a shortening of the word parasite, referring to the parasitic mushroom growing on its back.