Paras is an orange, insectoid creature resembling the nymph stage of a cicada. Its ovoid body is segmented, and it has three pairs of legs. The foremost pair of legs is the largest and has sharp claws at the tips. There are five specks on its forehead and three teeth on either side of its mouth. It has circular eyes with large pupils.
Red-and-yellow mushrooms known as tochukaso grow on this Pokémon's back. The mushrooms can be removed at any time, and grow from spores that are doused on this Pokémon's back at birth by the mushroom on its mother's back. Tochukaso are parasitic in nature, drawing their nutrients from the host Paras's body in order to grow and exerting some command over the Pokémon's actions. For example, Paras drains nutrients from tree roots due to commands from the mushrooms. The mushrooms are also popular among collectors and have medicinal uses, usually involving extended life. The mushrooms are also the source of its former signature move, Spore.
The anime has shown that Paras can often be found in caves. However, it can also thrive in damp forests with high amounts of humidity where conditions are ideal for fungi.
Major appearances
A Paras appeared in The Problem with Paras, under the ownership of Cassandra. It is extremely weak, but Cassandra needed it to evolve into a Parasect so she could use the giant mushroom to aid in her medical research. It did so towards the end of the episode.
Minor appearances
Paras debuted in Clefairy and the Moon Stone, in which a group of Paras can be briefly seen removing the mushrooms on their backs. Seymour explained that this behavior was due to someone stringing lights in the caves of Mt. Moon, and implied that this was not good for them.
A Paras appeared in Bulbasaur and the Hidden Village. It was one of the Pokémon in Melanie's care. It reappeared in a flashback in Bulbasaur... the Ambassador!.
A Paras appeared in Pokémon Fashion Flash as one of the Pokémon seen on Scissor Street.
A Paras appeared in A Chansey Operation.
A Paras appeared in The Breeding Center Secret.
A Paras appeared in Pikachu's Vacation as one of the Pokémon seen at the Pokémon Theme Park.
Multiple Paras were among the Pokémon seen at Professor Oak's Laboratory in Showdown at the Po-ké Corral.
Two Paras of the Valencia Island variant appeared in Poké Ball Peril.
A pink Paras appeared on Pinkan Island in In The Pink.
A Paras made a brief cameo appearance in Tracey Gets Bugged, where it was one of the Bug Pokémon on Murcott Island.
A Paras appeared in The Power of One.
A wild Paras appeared in Pikachu's Rescue Adventure.
A Paras appeared in The Fortune Hunters as one of the Pokémon stolen by Butch and Cassidy.
A Paras appeared in The Bug Stops Here, where it was chased away by Misty after it scared her.
A Trainer's Paras appeared in The Grass Route, where it was seen competing in the Grass Tournament.
A Paras appeared in Celebi: The Voice of the Forest.
A Paras appeared in Got Miltank? as an inhabitant of a Pokémon-exclusive oasis.
A Paras appeared in A Bite to Remember.
A Paras appeared in Destiny Deoxys.
A Paras appeared in the opening sequence of Lucario and the Mystery of Mew.
A Coordinator's Paras appeared in Harley Rides Again.
A Coordinator's Paras appeared in Once More With Reeling!, where it was seen participating in the Terracotta Contest.
A Paras appeared in Borrowing on Bad Faith!.
A group of Paras appeared in Genesect and the Legend Awakened at Pokémon Hills.
A Trainer's Paras appeared in Alola to New Adventure!.
A Paras appeared in Lillie's Egg-xhilarating Challenge!, where it was among the Pokémon playing in Lillie's garden. It appeared again in The Ol' Raise and Switch!.
A Paras appeared in I Choose You!. It was among the Pokémon taking shelter from the rain in a cave alongside Entei.
Multiple wild Paras appeared in Alola, Kanto!, where they were among the Pokémon seen at Professor Oak's Laboratory.
Five Trainers' Paras appeared in A Young Royal Flame Ignites!.
Five Paras appeared in The Power of Us, with four under the ownership of different Trainers and the fourth being wild.
Three Paras appeared in SM090, with two under the ownership of different Trainers and the third being wild. They joined the rest of Alola in showering Necrozma with light so it could return to its true form.
Pokédex entries
Episode
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Subject
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Source
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Entry
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EP044
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Paras
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Ash's Pokédex
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Paras, the Mushroom Pokémon. Rare mushrooms grow on its back.
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EP044
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Paras's type
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Ash's Pokédex
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Paras has qualities of both Bug and Grass Pokémon.
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