Relicanth is a Pokémon that is heavily based on the coelacanth. It is covered with hard, brown scales that are similar to craggy rocks. Its tan head has protruding cheekbones, which are smaller on a female. A triangular spike protrudes from the back of its head. Tan patches cover its body and there is a red spot located on both sides. It possesses two pairs of pectoral fins, which it uses to push itself along the sea bottom. Additionally, it has dorsal and pelvic fins near its tail. Its tail fin has a wavy outline.
The composition of its scales, along with its fatty body and oil-filled swim bladders, allow it to withstand the intense pressure of the ocean depths. Relicanth once had teeth, but they have long since atrophied; as such, Relicanth is a filter feeder, feeding on microscopic organisms that it sucks up with its toothless mouth. It has remained unchanged for 100 million years and stays as such because it is already a perfect life-form. It was discovered during a deep-sea expedition. Relicanth's name comes from an explorer whose name served as a variation of it.
Relicanth is a Pokémon species that existed for a hundred million years without ever changing its form. This ancient Pokémon feeds on microscopic organisms with its toothless mouth.
Relicanth is a rare species that was discovered in deep-sea explorations. This Pokémon's body withstands the enormous water pressure of the ocean depths. Its body is covered in tough scales that are like craggy rocks.
A Pokémon that was once believed to have been extinct. The species has not changed its form for 100 million years. It walks on the seafloor using its pectoral fins.
Relicanth is a Pokémon species that existed for a hundred million years without ever changing its form. This ancient Pokémon feeds on microscopic organisms with its toothless mouth.
Relicanth is a rare species that was discovered in deep-sea explorations. This Pokémon's body withstands the enormous water pressure of the ocean depths. Its body is covered in tough scales that are like craggy rocks.
Relicanth's EV yield (1 HP and 1 Defense) is unique.
Relicanth shares many similarities with Fossil Pokémon, in the sense that it is also part-Rock-type, has a gender ratio of seven males to one female, and it is referred as an ancient Pokémon in some Pokédex entries.
Relicanth appears to be based on the coelacanth, an order of fish that was thought to have gone extinct around 66 million years ago until their rediscovery in 1938. They are considered living fossils because they appear virtually unchanged from their prehistoric relatives; this is reflected in Relicanth's Rock typing (characteristic of actual Fossil Pokémon) and "elderly" appearance. Relicanth matches the Indonesian coelacanth in color, but its Shiny coloration is like that of the more well-known West Indian Ocean coelacanth. Relicanth's Pokédex entry in Pokémon Ultra Sun may reference the fact that the coelacanth genus, Latimeria, is named after Marjorie Courtenay-Latimer, the discoverer of the first modern coelacanth specimen. Relicanth may also take inspiration from placoderms, an extinct class of fish with armored heads.
Name origin
Relicanth may be a combination of relic (something old that has survived the passage of time), relict and coelacanth.
Glanth may be a combination of 爺 jī (old man) and coelacanth.
Green Shard (5%)
DeepSeaScale (5%)
For other sprites and images, please see Relicanth images on the Bulbagarden Archives.
