Tatsugiri is a small, piscine, dragon Pokémon that comes in three forms. Overall, all forms share the same base physiology: a cylindrical body sitting above a white throat sac that resembles a bed of rice when inflated, two large eyes, long pectoral fins, a wavy dorsal fin, and a split tail fin. Tatsugiri's throat sac serves multiple purposes, allowing it to camouflage with its surroundings and, in cases where it is swallowed whole, even making its escape by inflating it. The differences between the three forms lie on their colors and stances. Curly Form Tatsugiri is mostly orange and often assumes an upcurled stance, with splotches of dark orange on the upper side of its body and on the tip of its pectoral fins, as well as a white underbelly. Droopy Form Tatsugiri is mostly magenta and tends to droop on its throat sac, with its underbelly, dorsal fin, and tips of its pectoral fins being white. Stretchy Form Tatsugiri is a solid yellow, with its body sitting straight and horizontally. It is said that Tatsugiri's various forms are an adaptation to suit the preferences of its prey.
Although small and relatively weak, Tatsugiri is an intelligent, thoroughly cunning Pokémon. It uses its sharp intellect to assess its chances of winning a battle; if there is none, it will flee. In order to overcome its weakness, Tatsugiri teams up with Dondozo, which takes it as its boss, following Tatsugiri's orders and providing it with protection and shelter in exchange for a greater chance of catching prey. When hunting, Tatsugiri plays dead or leans into its unsuspecting side to attract potential prey, mainly bird Pokémon, and then commands Dondozo to attack. The interaction between the two Pokémon is so beneficial that Tatsugiri will even clash among themselves in order to get to partner with a particular Dondozo.
Tatsugiri has three forms: Curly Form, Droopy Form, and Stretchy Form. All three of them can Mega Evolve into Mega Tatsugiri.
Curly Form
Droopy Form
Stretchy Form
Mega Tatsugiri
As a result of Mega Evolution, Mega Tatsugiri consists of three Tatsugiri, one of each form, riding upon a pink and blue dish shaped like the Mega Evolution symbol. The central Tatsugiri on the dish will always be the same form of the Tatsugiri that Mega Evolved and is distinguished by the roe-shaped crown on its head, while the other two are copies it created. Overall, the three Tatsugiri are left mostly unchanged, only becoming longer and their dorsal fins changing from a single wavy fin to a row of three. A row of green and blue spikes divide the central Tatsugiri from the copies; when Mega Tatsugiri attacks, the spikes can extend outward.
Mega Tatsugiri's brain has been further enhanced by Mega Evolution, making it exceptionally clever. It can command its copies to assist it in battle and can also solidify the energy from Mega Evolution, enabling it to create its dish and generate an endless supply of exploding roe-shaped projectiles. By riding upon its dish, Mega Tatsugiri gains the freedom to move anywhere it desires, including through the air.
The player and Arven eventually found it in Casseroya Lake to find the Herba Mystica it guards, however, its partner, Dondozo swallowed and rescued it, fighting them in its place. After Dondozo's defeat, Tatsugiri finally reappeared, being defeated as well and being forced to flee. After both took the Herba Mystica, Tatsugiri became a normal-sized Pokémon once again. After this, it can be rematched in its original location, and will have the Titan Mark when captured.
Pokédex entries
This Pokémon was unavailable prior to Generation IX.
Tatsugiri has three different non-interchangeable forms: Curly Form (which is orange), Droopy Form (which is magenta), and Stretchy Form (which is yellow), each with different colors, fin shapes, and patterns on their bodies. When Dondozo uses the move Order Up after Tatsugiri has entered its mouth using its AbilityCommander, the stat boost that Dondozo gains is based on the Tatsugiri form in its mouth, with Curly Form increasing Attack, Droopy Form increasing Defense, and Stretchy Form increasing Speed.
Tatsugiri, the Mimicry Pokémon. A Dragon and Water type. This Pokémon has differing colors and patterns, and it tricks its opponents by playing dead. It is small and weak, but it uses its smarts to survive.
Droopy Form Tatsugiri is the only pink Dragon-type Pokémon.
Tatsugiri is the only dual-type Dragon/Water Pokémon to have Dragon as its primary type instead of its secondary type.
Tatsugiri and Magearna are the only Pokémon whose appearance while Mega-Evolved differs depending on their form.
Origin
Tatsugiri seems to be based on sushi, specifically the nigirizushi (a type of sushi pressed by hand, instead of rolled): Curly Form resembles a shrimp nigiri, Droopy Form resembles a tuna nigiri, and Stretchy Form resembles an egg or a herring roe nigiri. Likewise, Shiny Curly Form resembles an eel nigiri, Shiny Droopy Form resembles a halibut or a squid nigiri, and Shiny Stretchy Form resembles a salmon nigiri. Tatsugiri also somewhat resembles the koi fish, which, like Tatsugiri, has many colored varieties.
Tatsugiri's habit of entering Dondozo's mouth is a possible reference to mouthbrooding, a parenting style performed by many species of fish where the parent fish will keep their offspring safe by holding them inside their mouth. Tatsugiri's hunting methods may also be a reference to fishing lures and fishing bait. Tatsugiri and Dondozo's synergy together seems to reference the common "Brains and Brawn" team-up trope in media, as Tatsugiri is physically weak but highly intelligent, and acts as the boss for the powerful but unintelligent Dondozo.
Alternatively, this habit may also hint at Tatsugiri being partially inspired by parasitic isopods, such as the tongue-eating louse, which attaches itself to the tongues of fish for sustenance. Its appearance may reference the parasitic isopod of the Rocinela genus that went viral in Japan in 2021 for resembling a nigirizushi.
Tatsugiri's Dragon type may be a reference to the East Asian cultural association of koi (and carp in general) with dragons. Curly Form's curved posture may also be a reference to Shachihoko. Tatsugiri's lobed fins and its ability to walk on land may be inspired by lungfishes and lungfish-like species like Polypterus senegalus, sometimes known as "dragonfish".
Mega Tatsugiri resembles a 3-piece dish of nigirizushi served on a platter and separated with baran, a green plastic garnish resembling cast-iron plant leaves which is commonly found in bento and sushi boxes. The "platter" also resembles the Mega Evolution symbol. The central Tatsugiri appears to have salmon roe on top of its head.
Name origin
Tatsugiri may be a combination of 竜 tatsu (Japanese for dragon) and 握り寿司 nigirizushi.
Syaritatsu may be a combination of シャリ shari (sushi rice) and 竜 tatsu.
This Pokémon article is part of Project Pokédex, a Bulbapedia project that aims to write comprehensive articles on each Pokémon species, as well as Pokémon groups and forms.
Mega Tatsugiri's dish
Mega Tatsugiri's spikes expanding when attacking
Mega Tatsugiri mimicking real sushi
For other sprites and images, please see Tatsugiri images on the Bulbagarden Archives.
