#001-Bulbasaur #002-Ivysaur #003-Venusaur (Kanto)
POKEDEX ENTRY
TYPE: Grass/Poison
CLASSIFICATION: Seed Pokemon
HEIGHT/WEIGHT : 0.7 metres, 6.9 kilograms (Bulbasaur) 1.0 metres, 13 kilograms (Ivysaur) 2.0 metres, 100 kilograms (Venusaur)
TEMPORAL RANGE: Unknown, likely Quarternary
HABITAT: Grassland and rainforest. Native to Sub-Saharan Rainforests. Now found nearly everywhere on globe
CONSERVATION STATUS: Least Concern (LC)
HISTORY:
Since the agricultural revolution, this evolutionary line has been considered sacred to many tribes in Sub-Saharan Africa as a bringer of good harvest. Due to its docile nature, there are no records of any tribe ever coming into conflict with this species. It has never been hunted due to the presence of toxic chemicals in the bulb and bloodstream. Early domestication was mostly led by wealthy individuals using a nectar-like fluid from the bulb as a perfume. Once poke-balls were introduced by the Europeans into Sub-Saharan Africa, the Bulbasaur evolutionary line immediately rose to stardom due to the docility of the individuals. Bulbasaur became known as one of the safest starter Pokemon not only on the African continent, but worldwide. In later years, the Bulbasaur evolutionary line was brought by travelers to other continents and islands, where wild populations performed remarkably well due to it not needing food of any kind. For the same reason, Bulbasaur is not an invasive species and does not compete with native Pokemon, unlike other Grassland Pokemon such as Raticate. Today, Bulbasaur remains one of the most popular choices for a starter Pokemon. Many Bulbasaur are raised by breeders; However, there still remains a large wild population in Sub-Saharan Africa. The species has also performed well in other tropical regions such as Indonesia.
DESCRIPTION:
Bulbasaur is a quadrupled vertebrate Pokemon, having turquoise-colored skin with dark blue patches. Other physical details include red eyes, a pair of pointed teeth on the upper jaw along with three claws on each leg (There is much debate over why Bulbasaur has sharp teeth and claws if it does not need to eat . Some have claimed that the ancestors of modern Bulbasaur were omnivorous). The most distinctive trait remains the bulb on its back, which grows from a seed. The Bulb has its own set of genes, and appears to resemble the bulbs of Onions. In the bulb, plant-like hybrid cells are responsible for absorbing sunlight and providing food to the body via Photosynthesis. The bulb attaches itself to the body with microscopic roots which absorb water from the bloodstream. Due to the need to provide for both body and bulb, Bulbasaur requires a higher water intake compared to other animals.
Bulbasaur has a great deal of plant, reptile-like traits despite being classified as an animal. Indeed, they are warm-blooded, possessing a heart and blood vessels. However, their digestive system is extremely primitive, consisting of just the stomach and the intestines. Despite its imperfections, this system is effective as Bulbasaur's diet is extremely limited (certain fruits).
The reproductive process of this evolutionary line also differs greatly from animals as both the ovules in the womb and the flower need to be fertilized. Bulbasaur may be dependent on other bug Pokemon such as Butterfree for pollination. Once the ovule in the flower is fertilized, it is transported to the womb through a special tube. It then fuses with the zygote. If a Bulbasaur is born without ,or with a mutated seed on its back, the chances of survival are slim as it is no longer able to obtain food from the sun and its digestive tract limits the amount of edible foodstuff.
Documented studies have shown that Venusaur are aware of the connection between Caterpie and Butterfree. Due to Butterfree's future role in their reproduction, they are more reluctant to fire Toxic spores at Caterpie feeding on their Bulb, instead opting for weaker spores to frighten them away. This leniency is visibly absent in the way they deal with other pests.
BEHAVIOR:
Social Activity: After leaving their parents, Ivysaur and adult Venusaur lead largely solitary lives. They are diurnal, unterritorial, and rarely come into conflict with each other. Parents will only remain with their offspring in the few weeks they take to evolve, however, in the case of deformities and mutations hindering evolution, parents have been observed to stay longer with the offspring. As they rarely eat anything and are not hunted by large predators, adult Venusaur have a generally easy time taking care of their young. Their main role is observed to be making sure that their offspring can distinguish between edible and inedible fruits.
Adults occasionally engage in mass mating rituals, where up to a hundred Venusaur gather in a large, exposed field. Mating is one of the few times when adult Venusaur display antagonistic behavior towards each other. Male Venusaur store energy a few weeks before the ritual to make their flowers appear bigger and brighter. Females will then make their pick. However, if disagreements arise, males may fight each other with their vines. Battles end when one male successfully turns the other on its back with stronger vines and immobilizes it. The victor will help it get its footing once a growl is made to signal defeat, after which the loser will retreat graciously. Such battles may be violent, but they almost never result in death. Since most Bulbasaur are born at the same time and exposed to the same amount of sunlight, mass evolution rituals have also been observed.
Members of the Venusaur line communicate with each other via growls. Apart from a unique growl, each Bulbasaur can also be identified by the distinct arrangement of spots on their bodies. Ivysaur and Venusaur can be identified by a unique scent from their red flowers.
Diet: As mentioned, Bulbasaur rarely eat anything as most food is provided directly by their bulbs. This lack of necessary dietary care has contributed to their popularity as starters. However, they can eat berries fed to them by trainers. Trainers should not overfeed their Bulbasaur or try to feed them any meat as their digestive systems are too primitive. This causes diarrhea and can be fatal in some cases. As explained in DESCRIPTION, Bulbasaur require a lot more water than other Pokemon, and can become dehydrated easily. A lack of sunlight can also cause malnutrition and death if not attended to quickly. Bulbasaur may be reputed as an easy Pokemon to care for, but unfortunate cases of Bulbasaur dying of dehydration or starvation due to neglect still exist.
Members of the Venusaur line have an extremely primitive sense of taste. In fact, they can only detect the taste of sweetness. Thus, many foods are tasteless to Bulbasaur. However, this does not mean that trainers can feed Bulbasaur unlimited herbal medicine without lowering friendship. Bulbasaur may not feel the bitter taste, but the complex chemicals within can cause indigestion. Still, sporadic herbal medicine is fine.
Interaction with other Pokemon: Bulbasaur are never hunted by large predators due to their low nutrient content. Poisonous spores are used to ward off smaller bugs feeding on bulb leaves. Venusaur are also dangerous prey due to their large size, and will not hesitate to whip or intoxicate attackers. Certain Bug and Flying type Pokemon pose a risk as they may take advantage of young Bulbasaurs' weaker spores to swarm it and consume its seed, with fatal results. However, protection from the deadlier parents usually dissuades such actions. Still, Trainers are advised not to let newborn Bulbasaur wander into forests without protection of other Pokemon.
Interaction with Humans: The Bulbasaur evolutionary line has long been well-known for their docility and loyalty. They do not mind being touched, and allow trainers to ride on their backs freely or sit on their strong vines. Cases of Bulbasaur attacking trainers have been rare. Most involve the release of poisonous spores. However, these attacks only occur if they have been provoked and the spores rarely lead to hospitalization. Bulbasaur are also great caretakers. With a special technique called "Bulba-by", they can effectively soothe young children by picking them up and rocking them in the air. The poisonous spores of Bulbasaur have been discovered to have medical uses. More specifically, the "stun spores" of Bulbasaur can be used as an effective and powerful anesthetic. In the early 20th Century, these "stun spores" were harvested by training Bulbasaur to fear certain stimuli, like a sound or object. Once the object was displayed or the sound played, Bulbasaur would be intimidated and would subsequently release its spores. This process was considered cruel and was outlawed in the 1950s.
Trainers who want to ride their Venusaur need no lessons; however, they must take note that they should not, in any case, sit on the flower or the stem. Even though the flower and stem appears strong, the weight of a human can cause structural damage within the stem. In the worst cases, stress on the stem causes the nerve in the center of the stem to snap, meaning that Venusaur loses nervous control of its flower. If not surgically reattached quickly, this is very deadly. Trainers should instead sit on Venusaur's back and lean against the stem. They can also sit on a vine, which is strong enough to carry the weight of five grown men.
Bulbasaur is known to be surprisingly difficult to catch. Their catch rate is equivalent to those of powerhouses such as Garchomp and Nidoking. This can be attributed to their remarkably calm nature; while most Pokemon of Bulbasaur's size panic in a Pokeball, a low health or even paralyzed Bulbasaur rarely loses its cool as it attempts to escape capture. There exists a specially-made ball to capture Bulbasaur, used mostly by Rangers. While normal Pokeballs are never completely opaque from the inside, this "Bulbasaur ball", when in the process of capture, leaves the wild Bulbasaur in complete darkness. Without light, the Bulbasaur panics and weakens rapidly. After successful capture, it functions exactly like a normal Pokeball. Though this is an efficient method, it is notorious for causing Bulbasaur to dislike their catchers. Thus, these balls are best left for the rangers, who will only keep the Pokemon temporarily before having them distributed as starters.
EVOLUTIONS:
Bulbasaur evolve by staying in spots of intense sunshine for long periods of time. They store the excess energy harnessed in their bulbs. The bulb glows blue once the energy stored is sufficient, and the Pokemon will then evolve. Normally, Bulbasaur can evolve to Ivysaur in a matter of weeks while Ivysaur can evolve in a matter of months. However, there are cases of delayed or non-evolution. In most cases, this is caused by unfavorable weather, such as heavy rain, snow, or human pollution that limits the energy Bulbasaur can absorb. Research indicates that in smog-heavy areas in Northeastern China or Rain-heavy areas in India, Bulbasaur takes up to 50% more time to evolve. Non-evolution occurs in areas where sunlight is weak throughout the year. In the Scandinavian countries and Canada, Bulbasaur rarely evolve to their final stage and are thus rarely chosen as a starter Pokemon (Heavy competition from Snover also plays a part) . It is possible for wild Bulbasaur to resist evolution. This behavior has not been explained, but evidence points that this occurs mainly in colder countries. This has led scientists to hypothesize that this behavior stems from the need to conserve energy in harsher environments where sunlight is weaker.
Ivysaur is similar anatomically to Bulbasaur. The main difference is that it becomes a lot less agile due to the growing weight of the bud. Though their legs grow stronger and stiffer, standing on the hind legs is no longer possible. If observed closely, trainers can also discover the growth of a short woody stem. Strong but short vines will also start to develop. They act like arms to Ivysaur, helping to retain some of its mobility. These vines are strong and can carry the weight of a grown adult.
Venusaur, the last in the evolutionary line is nearly identical to Ivysaur if not considering the change in size. The brown woody stem also becomes more obvious. Vines also become significantly stronger, now being able to carry up to 5 grown men each. The red flower (It appears to resemble that of the Rafflesia plant, which flowers are one of the largest in the world) on Venusaur's back does not bloom immediately; rather, it will bloom permanently once enough energy is stored. Even if the woody stalk is cut, the flower will regrow. Pollen and nectar will start to be produced in the flower in preparation for breeding. The lifespan of this evolutionary line ranges from 20-25 years. Venusaur will only breed once every 5 years. In countries where sunlight is weak, Venusaur may only get to breed once in their lifetime. This is demographically unsustainable, thus leading to the absence of wild Bulbasaur populations in the Northern, Temperate Countries.
The vines of Venusaur/Ivysaur have been of great interest to scientists. Though they are evidently made of plant tissue, Venusaur can wield it like an arm. Dissection has revealed that nerve fibers grow in the center of the stem, within the pith. The vascular bundle is also lined with a thin layer of muscle cells that gives the vines its mobility.
DISTRIBUTION AND CONSERVATION:
Bulbasaur is native to Sub-Saharan Africa, but wild populations can now be found nearly everywhere on the globe. Concentration is highest in the Amazon, Sub-Saharan and Indonesian Rainforests. Other scattered populations are present in Southern China. Bulbasaur populations are less pronounced in West Europe or North America, and are absent altogether from the far North. The smog in Northern China and the yearly Monsoon in India also make these places uninhabitable to Bulbasaur. Bulbasaur populations are also absent from Mountain Ranges and Desert areas due to the scarcity of water.
Bulbasaur populations have risen exponentially since they were brought to Europe by early explorers. Thus, their CONSERVATION STATUS stands at Least Concern.