Author Notes - This is certainly one of the more fascinating Pikmin families, and I'm sure it's a favourite among plenty of Pikmin fans. So I hope I did the family justice, especially since official information on this critter is hard to track.

SPOROVID FAMILY

Kingdom: Fungi
Phylum: Basidiomycota
Class: Agaricomycetes
Order: Agaricales

EMILY'S PERSONAL NOTES

Ever heard of cordyceps? To put it simply, it's a parasitic fungus that more-or-less turns insects into zombies that do its bidding. Yes, I am serious. The Sporovid family are essentially cordyceps but fully sentient. And when I saw what it did to those poor, poor Pikmin… Those white eyes will forever haunt me.

It's strange, though. The spores only have such an effect on Pikmin, and nothing else. Kinda makes you wonder… before captains came along, was the Puffstool the Pikmin's original leader? Or does it just take advantage of having a personal army at its disposal? Perhaps it's smarter than we give it credit for…

Oh, and forgive me if this particular 'page' contains a few minor errors. I'm a zoologist, not a... whatever you call someone who studies fungi.

PHYSICAL APPEARANCES

The Aspergilla podronis (Puffstool) resembles a large brown-capped mushroom. Instead of roots, it has two small legs at the bottom of its body. On the top of its cap are a pair of antennae that provide the Puffstool with very basic sight.

The Aspergilla rubedronis (Puffstalk) is a much smaller species that has a flat brown top instead of a capped one. It retains the antenna eyes at the top of its head and the legs as well, though the legs are even smaller and often impossible to see.

HABITAT

The Puffstool is a rare creature that is found almost exclusively underground, best known for residing in the Forest Navel around areas of concentrated glowing mushrooms. There have also been extremely rare sightings of Puffstools above ground in the Distant Spring, though the reason for it being there is not yet known.

The Puffstalk is found much closer to the surface, preferring to stay in valleys or near poisonous rivers. They live inside tiny networks of tunnels dug by previous residents, occasionally popping their heads out to see what is happening.

DIET AND DEFENCES

The Puffstalk, despite walking around, is much like a typical mushroom in terms of diet. When it finds nutrients in the ground or in carrion, it will dig its roots into the ground and absorb the nutrients. It only has to gather food once a week.

The Puffstool - though it retains a near-identical diet - is much more fascinating in its defence mechanisms. If it is attacked, it will attempt to flee as quickly as it can. It is slow and quite prone to tripping, however. Once it realises that escape is impossible, it will lift up its cap and scatter pink spores around itself. These spores induce blindness and sternutation in its predators, encouraging the predator to run away.

If the victim of the spores is a member of the Pikmin family, the effect is much different. The spores latch onto the poor Pikmin and grow roots into its nervous system. By the end of this (apparently painful) process, the Pikmin loses any individual features and is reduced to a purple, white-eyed, and mushroom-topped shell of its former self. These Pikmin are then under the control of the Puffstool, and will attack any potential threats for it.

SOCIAL STRUCTURE

Puffstools and Puffstalks have an interesting relationship with the rest of the colony. They are technically not singular species but part of a greater group of fungi. Once its cap has grown big enough and its spore sac is full, a Sporovid will disconnect from the colony to roam around freely in a small area. Once its spore sac is empty, it will return to the colony and 'become part of the hivemind again', as it were.

COURTING AND CHILDREARING

Members of the Sporovid family reproduce much like other species of fungi. Once a Puffstool or Puffstalk separates itself from the colony, it will attempt to spread its spores wherever possible and feasible. Many of these spores will be carried away by animals or running water, and most of them may not 'survive the journey'. Those that do make it, however, will quickly begin to grow more of the colony. If these spores come in contact with those of another colony, a whole new colony will begin to grow instead.

OTHER NOTES

Pikmin exposed to the Puffstool's spores can potentially be saved if other Pikmin are sent to attack them. Note, however, that this runs the risk of killing the original Pikmin instead. To some, that may be the preferable state.

NOTES FROM OTHER RESEARCHERS

Puffstool -

I can't stop thinking about what those poor Pikmin go through whenever they're exposed to this thing's spores. Those eyes seem so lifeless… are they even still there anymore? On the plus side, it's easy to trip, but if it infects your Pikmin… it's game over. - Alph

Oh, I don't like this one. Not only is it just HORRIBLE what it does to our little Pikmin, but those spores it spreads everywhere always make me… make me… ah… AH-CHOO! - Brittany (Emily's Notes: Well, that explains why her notes appeared to be splattered with something… ew.)

How dare it! How DARE it infect the minds of our Pikmin and turn them into zombies who attack their friends against their will?! I'm sorry, but this makes me furious. Being forced to harm your own friends is one of the worst things someone can go through! - Captain Charlie

Puffstalk -

I'm quite thankful that this model isn't nearly as threatening as the other one. This one is simply a way of getting treasure, when you look at it from a practicality perspective. But I can't help but feel a little disappointed. - Alph

I like this one a LOT more. It doesn't turn our Pikmin into zombies and gives us free treasure! Oh, and it doesn't spread spores that make me sneeze. So bonus points for that! - Brittany

I have much more respect for this creature than the last. It means no harm, and simply ducks in and out of its little holes like a curious child. I only wish more creatures were like this one. - Captain Charlie

Mushroom Pikmin -

Mushroom Pikmin serve as a reminder that nature is much crueller than it seems. One moment, you're a little Pikmin happily obeying its captain. Next, you're a zombie and attacking those your love. ... Hm, there's good poetry potential in this! - Alph

These spores suck. Once you've recovered from that cloud of death, you're forced to watch your precious Pikmin get corrupted before your eyes! I can't imagine what they're going thr... ahh... AHHH-CHOOOO! ... Can we get this ship's air cleaned of these stupid spores already?! - Brittany

It breaks my heart to see our loyal soldiers being forced to turn on their own people. The way they giggle as they attacked us was... unnerving doesn't begin to describe it. Half of them were lost, while the other half were freed. It just doesn't seem fair, does it? - Captain Charlie

Author Notes - One of my favourite things about writing this is occasionally giving Charlie (who is usually pretty goofy) a note that is surprisingly sombre. After all, he is the one to give the sad 'moment of silence for the fallen Pikmin' note if too many Pikmin die that day.

We're not done with the S's yet, because we have one more to go: the much less interesting Squidler family!