Disclaimer: What? Pokemon belongs to Nintendo? Oh darn.
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Common Name: Geodude, Isitsubute (juvenile), Graveler, Golon (adult)
Scientific Name: Petrosus pullulo
Description: A Graveler's camouflage is extraordinary. Standing 39 inches tall, these hunched-over reptilians have a sunken-in head with little neck, and when perfectly still they resemble nothing so much as a boulder. Their skulls have a 'frill' of six ridges, and their thick hide is studded with bony, projecting nodes. They are hexapods, with two legs, two arms, and one very long set of limbs that can function as either. Graveler often keep their limbs tucked beneath them, to enhance their camouflage. Each set of limbs sports three digits and claws. Graveler can be one of varying shades of gray, with a wide mouth full of stubby teeth.
Juvenile Graveler, or Geodude, are similar looking to adults, though they are much smaller (average 20 inches tall) and only have one sprawling set of limbs, which they use as legs and which later become the adult arms.
Range: Graveler are found throughout Hoenn, Kanto, Johto, and Sinnoh, in any suitable habitat.
Habitat: Graveler inhabit dry, rocky scrublands and mountains, needing only sparse vegetation to survive. They often shelter in old Onix tunnels, despite the obvious danger the large predators present.
Call: Graveler make a low, trumpeting call, as well as a variety of grunts and groans.
Diet: Graveler are herbivores, making a meager living off of grasses, lichens, and mosses, which they scrape off of rocks with their blunt, peglike teeth. They also swallow rocks to aid digestion, which has led to the misconception that they live off of rocks.
Graveler can climb up surprisingly steep slopes, clinging on with two pairs of limbs while foraging for food with the third.
Life Cycle: In the spring, Graveler males compete for females in shoving matches, each using their frills to try to topple the other. A victor will then pound the ground, throw rocks, and generally make a scene to advertise his robustness. If the female is impressed, they will mate.
A bit later, Graveler females dig a hole in which to lay about ten eggs, which take several weeks to hatch. The hatchlings dig their way out and care for themselves. As the Geodude grow, they sprout new limbs from internal limb buds, which develop over a period of several weeks.
If they are not eaten, Graveler can live for 25 years.
Relationship with Humans: Graveler are not particularly prized in the arena, so have become the dominant life form in many mountainous areas. Fields of Geodude are a common sight in alpine meadows. They are not threatened.
Naturalist's Notes: Graveler are an important prey item for Onix and Aggron, but few other predators can break through their tough skin. Palkia also feed on Graveler occasionally, but they are not their primary prey item. Geodude fall prey to Salamence, Tyranitar, and Charizard, amongst others.
Graveler and Geodude rely mostly on their camouflage and tough skin for protection, and if they are threatened will curl into a ball and allow themselves to roll downhill, away from danger.