Disclaimer: What? Pokemon belongs to Nintendo? Oh darn.
A/N: Happy 50th chapter, everybody! At this rate, only like, 350 more to go…
Common Name: Pichu (juvenile), Pikachu (adult)
Scientific Name: Nudabuccae musculus
Description: Pikachu are rotund rodents, measuring 27 inches long from nose to tail, and standing 18 inches tall when rearing on two legs. They have long, pointed ears and short muzzles. Their tails are unusual in that they 'kink,' with the vertebrae set against other vertebrae at angles. This gives the tail its distinctive, 'lightning bolt' shape, a feature that is accentuated by a tuft of fur at the end of the tail. In females, this tuft thins out at the tip, giving the tail a 'notched' appearance. Due to the interlocking, warped vertebrae, Pikachu tails are highly inflexible, and usually only move at the base.
Pichu, the Pikachu's young, have broader ears in comparison to their bodies. Their tails are much smaller, and less kinked. The tails grow longer and develop their 'lightning bolt' shape during adolescence.
Pikachu are bright yellow in color, with black stripes on the back, black tips to the ears, a brown base of the tail and, in the subspecies N. musculus principialis, darker feet and a lighter underbelly. Pichu are a paler yellow, with a black tail, black edging on the ears, and a ragged black collar around the neck.
Both Pikachu and Pichu have notable electrogenic organs, which are located in the cheeks, and protrude as reddish, hairless patches of skin.
Range: Pikachu have a restricted native range, found only in western Kanto. However, they have been introduced to other parts of Kanto, as well as Hoenn and Sinnoh, where they sometimes become pests.
Habitat: Pikachu live in open woodlands and shrublands, and can be found in developed, suburban areas as well.
Call: Pikachu's most common call is a squeak, but they also have several shrieking alarm cries. When angered they will growl.
Diet: Pikachu are herbivores, feeding on a variety of grasses, herbs, seeds, and fruits. They are unusual in that they process their food, using electricity to heat up certain berries to make them more digestible and to destroy toxic compounds.
Life Cycle: Pikachu live in colonies, usually situated in an open area and made up of a few to dozens of males and females alongside their young. Males often fight over their position in the group, and low-ranking males will sometimes leave if they cannot find any breeding opportunities.
Pikachu are extremely fecund, with females laying up to nine eggs three times a year! Pichu hatch already furred and active, and soon leave the nesting burrow. Female Pichu have a more stable place in the colony than males, which must fight their way into the hierarchy when they mature into Pikachu.
Pikachu may live 11 years in captivity, but often have a shorter lifespan in the wild.
Relationship with Humans: Exceedingly popular pets, Pikachu have been exported widely from Kanto as house pokemon. Their wild, native populations are low and dropping, but because they will live in heavily disturbed areas they are not yet considered threatened. In addition, Pikachu are becoming invasive in Hoenn and Sinnoh.
Large Pikachu colonies are often considered vermin, as Pikachu will raid crops, set fires, and ruin electrical equipment. They are usually either exterminated, or captured and sold at auction.
Naturalist's Notes: Pikachu are well known as being electrogenic, and their black and yellow coloration is a clear warning for any predator. Indeed, these pokemon will quickly deliver a painful shock to predators, and will even gang up and 'mob' threats such as Beedrill or Noctowl, quickly driving them away from the colony.
Pikachu are very social, often allogrooming and rubbing bodies with other colony members. Their distinctive tails are held up into the air to keep in sight contact with each other in tall grass, and they will share their burrows even with unrelated Pikachu.