Wigglytuff (Igglybuff, Jigglypuff)
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Overview
Wigglytuff were first sighted in Germany in 1884 following an explosion in a dense forest. The first explorers on the scene found a large crater, meteorite shards, and a dozen lethargic and confused jigglypuff. The species rapidly increased in numbers over the next two decades. Their population growth was matched by their popularity growth: by 1903 they were one of the most common pets in the United States and Europe.
Wigglytuff are particularly strange because of how similar their diet and most of their organs are to terrestrial life. Wigglytuff's elastic flesh and hypnotic voice and fur are alien, but they can subsist entirely off of fruit and have a standard mammalian digestive tract. Even their sensory organs and brains are more similar to lopunny than beheeyem or even clefable.
Wigglytuff's friendly disposition and fairly simplistic care requirements make them an excellent introduction to extraterrestrial pokémon. Even non-specialists can appreciate them as cuddle partners and battlers. Take care to avoid their wrath and wigglytuff will prove to be invaluable companions.
Physiology
All stages of the line are classified as dual normal- and fairy-types. The fairy typing is uncontroversial as they are extraterrestrials with strong ties to the moon, a resistance to draconic attacks, and an affinity for fairy attacks. The normal-typing is disputed. Wigglytuff have some resistance to spectral attacks and a very wide elemental reserve, suggesting a normal-type. Their hypnotic voice and fur support a psychic-typing. The typing is currently under review by the Department of Agriculture. The lack of exceptional non-ranged ESP is the strongest against a psychic typing and has prevailed for the last century.
Igglybuff are a small, rotund pokémon coated in soft pink fur, aside from a small cluster of long black hairs on their forehead. Igglybuff are known for their large red or green eyes. They do not have a nose. While their mouth can appear small when closed, it can actually open up to an area of sixteen five square inches when inhaling. The pokémon's limbs are very small for their size. Their movement is limited to rolling around or inhaling air until even weak limb movements can get them one to three feet into the air.
Igglybuff's elastic skin and massive lungs let them bounce along quite easily. When they release most of the air in their lungs in one breath the wind can propel them further into the air. In addition to its elasticity, igglybuff's skin contain pores that release a sweet and potentially hypnotic substance. There is some dispute in the scientific community as to whether this is true sweat used for thermoregulation or simply a release from a specialized scent gland.
Jigglypuff are larger and even more elastic. Their limbs are also proportionally larger than igglybuff's to facilitate walking on the ground. Some specimens can grow to be eight times larger inflated than at their standard size. Jigglypuff can also vent most of the air out of their body and become nearly flat to avoid detection. They are much better singers than igglybuff. Some particularly talented individuals have obtained a twelve-octave vocal range and even become pop stars. These songs can be tuned to simulate the brain waves of deep sleep in their targets, knocking all but the most stubborn targets out in a few measures. Jigglypuff's eyes glow when their song is being used for hypnotic purposes. The species can and does sing for reasons other than putting perceived enemies to sleep.
To accommodate their ability to stretch much larger than their minimum size, most of jigglypuff and wiggytuff's organs are clustered around the skull. The brain and skull are also relatively broad and flat compared to most other species. The organs stay in the same place relative to the skull while the lungs expand beneath them. Their intestines are long and designed to fold and unfold with changes in size.
Wigglytuff have significantly longer and fluffier fur than igglybuff and jigglypuff. It is softest and densest around the forehead. Every spring the species sheds most of its fur and grows a new coat out. In more temperate regions their coat gets longer in the autumn to prepare for winter. Wigglytuff fur has a slight hypnotic effect that compels those who touch it to maintain contact. This applies to humans, other wigglytuff, and even pokémon trying to harm it. Wigglytuff can also sing with the same range as jigglypuff, although their pitch decreases slightly and they are less prone to singing without cause.
Unlike jigglypuff, wigglytuff's eyes do not glow when they incorporate hypnosis into their singing. Wigglytuff's large, expressive eyes also use another one of the line's adaptations. Unlike most mammals, wigglytuff do not have eyelids. Their eyes are constantly kept wet by a layer of tears to wash away dust and provide a measure of protection from the environment. Even asleep wigglytuff's eyes are wide open. Some trainers find this to be unnerving.
Wigglytuff have incredibly large lungs. Some specimens can inflate themselves to twenty times their standard volume. Wigglytuff's brain is larger than jigglypuff's and their organs fold less well, limiting their ability to become nearly flat. Their limbs are also longer, letting them move quite comfortably along the ground. They only regularly inflate to access fruit above their reach or to intimidate predators.
Wigglytuff's resting size ranges between three and four feet. Their resting weight is usually around forty pounds. Wigglytuff can live for forty years in captivity but rarely live more than fifteen years in the wild.
Behavior
Several pokémon species have languages. A handful have even been translated into human ones. Wigglytuff are unique in that they seem to have multiple, mutually unintelligible languages. Some are melodic, some sound like harsh screaming, others still are spoken outside of the range of human hearing. At present six languages with an additional four dialects have been identified. Every region seems to develop its own culture of songs. Fads have also been documented, with some human items or foods becoming incredibly popular for a time before dying down.
Wigglytuff tend to live in collections of two to four adults and their igglybuff. The adults can either form a couple, two couples, or a polyamorous relationship with three or four individuals. Homosexuality may have been documented in the species, although it is possible that it was simply a strong friendship that was observed. Researchers are split on the subject.
Most of wigglytuff's time is spent resting or foraging for food. Wigglytuff are primarily frugivorous and seek out tree fruits to eat. When they cannot find any at ground level they will float or inflate to reach them. Individuals have different tastes, but nanab berries and apples are especially popular with the species. Occasionally they will prey on applin or appletun to eat. Otherwise they are mostly a pacifistic herbivore.
Jigglypuff typically live alone around the edges of human settlements. They will often perform for humans or beg for food. If the audience is not sufficiently supportive, they may lash out. Like most fairies, the line have fickle temperaments and are prone to disproportionate retribution against those they believe have slighted them. Given their ability to make opponents sleep, jigglypuff can buy time to plan and execute revenge plots that would not be otherwise feasible.
Husbandry
The line are generally easy to care for as long as their emotional needs are me. Jigglypuff and wigglytuff are easily housebroken. Shallow water dishes should be provided whenever possible to jigglypuff and wigglytuff. Igglybuff will need to be fed from a bottle for some time. They are prone to drowning in even shallow water dishes. Older igglybuff will rarely need to drink at all as long as they are given plenty of fresh fruit.
Every individual will have their own favorite fruit. This must be provided in some form at least once a day. Failure to do so can lead to an explosive temper tantrum. Sometimes this can be met by flavored or dried food. Particularly needy specimens will require it fresh every day. Over 80% of the species diet should be made up of fresh, frozen, or dried fruit. The rest can be made up of leaves, vegetables, and insect mixes. Trace amounts of iron, aluminum, and magnesium will need to be inserted into the diet as well. This can be done through supplement powders.
All stages prefer musically inclined trainers. Singers are ideal, but trainers who can play an instrument or just dance along are also good. Igglybuff and jigglypuff will need frequent encouragement and praise as they master singing. Wigglytuff still need emotional support. Unlike jigglypuff, wigglytuff prefer to support one another through touch rather than sound or encouragement. Thankfully, wigglytuff's fur is so pleasant that the trainer may come out more relaxed than the pokémon.
The line are known hoarders. Once they decide that something interests them, they will attempt to spirit it away to their stockpile of interesting things. These can usually be coaxed away gently after some time has passed. On rare occasions the pokémon will never willingly let it go. This is most common if it becomes a favored toy or comfort object, such as a blanket or small plush they like to cuddle. In these cases it is best to accept the item as lost.
Wigglytuff have become popular as an emotional support and service pokémon for children with developmental disabilities. Their hypnotic fur can help calm down and ground children in the middle of even severe panic attacks. Wigglytuff are also intelligent and social companions that can learn their trainer's triggers and limitations. While they still have a ferocious temper towards those they believe deserving, wigglytuff can forgive slights from those it believe to be too immature to know what they are doing.
Illness
Because they have no nose, the line cannot inhale while they sing. If they must sing for too long without stopping, they will begin to turn red and ultimately struggle to remain conscious. The massive lung capacity of jigglypuff and wigglytuff can let them sing continuously for several minutes. Igglybuff must breathe every two minutes or risk fainting. This is particularly dangerous when jigglypuff tries to incapacitate a foe that either does not sleep or cannot hear. The jigglypuff can easily cause itself to faint from oxygen deprivation before it gives up on singing. Withdrawing the pokémon in these situations may earn its ire, but protect its health.
Evolution
Igglybuff and jigglypuff gradually evolve over time. Anecdotal evidence suggests that being around fairy-types and meteorite shards can decrease the time it takes to evolve. Battle experience does not have a significant effect on evolution times. Igglybuff usually evolve when they are about a year old. The formal demarcation line between igglybuff and jigglypuff is the development of hypnotic song. Jigglypuff usually evolve into wigglytuff when they are two to four years old. The demarcation line is the development of hypnotic fur.
Battle
Wigglytuff see some use in competitive circuits. They are durable enough to stay in play for a few hits. This gives them time to put opponents to sleep. Unfortunately for wigglytuff, pokémon have different brain patterns and require different songs to put them to sleep. Wigglytuff have some ability to passively learn what songs are needed, but this can take up to an hour. They must be prepared ahead of time for the enemies they will face. This still leaves them vulnerable to unexpected picks, pokémon that cannot hear, and pokémon that do not sleep. Inorganic steel-types can stay awake and outdamage wigglytuff.
Even if sleep setting strategies fail, wigglytuff are still decent. They can combine the move counter with their ability to inflate to turn them into punching bags like wobbuffet. Their broad elemental well and intelligence let them employ a variety of coverage or utility moves to assist the team or deal with the threat in front of them.
At the very highest levels sleep strategies are rare because they can be so dangerous. Most trainers overprepare for them with multiple pokémon able to use sleep talk and inorganic or phantom pokémon that can handle sing and sleep powder. Wigglytuff's bulk and power are also far below those of the strongest pokémon in the world.
Wigglytuff are still quite good on the island challenge. Most totems can be put to sleep, making them a lot less dangerous. Their bulk and power are also pretty decent for the early and middle parts of the challenge. Only at the end will they begin to fall off as multiple supporting pokémon attack them as they try to put the totem to sleep.
When facing wigglytuff, be sure to attack fast and hard. Giving wigglytuff any time to sing makes taking it down in the long run more difficult. Staying far away while attacking is also helpful. Inorganic pokémon are its best counters. Deaf pokémon or those that can disrupt soundwaves can also shut down wigglytuff. In a pinch psychic and dark types have some resistance to the hypnotic effects of its song. Dark-types still have to fear fairy attacks, however.
Jigglypuff lack the power or durability of wigglytuff and must generally rely on sing and melee attacks to deal with enemies. Counter can be used for physical attackers that cannot be put to sleep. Some jigglypuff are fiercely competitive and can be surprisingly good. One even figured out how to weaponize the psionic energy used in rest to create a devastating short-range attack.
Igglybuff are not well suited for combat. In a pinch they can use supporting moves like wish or stealth rock, but they're best not battled with at all.
Acquisition
The line are most common on Akala. The wild population there stems from released pets from Heahea and escapees from a former farm in the area. Igglybuff and jigglypuff capture is allowed with a Class I license. Wigglytuff capture is prohibited. This policy is designed to ensure continued breeding in the area, allowing island challengers to cheaply obtain a popular pokémon. Wigglytuff will not willingly part with a very young igglybuff but may allow trainers to face them in a proving battle to obtain an older one. Jigglypuff typically live alone. Singing demonstrations are more helpful than proving battles, but those can work in a pinch.
All three stages are frequently sold in pet stores. Abandoned specimens can also sometimes be adopted from shelters in major cities. All stages can be purchased or adopted with a Class I license.
Breeding
Wigglytuff select mates by touching them. If both are hypnotized by the other, they will be inseparable. If only one is hypnotized they will have to prove their strength and intelligence over time to be accepted. Sometimes wigglytuff collections can have complicated dynamics where one wigglytuff has two mates who refuse to speak to the other. Other three or four member collections have mutual mating or otherwise supportive relationships.
Wigglytuff tend to mate in the early autumn. Pregnancy lasts for four months at which point three to six igglybuff will be born. During the later stages of pregnancy the female will always appear slightly inflated to accommodate her womb. Heavily pregnant females will stop foraging and will depend on other members of the collection to obtain food for them.
Igglybuff do not nurse. In fact, wigglytuff entirely lack the ability to lactate. Young igglybuff are fed overripe or pre-masticated fruit. Childrearing duties are sometimes shared between all members of the collective equally. A four-member collection have also been observed each taking one of the four igglybuff under their wing as primary caretaker. Sometimes one member will refuse to do anything for another one's children.
After evolution the new jigglypuff will be released to go on their own. Jigglypuff that attempt to return to their parents' collective will be ignored or ostracized.
Captive breeding requires having a collection. Wigglytuff will not mate with pokémon they see infrequently. Interspecies breeding is possible. Female wigglytuff can have viable offspring with clefable, giving birth to a mix of igglybuff and cleffa. Male wigglytuff can mate with lopunny, cinderace, and eevee to produce offspring. Children born from lopunny and cinderace are almost never reproductively viable. Pairings with eevee usually produce viable offspring. Female wigglytuff can also mate with a male eeveelution. The species of the offspring will match the mother's.
Relatives
Wigglytuff are most closely related to clefable. This supports the theory that wigglytuff are originally from the moon. Their internal anatomy, however, is closer to lagomorphs or rodents than most extraterrestrials. There is some speculation that wigglytuff may have originally been a terrestrial species that somehow made its way to the moon, interbred with clefable, and then eventually returned. There is no hard evidence for this theory. Wigglytuff genetics are particularly strange, mixing the bizarre snowflake structure of clefable DNA with more conventional nucleotides. Geneticists still do not fully understand their genome or how interbreeding with either clefable or terrestrial species is possible.
Three studies have attempted to figure out what terrestrial pokémon wigglytuff is most closely related to. One study posited that wigglytuff was a lagomorph like its internal biology and interspecies relationships would suggest. Another placed them as being most closely related to nidoran, using both genetic and anatomical evidence as well as nidoran's reliance on meteorites to evolve. A third study determined that their closest terrestrial genetic relative was actually liepard.
For now, wigglytuff are grouped with clefable in the division Selinis. They are the only documented species in that division.