A large variety of pokemon possess some sort of paralyzing agent in their saliva or on their tongue, for it is a beneficial and fairly obvious survival strategy. Paralyzing one's prey requires far less speed and energy than chasing it down, and immobilizes food nearly as surely as a claw to the leg – nearly, for paralysis is not always successful. Most of the pokemon which rely on this strategy are small creatures with smaller prey, for larger bodies are more resilient against all types of status inducers, whether venomous, sleep-inducing, or simply numbing. Lickilicky is the great exception.
A Lickilicky's tongue does not actually grow on evolution like the rest of the Lickitung; instead, its color darkens as it becomes coated in a powerful, numbing slime. Lickilicky typically prey on slow, lumbering beasts much larger than themselves, such as Hippowdon or Pilowsine, and take a great deal of time to finish their still-living meals; a fact which has inspired great horror in the hearts of men.
There are no reliable reports of Lickilicky eating humans, for humans are thankfully too small to make a decent meal, although this primal terror has been featured in many a myth or legend. Yet some hapless humans have contacted Lickilicky tongues, whether by accident (typically by being in the way of a hunting Lickilicky using rollout) or by heroically protecting their pokemon from this predator. In this modern era, one can avoid lifelong paralysis from such a lick if given prompt medical attention. Yet wherever Lickilicky go, wheelchairs and crutches still soon follow, for making it to a hospital or pokemon center in time is difficult enough with working legs; if the leg is licked, it is impossible on one's own.