Binacle Line
Morphs [Oak Catalogue #]
- Binacle [688] – Capitulum manuduos
- Barbaracle [689] – Capitulum septamanutitan
Physical Description
The members of the Binacle line are a pair of Pedunculatan Pokémon whom share a dual Rock and Water typing. They are both members of the small group of symbiotic Pokémon where a ‘single’ Pokémon actually consists of two or more individuals, Dugtrio and Magneton are other examples. This should not be confused with the condition polycerebra, where a Pokémon has two or more brains, the members of the Doduo line being the prime examples.
The juvenile form of the line Binacle measures in at between 35 and 65cm tall and can weigh between 25 and 40kg. Its body consists of a single ‘hand’ and stalk or neck attached to a large grey rock. The stalk is orange with a single white stripe, while its face is a dark brown with orange cheeks and contains two round eyes with no visible iris. The ‘scalp’ of its head is orange and possess four large claws protruding vertically, the two middle claws have fused into a single large claw.
The claws consist of a seemingly unique keratin and silica blend where during formation the keratin has encapsulated silica from the rock it is attached to leading to the claws possessing some of the same properties as the rock. It should be noted that not only does a ‘single’ Binacle consist of two individuals on the one rock but also that both the height and weight measurements include both ‘hands’ and the rock to which the individuals are attached.
Upon evolution into Barbaracle the two individuals have multiplied into seven individuals attached to two large rocks joined by an orange segmented waist resembling and exposed spine.
Two individuals grow downwards from the bottom rock to form a pair of legs and feet, while the upper rock has two individuals growing from its lower surface that act as Barbaracle’s main arms and hands while from the upper surface grows two individuals that act as a pair of secondary arms, similar to those seen on a Machamp, and a third shorter squat individual grows from the centre of the upper surface and acts as the head.
While the four arms resemble the ‘arms’ and ‘hands’ of a Binacle, though they only possess a single eye rather than two, the individuals that form the legs have modified so the ‘hand’ joins the ‘arm’ from the back rather than the bottom. The feet have also modified to possess a single orange star instead of an eye. The head resembles a left fist and has two eyes, four clawed fingers on top and a fifth clawed ‘thumb on its right cheek.
All its limbs retain the four large claws of Binacle and the orange and brown ‘necks’ with a brown ‘hand’. The ‘spine’ despite appearing to simply be a formation to join the two rocks is actually the ‘neck’ of the individual that forms the head of Barbaracle.
Barbaracle measure at between 1 and 1.5m and weigh between 75 and 100kg. It should be noted that as with Binacle the weight measurement includes the weight of the two stones.
As with all species of Pokémon the Binacle line has members that exhibit a rare phenotype that alters their colouring. As a Binacle these members have green faces and claws, while their cheeks, ‘scalps’ and necks are pink instead of orange.
As Barbaracle these members have green faces, hands, feet and claws and a pink face and ‘spine’. Their four arms and legs are pink with a green section at the ‘elbow and knee’ joints.
Individuals with this phenotype are highly sought after by collectors and the author of this article is one of those lucky enough to possess one.
Notable Biology
One of the most notable biological points of the members of the Binacle line is the elasticity and flexibility of the ‘necks’ of each individual which allows them to stretch and contract their ‘necks’ like a Grass type would its vines. This allows the Pokémon to reach distances that would normally be beyond their scope.
Another important point is that as with all cases of symbiotic Pokémon each individual within both members of this line possess full control over their own body and can act individually rather than as part of a whole. As such the individuals seem to possess a form of mild telepathy with the other individuals that make up the Pokémon allowing them to coordinate their movements for the good of the whole. While this isn’t as important for Binacle, for Barbaracle this is almost a necessity for survival. As such while each of the seven individuals is capable of acting on its own in most situations the head coordinates all actions and the limbs follow its orders.
As a dual Rock and Water type Pokémon the members possess both the physical robustness of the Rock type and the aquatic affinity of the Water type.
Due to the majority of their body area consisting of a form of sandstone, the members of the Binacle line possess great resistance to physical blows while their own physical blows are nearly as potent due to the silica compounds incorporated into their claws which are their main means of physical attack.
While capable of launching jets of water and throwing large or razor sharp rocks at opponents the Binacle lines natural repertoire consists mainly of slashing at opponents with its razor sharp claws and they make up a quarter of the Pokémon capable of learning the powerful Razor Shell technique.
With training the members of the Binacle line can learn a large range of moves from firing beams of cryonic energy and jets of boiling water, to creating seismic events or powerful walls of water.
Despite appearing to be related to other shell-like Pokémon like the Shellder and Clamperl lines they are actually more closely related to the Krabby, Corphish and Clauncher lines,
There are three distinct sub-groups of these Pokémon. The first sub-group possess much keener eye-sight that allows them to not target an opponent’s weak point more precisely and thus deal more damage than normal. This has led some researchers to theorise that they possess either a second specialised lens within their eyes or that they have conscious control over their single lens which allows a telescoping-like phenomenon. This has led to this sub-group to be dubbed the ‘Sniper’ ability due to the obvious similarities to the titular firearm.
The second subgroup possesses the appropriately titled ‘Tough Claws’ ability which causes extra layers of the keratin/silica construct to form on its claws. This obviously makes the claws harder and thus increases the potency of any moves the individual uses that make contact with the opponent. It should be noted that the members of the Binacle line are the only Pokémon known to be able to possess this ability that aren’t one of the newly discovered ‘Mega Pokémon’. Researchers are investigating whether this fact has any evolutionary significance.
The third and rarest sub-group possess a seemingly unconscious reaction to physical contact by an opponent which causes them to steal the opponent’s held item. The only known exceptions to this ability are those items that have some sort of significant connection to the attacking Pokémon, such as a ‘Mega Stone’, and those held by a Pokémon capable of excreting certain adhesive compounds.
Habitat
Binacle makes its home within the intertidal zone of beaches using the movement of water to bring food within its reach and to act as a first line of protection. Barbaracle live lower down the tidal shelf usually within sea caves or cracks in the seafloor.
Diet
Both members of this line are herbivorous dominant omnivores with the majority of the diet consisting of seaweed brought within reach by the tide in the case of Binacle or harvested from the seafloor in the case of Barbaracle. Both members will also filter out small organisms from within the water as it passes over their bodies. In the case of trainer owned members store bought Pokémon food will usually suffice though regular servings of seaweed or similar vegetation is also recommended.
Hazards
One of the biggest hazards of the Binacle line is their physical resilience and their razor sharp claws. Their claws are easily capable of leaving deep gashes in anyone that gets too close. The mostly sedentary life of Binacle luckily makes chance encounters rare and easily avoidable. Similarly chance encounters with Barbaracle are rare and easily avoidable due to their spending much of their lives on the sea floor.
In the occasion that you are travelling to a beach known to be home to Binacle or Barbaracle it is recommended you stay on the beach and away from the rocky platforms that Binacle like to make their home and don’t go diving unaccompanied, especially near the continental shelf. It is recommended to be accompanied by a Grass type Pokémon who should be able to easily subdue any attackers. If a Grass type is unavailable then a Ground, Electric or Fighting type will also suffice.
Social Structure
The members of the Binacle line are mostly solitary only ever interacting with the other individual/s that make up the Pokémon. In the event that the two individuals of a Binacle fight one will move to another rock and wait on a new partner. This has yet to be seen in a Barbaracle and what effect it would have on the whole and the individual if it did is unknown. If two Barbaracle meet they will engage in contests of strength, toughness of body and sharpness of claws. The winner will usually take some or all of the loser’s territory for itself.
Courting
The Binacle line has little in the way of courting though both forms are capable of breeding. The male will extend a long fine tube that searches for a nearby female and with which to transmit sperm to the female. The female will brood the fertilised egg within its mantle cavity hidden within the rock to which it is attached. Upon hatching the larvae are released into the sea where they seek out a hard surface on which to settle. They will then fix themselves in place and undergo a metamorphosis into the individual neck and ‘hand’.
It should be noted that each individual has its own gender and thus a Binacle could consist of a male female pair, in this case the Binacle as a whole is classified by which of the two heads seems the most dominant. As a Barbaracle the individual is classified by which gender has the most representatives within the whole. Due to the possibility of a mix of genders within the whole, and that each ‘hand’ reproduces separately from the whole, it is possible for a Binacle or Barbaracle to be both a mother and a father.
In Human Society
The Binacle line’s representation in human culture is mixed. Binacle rarely feature as more than a background character in undersea scenes of movies and TV shows. Barbaracle on the other hand have found niche roles, usually in similar roles to that of the Golett line, as guardians and defenders of cities, vaults etc. especially in representations of Atlantis and similar sunken cities. One such situation in a cartoon where people are able to summon creatures from the spirit world to fight alongside them, is the inclusion of a trio of Barbaracle as part of a test to enter Atlantis where the guardians of the sunken city summon the trio to counter to hero’s summoned Golurk.
It should also be noted that some parts of the world the members of this line are considered quite the delicacy.
Written by Shadow6666
