Morphs [Oak Catalog #]
- Bidoof [399]
- Bibarel [400]
Notable Biology
Bidoof are small, rotund mammalian Pokémon of roughly half a meter in length. They have pronounced front teeth, which they use to threaten predators and get to the soft, edible inner wood of young trees, and an easygoing disposition that makes them a good choice for novice Trainers or pets. They can swim short distances, but their bodies are ill-suited for swimming. They sometimes stand upright, but they prefer to walk on all fours.
Bibarel are large, bulky mammalian Pokémon of a full meter in height, and tend toward bipedalism, though they will get on all fours when running. Their front teeth have grown further still, while their fur has taken on a fine, silky texture for swimming, and their tail has grown from a stub into a paddle which is used for rapid maneuvering in the water. A thick layer of fat increases Bibarel's buoyancy while making it able to swim even in cold waters. The fur contains nutrients which allow algae and fungi to grow on it, allowing Bibarel to blend in with the riverbed. The "mask" on its face is actually an area of fur containing a mild toxin, which prevents the symbiotic organisms from spreading to Bibarel's eyes and causing infection. In captivity, this trait of the fur means Bibarel must be bathed with antibiotic soap regularly, making it a slightly less attractive pet than Bidoof.
Both morphs are highly sociable due to their living in groups, and make excellent pets. In the wild, some Bidoof or Bibarel can be seen with bright, beige fur and a reddish tail; these are prized in the Bidoof fancy, and are now bred in large quantities for Pokémon Contests.
Bibarel fur and Bidoof meat were both once commonly sold throughout Sinnoh, but the adoption of the creatures as pets has killed those trades except as niche products. Bibarel fur was ideal for winter coats due to its surprising warmth, natural waterproofing, and light weight, while Bidoof meat had a texture and flavor profile resembling that of lean Miltank or Tauros.
Habitat
Bidoof are exceptionally hardy Pokémon, and can live almost anywhere. While it is native to the cold climates of the Sinnoh region, stable populations of Bidoof have been found as far south as Vermillion City. Bidoof prefer to make their nests near large bodies of fresh water like lakes and rivers, but can make do with saltwater. Bidoof have even been seen in the deepest areas of Eterna Forest, with that area's main nest located at the disused swimming pool of the abandoned mansion within the woods. Bibarel are no less adaptable. Bidoof are not strong swimmers, and make their nests along the edges of waterbodies. Bibarel, by contrast, are very capable swimmers. They dam rivers with trees felled by their impressive front teeth, held together by mud, to deepen the water and prevent it from freezing solid in Sinnoh's cold winters. Bibarel then build intricate lodges from mud and wood within these ponds. Due to their ability to survive anywhere there is water, Bidoof are considered a pest in many cities; their appeal as a pet has only furthered the spread of Bidoof throughout the world.
Diet
Both morphs are herbivorous, and prefer to feed on the soft inner wood of young trees. Untrained Bidoof or Bibarel in a domestic environment will gnaw on wooden furniture; as an alternative, most pet stores carry untreated, foodsafe timbers Bidoof and Bibarel can safely consume. [Trainer's Note: Do not attempt to slice a Bidoof or Bibarel's timbers for easier consumption. They must gnaw on the wood to keep their teeth from growing too long; failure to keep their teeth in check will result in them becoming ingrown and infected. The infection can prove fatal if it is not treated quickly.] Bidoof and Bibarel are fond of Berries, and, in captivity, sweets such as small candies, but should not be given large quantities of these foods to keep their teeth healthy.
Hazards
Bidoof are docile, playful, and friendly Pokémon that pose little threat to humans or other Pokémon. Nonetheless, if angered, such as by disturbing their nests or their young, Bidoof will gnaw on the attacker with their massive front teeth or tackle it with surprising speed. In of itself, a Bidoof attack is painful but seldom lethal; however, any Bidoof that sees another attacking will itself attack the same target, leading to six or seven deaths a year among foolhardy individuals who decide to attack Bidoof for entertainment. The swarm-attacking behavior is learned, and is not present in captive-bred members of the Bidoof line; for this reason, most Bidoof possessed either as pets or by Trainers are not wild-captured.
Bibarel are similarly nonchalant, but due to their greater size and strength, and the potent water jets they use to repulse prey, even a single angered Bibarel is a potent threat. Furthermore, Bibarel have been known to use the Superpower attack, normally reserved for Fighting-types or Pokémon taught the move in captivity, to cripple or kill a threat to the group. After using Superpower, Bibarel will be weaker for quite some time, as the attack takes quite a toll on its body. A single Superpower from a healthy adult Bibarel has enough force to crush small cars, and is invariably fatal to humans. Some small leagues have thus banned the use of Superpower in competitions; the Kanto, Johto, Hoenn, Sinnoh, and Unova leagues require the Trainer and Pokémon to have undergone a one-week course on safe restraint before they are licensed to use the move in anything but a self-defense context. Inadequately trained Bibarel using Superpower can pose a threat to themselves as well as others. The immense feats of physical strength are powered by flooding the body with adrenaline, accelerating the animal's heartrate well beyond safe levels. While the accelerated heartrate allows far more oxygen to enter the blood, for use by the muscle groups performing these feats of strength, it can also lead to heart attacks- which, due to the nearly complete inability of a Pokémon using an unrestrained Superpower to feel pain, will go unnoticed until it's too late. [Trainer's Note: Every year some 200 to 300 Pokémon die either using or being hit by Superpower in illegal street battles. Please apply for a license to use this technique, and renew it every six months. Thank you.]
Courting and Childrearing
Bidoof are physiologically capable of breeding, but do so only in captivity. In the wild, Bibarel alone reproduce.
When a female Bibarel enters heat, the males in the group each build new lodges. The female will enter the best of the lodges, and the Bibarel will mate. After about 120 days, the female will give live birth to two to six Bidoof infants. The infants will suckle until their front teeth have grown, at which point the mother will swim them to shore to begin eating wood and making their initial nests.
In times of short food supply, Bibarel can lay eggs instead of giving live birth; when buried in cool riverbed silt, the eggs are stable for as long as four months before they must be dug up and hatched.
Social Structure
Bidoof and Bibarel live in colonies of twenty to fifty Pokémon. There is no complex social hierarchy; the Pokémon simply gather together for protection and to enable the construction of large dams. If it finds itself alone, a Bidoof or Bibarel will seek out the nearest Bidoof or Bibarel and follow it until reaching its colony. Occasionally, this results in a wild Bidoof following a tame Bidoof home; should this happen, the tame Bidoof's owner should call Animal Control, who will return the stray Pokémon to the nearest colony.
Written by Afti.
