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Relicanth (ジーランス Jiiransu in Japanese, also called Relicanth in German and French) is a fictional creature of the Pokémon franchise.
The name "Relicanth" originated from the words relic and coelacanth, a rare and ancient type of fish. "Jiiransu" originated from the words Jiiro, literally meaning ground colour or colour of the ground, and Shi-rakansu, meaning coelacanth
Appearance
Relicanth is decidedly fish-like in appearance. Its head is the colour and texture of cracked stone, and it is pictured with its eyes closed. Its body is brown, flecked with tan, and it has a small dot of red on its side. Relicanth has one dorsal and four pectoral fins, and a broad tail.
Biology
Relicanth is a rare and inaccessible Pokémon, as it inhabits the deep ocean floor. It was discovered in an exploration mission of the sea abyss. Relicanth proved to be extremely well-adapted to its environment; so much so, that according to researchers in the Pokémon world, it has not changed form in 100,000,000 years, meaning that it has not had pressure to evolve in the Darwinian sense of the word, having reached Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium. (Fittingly enough, it doesn't evolve into a Stage 1 Pokémon either). This is an almost obvious reference to the coelacanth that it is fashioned after, which has remained unchanged for hundreds of thousands of years, according to fossil records.
Relicanth's body is covered in rock-like scales which are tough enough to withstand the enormous hydrostatic pressures exercised on it at such extreme depths, as is the case with other dwellers of the abyss (see Gorebyss). It uses its multiple pectoral fins as a means of locomotion across the sea bed. Relicanth is a filter feeder; its diet consists of microscopic organisms that are sifted through its toothless mouth.
In the video games
Relicanth is found underwater in Routes 124 and 126 in Pokémon Ruby, Sapphire and Pokémon Emerald.
Relicanth has excellent defense and Hit Points and very good attack, but its speed and special defense are low and its special attack abysmal, prohibiting it from exploiting Water-type attacks to their full potential. Usually physical moves such as Earthquake, Rock Slide or Ancientpower are preferred on Relicanth, while its Rock Head ability which nullifies recoil damage of attacks also makes Take Down and Double-Edge appealing choices.
Along with Wailord, Relicanth needs to be present in the player's team to remove the seals from the hiding places of the Legendary Pokémon Regirock, Regice and Registeel.
In the animé
Relicanth appeared in episode #278 ("A Ruin With a View") along with other prehistoric Pokémon in a cavern raided by Team Magma. It also appeared in another episode ("Relicanth Really Can!")
In the trading card game
Relicanth has appeared only three times in the card game, as a Basic Water-type, in these expansions:
- EX Hidden Legends
- EX Emerald
- EX Holon Phantoms
References
- The following games and their instruction manuals: Pokémon Red, Green, and Blue; Pokémon Yellow; Pokémon Stadium and Pokémon Stadium 2; Pokémon Gold, Silver, and Crystal; Pokémon Ruby, Sapphire, and Emerald; Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen; Pokémon Colosseum and Gale of Darkness
- Publications
- Barbo, Maria. The Official Pokémon Handbook. Scholastic Publishing, 1999. ISBN 0439154049.
- Loe, Casey, ed. Pokémon Special Pikachu Edition Official Perfect Guide. Sunnydale, CA: Empire 21 Publishing, 1999. ISBN 130206151.
- Nintendo Power. Official Nintendo Pokémon FireRed Version & Pokémon LeafGreen Version Player’s Guide. Nintendo of America Inc., August 2004. ISBN 193020650X
- Mylonas, Eric. Pokémon Pokédex Collector’s Edition: Prima’s Official Pokémon Guide. Prima Games, September 21 2004. ISBN 0761547614
- Nintendo Power. Official Nintendo Pokémon Emerald Version Player’s Guide. Nintendo of America Inc., April 2005. ISBN 1930206585
External links
- Official Pokémon website
- Bulbapedia (a Pokémon-centric Wiki)’s article about Relicanth as a species
- Serebii.net’s 3rd Gen Pokédex entry for Relicanth
- Pokémon Dungeon Pokédex entry, full of statistics analysis
- PsyPoke Pokédex entry
- Smogon Pokédex entry
"Relicanth"