#pikmin biology

[pikminbiology]

Things I've noticed about the Peckish Aristocrab!

So, you guys know about the Peckish Aristocrab, right? That weird, crustacean-crabby-onion thing in Pikmin 3 and 4? I've always found it really cool, but I've been pondering on that thing for a while now. Because it doesn't really make sense to me that between Pikmin 3 and 4, it's appearance just.. changed so much. So I've tried to figure a few things out.

In Pikmin 3, it has an extremely large, crystalline claw and a smaller claw on its other side. What are those weird articulations between each ''segments'' of the claw, though? Are they sediments? Real flesh? And what about the claw itself, that seems to regrow so fast if broken? Here's what I think.

Peckish Aristocrabs hatchlings spend a lot of time in the ground, and since they get nutrients from it, it also determines their claw's molecular structure and general shape. Typical example of environmental adaptation! It seems most of their nutrients come from their pairs of legs which could be interpretated as ''roots'' in a real plant.

Don't trust me yet? Take a look at this- (And yes, I'm aware of how cursed this looks.)

This is what the.. egg (?) of a Peckish Aristocrab is supposed to look like, if Pikmin Garden's right. Looks very similar to onions, huh? These creatures' whole lives revolve around the hunting grounds they're on, and one of my theories is that depending on where they're located, their claw and general body colors will change a lot. The Peckish Aristocrabs located in the Garden of Hope have a much, darker appearance because the ground is much more nutrient-rich and azote-filled, which is perfect because it helps them camouflage anyways. Their claws are also significantly more solid as it seems crystallization is much more common in that area. I wouldn't be able to tell you why, but it seems things can just.. crystallize, in the Pikmin world. Props to Calcified Crushblats, I guess?

Meanwhiles, the ones in Pikmin 4 have a much lighter appearance that helps them fond in with their environments. Since they hunt on the sand, which isn't exactly known for its nutritional value anyways, plant or not (Believe me, I tried sand. Not good), they get most of their energy and nutrients from their preys. Their claws are much lighter (and this would explain why any type of Pikmin can break their claws in 4) because it's much harder for them to form a solid one when there's basically nothing in the ground to get sediments and whatnot from.

Pikmin 4's Aristocrabs are pretty much juste LITE versions of those in 3. If we ever get a Pikmin 5, I bet we're gonna get another version of those quirky little crabs. And while we're here, I'm just throwing this idea out here;

Ever noticed how the Grubchucker shares similar color patterns to Aristocrabs? Since there's one in the Serene Shores.. I wouldn't be surprised if they were both affected by their environments. Maybe they're more similar than we think. But anyways, this post is just an excuse to justify why they changed the Peckish's Aristocrab appearance, just a bunch of theories.

[cursedorca]

now that im finally starting to feel better heres some of my thoughts on some spec biology of pikmin i see pikmin and onions as separate species that are so close they cannot function if separated, like corals, lichens and algae.

[metalichotchoco]

The differences between the small little alien dudes who come to our blue marble pnf404

[kelpermoosee]

If Pikmin could survive on Hocotate, I legitimately think Olimar would be willing to cause a invasive species issue just to bring them home

[diesaur]

collect my captains

[wjbs-aus]

I think every Speculative Biology-adjacent game needs at least one unnatural/artificial-looking creature that sometimes (but not always) has a different aesthetic to everything else in the game and exists solely makes the player's life hell, e.g the Wraiths from Pikmin, the Warpers from Subnautica, the Servants from The Eternal Cylinder, the Grox from Spore (and, to a lesser extent, the Dronox and Insectrox from Galactic Adventures).

[mynameisvolatile]

BULBMIN i would love some in depth thoughts on how they control the bulborb especially, also the functions of puffstool spores in making shroomin as well

bulbmin biology headcanons

this was so fun !!! i hope i explained things well 🤝

[butchbarneygumble]

some speculative evo stuff about a hypothetical amphibious bulborb... related to Emperor Bulblax but took to the water. Based on gators and catfish. This guy came to me in a dream!

Pikmin ignited my love for biology and xenobiology so I'm loving the Piklopedia being a thing in Pikmin 4 too!

[cartographers-office]

The PNF-404 Phylogenetic Tree

A bit of a different post from the usual, as I have been very hyped for Pikmin 4! Here's my speculative phylogenetic tree for most of the creatures in the Pikmin series. It is a bit more cautious than an actual phylogenetic tree, so there are a lot of soft polytomies (ideally every branch split should only have two children), but I digress.

Edit

It seems that Tumblr's compression did some nasty work on my post, so I'm gonna leave here a link to my phylogenetic tree in case anyone would like to see it in its full glory.

Here are also all the notes on the image in case anyone needs those too:

Author's Notes

Updated as of the Pikmin 4 Demo.

Icons taken from the Pikipedia and Pikmin games.

Fonts used are “Pikmin Font” by TheAdorableOshawott and “Dimbo” by Jayvee Enaguas.

Species with multiple scientific names

The Red Bulborb, Empress Bulblax and Bulborb Larvae are all explicitly different forms of the same species, as is the case in their Japanese technical name.

The Spotty Bulbear and Dwarf Bulbear are both explicitly different forms of the same species, as is the case in their Japanese technical name.

The Baldy Long Legs and Hairy Long Legs are explicitly stated to be the same species.

The Centipare and adult Centipare have completely different scientific name and family.

Incorrect scientific name (according to Japanese family name)

Despite being in the Breadbug family, the Fiery Dwarf Bulblax, has the Oculus genus instead of Pansarus. This is corrected here.

Despite not being in the Blowhog family, the Tusked Blowhog shares its Sus genus.

Despite not being in the Mandiblards family, the Shooting Spiner shares its Himeagea genus.

Despite not being in the Flint Beetle family, the Glint Beetle shares its Pilli genus.

The Floaterbie family is supposed to be the same family as the Flutterbie family in the original Japanese.

The Crysanthemum family is considered the same as the Dandelion family in the original Japanese.

Changes due to assumed consistency

All Wollyhop names have been updated to match the Wolpole's European name, which was standardized in Pikmin 4.

Similarly, All mentions of the “frodendum" specific name have been updated to match Wolpole's frondiferorum name in Pikmin 4.

The Red Spectralid has a different genus (Fenestrati) than every other Spectralid. This is likely a mistake is corrected here.

Despite not all Candypop Buds being present in the Pikmin 4 Demo, it is assumed they are all now considered the same species in the Piklopedia.

Scientific name in the wrong order

The Fiery Young Yellow Wollyhop has its “volcanus" subspecies name incorrectly placed in front of its scientific name. This is corrected here.

The Queen Shearwig, Speargrub and Sheargrub all have their genus incorrectly placed as their specific name. This is corrected here.

Incorrect use of real taxonomy terms

The genus Chilopoda of the Centipare is actually the real world class of the centipedes.

The genus Stauromedusae of the Medusal Slurker is actually a real world order of cnidarians.

The specific name phytohabitans of the Leech Hydroe is actually a real world genus of bacteria.

The genus of the Common Glowcap is actually the real world kingdom of fungi.

Inconsistencies within English localizations

The Coppeler has the Scarpanica genus added in the American localization.

The Armurk has different scientific names: Tegoparastacoidea reptantia (US) and Scalobita rotunda (EU).

Other Notes

The Caustic Dweevil was renamed to Hydro Dweevil and its scientific name to Mandarachnia aquadis in the Switch port of Pikmin 2.

Although the Puffstool has no confirmed family, it shares a genus with the Puffstalk, implying they are likely related.

Missing creatures: Mamuta, Smoky Progg, Blubbug, Puffy Blubbug, Electric Cottonade, Red Blubblimp, Seedbagger, Stuffed Bellbloom.

Unplaceable creatures (extradimensional and/or possibly entirely artificial life forms): Waterwraith, Plasm Wraith.

[incyrayinc]

Oatchi thoughts

[sandcastle-art]

oh okay so i need to draw them forever now? and it's terminal?

[dooodle-bug]

I really fw the theory that the pikmin and the onions r the ones responsible for all the crash landings and leafification and all that messed up shit cuz it gives them dimension. Even tho they're not malicious they just do shit bc it's in their nature to survive in whatever way possible. Yea they are cute and sweet and kind but they also are animals that have no morals that are just trying to live

[mandibugs]

oat plus companions

[thekoppologist]

The Koppeyes

Okay, so you look at them, and what is the biggest difference between them and Hocotatians?

That's right, those eyes. Compared to most vertebrate eyes, they are very unique, which is why I decided to cover them first. No irises yet they can still dilate and constrict, seem to be completely immovable and rather large. What could be the purpose of such kooky peepers?

Part 1: Irises

As we discussed, they appear to have no irises. However, they would have to have irises, as they can still dilate and constrict, and in most animals the irises do that. As for examples of their eyes doing that? Take this comedic image of Alph.

As you can see, compared to the images above, Alph's eyes are constricted, presumably from shock after scrolling on r/pikmin for a nanosecond.

Now, if Koppaites can constrict their eyes without irises... How? Actually, the white of their eye is not their sclera. THAT'S the iris. I believe their eyes are structured more similarly to that of dogs than humans, very large irises with normally non-visible sclerae.

Part 2: Immovability

If you watch some cutscenes and pay enough attention, you may be able to see that they don't move their eyes, rather they tilt their head around in order to look around. Hocotatians can indeed move their eyes, as you can see from Louie freakishly glancing around in the Pikmin 2 intro cinematic.

If you look at them in the above images, their eyes bulge out which leads me to believe they indeed have eyeballs instead of eye tubes like owls, an example of animal with mostly immovable eyes. However, owls can move their eyes at least a little bit, while Koppaites cannot at all.

As a result, I believe their eyes are just stuck in their skulls via being incredibly large, ocular muscles being vestigial from disuse. Alph's eyelids are not obvious due to the fact Alph keeps his eyes wide open thus his eyelids tucked behind his eye, the same applying for Brittany, while Charlie's eyelids do not due to his eyes not bulging as much as the rest of the gang.

However, there is an aspect that makes them even more freaky with their peepers.

Part 3: Eyemotions

This one makes them seem even more messed up... You see, their eyes, uhhh...

This is most disturbing.

Is their pupil actually through their whole eye and the iris is more a covering that can push back, thus creating this? Very, very weird, as you can tell from these images. I saw a similar situation with the Bloons monkeys, but at least that's a more cartoony artstyle. Pikmin 3 being the least cartoonishly stylised game in the series, this certainly has freaky implications.

RANDOM BONUS I FORGOT BEFORE OOPS

During the Voyage Logs, Alph and Charlie's eyes kind of light up through the window. The reason why is that their irises are reflective, the light bouncing off of them strongly, possibly to keep tabs on each other's positions in the dark.

Anyways, I hope you enjoyed my first real biology post here on this blog, it was a real blast to analyse ingame footage to find all I can, speculate about the different aspects of them and put this post together!

[ghostleeeaf]

pikmin

pikmin

[diesaur]

hi...