Red Bulborb

“	This nocturnal hunter feeds mostly on small animals returning to their nests at night.	„
	~ Description of the Red Bulborb in the enemy reel from Pikmin.

“	This large organism has the familiar mandibles and cranial morphology of the grub-dog family, as well as the characteristic bulging eyes. As with most grub-dogs, the creature's cranium comprises half of its total length and girth. Showing a scarlet abdomen with white spots, this creature is primarily nocturnal, choosing to prey upon smaller creatures returning to their nests. Originally classified as the spotty bulborb, further research has reclassified this species as the red bulborb. Subspecies of varied colors have recently been discovered, but academics are divided into two rival camps over how to handle their classification.	„
	~ Olimar's research notes on the Red Bulborb

Background

Red Bulborbs are among the most well-known enemies in the Pikmin games and are often just as much a staple for the games as Pikmin themselves. They were originally known as Spotty Bulborbs until various other subspecies, all with spots, were discovered in Pikmin 2. In Pikmin 3 and Hey! Pikmin, it is simply named Bulborb.

Biology

Red Bulborbs are among the creatures with the most diverse physiology in the Pikmin series. They possess traits similar to those of amphibians, reptiles, and mammals. They have large bulbous eyes, as opposed to the compound eyes of most insects.

Olimar mentions the Red Bulborbs having a set of mandibles. Mandibles are a pair of appendages near an insect's mouth, used for grinding and chewing food. The so-called mandibles Olimar mentions in his notes look nothing like normal mandibles and are instead most likely saber-teeth, used for breaking exoskeletons of prey insects and digging through the soil for roots. Their diet is, however, quite the mystery, as they are equipped with eating both animal and vegetable life, but they are known to fully ignore Spectralids.

It seems that the juvenile Red Bulborb is the favored host of the parasitic Pikmin known as Bulbmin. This type of Pikmin appears to control its host, causing the animal to behave less like a Bulborb and much more like a Pikmin, following a leader (which is naturally an older Bulbmin) and hunting in packs. Red Bulborbs are not observed at the two stages of development displayed by Bulbmin anywhere else in-game (unlike the Spotty Bulbear), so it is unknown whether Bulbmin are a common stage in Red Bulborb initial development or not, as symbiotic cooperation from the parasite would give this slightly weaker form of Grub-dog an advantage in the subterranean environment that all stages of the Red Bulborb species are found in.

Statistics

Tier: At least 10-C, likely 10-A

Name: Red Bulborb

Origin: Pikmin

Sex: Varies

Age: Unknown

Classification: Mammoth

Dimensionality: 3-D

Attack Potency: At least Below Average Human level+ (Can harm Olimar, can easily eat Pikmin), likely Athlete level (Can eat Purple Pikmin though they normally die to them rather easily)

Durability: At least Below Average Human level+, likely Athlete level (One of the hardest enemies for Pikmin to kill [sans Purple Pikmin], even with a full army of 100 reds. Needs to constantly be attacked off guard to even defeat)

Striking Strength: At least Below Average Human Class+, likely Athlete Class

Lifting Strength: Unknown

Travel Speed: Supersonic (Can keep up with Pikmin on foot)

Combat Speed: Supersonic (Can tag Pikmin and Olimar)

Reaction Speed: Supersonic

Stamina: Average

Range: Below Average Melee Range

Intelligence: Animalistic (Seems to lack enough understanding to the point where if the enemy runs away or hides and are out of the bulborb's sight, they will go back to sleep despite being attacked)

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Powers and Abilities

Superhuman Physical Characteristics, Small Size (Type 2), Natural Weaponry (Has saber teeth), Regeneration (Low. Can heal overtime from Olimar's attacks), Resistance to Extreme Colds & Extreme Heats (Can sleep just fine in many of the underground dungeons), Time Stop and Magnetism Manipulation (All enemies on PNF-404 are immune to the magnetic field which stops time in the underground dungeons), Sound Manipulation and Empathic Manipulation (Unaffected by Koppaites' whistle. Other enemies, like the Antenna Beetle's whistle-like sound, can control the Pikmin which captains are superior to)

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Other

Weaknesses: The Red Bulborb is a naturally nocturnal creature so it will be asleep during day time, making it very easy to sneak attack. Hitting it's eyes will cause it to shake in pain.

Battle Records

None.

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Discussions (Link For Mobile Users):

Discussion threads involving Red Bulborb