Chinchou
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Chinchou | |
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National Pokédex Crobat - Chinchou (#170) - Lanturn Johto Pokédex Octillery - Chinchou (#174) - Lanturn Hoenn Pokédex Corsola - Chinchou (#181) - Lanturn |
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Japanese name | Chonchie |
Evolves from | None |
Evolves into | Lanturn |
Generation | Second |
Species | Angler Pokémon |
Type | Water / Electric |
Height | 1 ft 8 in (0.5 m) |
Weight | 26.0 lb (12.0 kg) |
Ability | Volt Absorb / Illuminate |
Chinchou (チョンチー Chonchī?, Chonchie in original Japanese language versions) is one of the 493 fictional species of Pokémon from the Pokémon Franchise - a series of video games, anime, manga, books, trading cards and other media created by Satoshi Tajiri. Chinchou was introduced in the second generation.
The purpose of Chinchou in the games, anime and manga, as with all other Pokémon, is to battle both wild Pokémon, untamed creatures encountered while the player passes through various environments, and tamed Pokémon owned by Pokémon trainers.
Its name originates from 提灯鮟鱇 (chōchin'ankō?), the Japanese word for the football fish, and literally means "paper lantern (shaped) angler fish".
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[edit] Biological characteristics
Chinchou resembles a tripod fish or an angler fish. It has a small blue body and two antennae sprouting from its head, both of which have a yellow globe at the end. These antennae are said to have evolved from fins. A Chinchou's eyes are yellow and their pupils have the shape of plus signs. When blinking or closing its eyes, only the vertical parts close, making the pupils look like minus signs, it's unknown whether this is a coincidence or not.
Chinchou shares a number of similarities to the real angler fish. Its habitat is the dark depths of the ocean floor. In the absence of any other light, Chinchou sees its surroundings and communicates by shooting positive and negative charged electricity particles between the tips of its antennae, creating an electric current and thus light. This can be said to be a form of bioluminescence. The charges Chinchou shoots between its antennae can also be used offensively, to stun its opponents with a flash of light or shock them with electricity.
[edit] In the video games
Chinchou made its debut in Pokémon Gold and Silver, where it could be caught via a fishing rod. In Pokémon Ruby, Sapphire and Emerald, Chinchou can only be found underwater, in Routes 124 and 126.
Chinchou evolve into Lanturn at level 27; Chinchou's statistics are fairly low, but it has above-average hit points for a Basic Pokémon. Its unusual type combination of Water and Electric gives it unexpected resistances and the potential to use quite powerful Water and Electric attacks, which are effective against a wide range of types. Against more challenging foes, Chinchou can use the excellent disrupting combination of Thunder Wave and Confuse Ray, resulting in the opponent only having a 37.5% probability of attacking normally until Confusion wears off. Its Volt Absorb ability (which furthers it's resistances by negating electric damage), is one of the main reasons it and Lanturn are used.
[edit] In the animé
Chinchou has made so far two notable appearances in the animé. The first, in episode #214 (Takin'It on the Chinchou) features a large group of them travelling from a lake to the ocean, possibly to mate and return to lay their eggs, as is customary of many real marine animals. The second, in episode #219 (The Perfect Match) features a Chinchou that battled against Misty's Corsola and won, eliminating her from the Whirl Cup Championship.
[edit] In the Pokémon Trading Card Game
Chinchou has been a popular Pokémon, and has made appearances as a basic Electric-type (and once as Water) Pokémon in the following expansions:
- Neo Genesis (Electric-type)
- Neo Revelation (Electric-type)
- Aquapolis (Electric-type)
- Aquapolis (Water-type)
- EX Hidden Legends (2 cards, both Electric-type)
- EX Team Magma vs. Team Aqua (Electric-type, Team Aqua's Chinchou)
- EX: Legend Maker (Electric-type)
- EX: Unseen Forces (Electric-type)
[edit] References
- Pokémon Red 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, Pokémon XD: Gale of Darkness
- Books
- Barbo, Maria. The Official Pokémon Handbook. Scholastic Publishing, 1999. ISBN 0-439-15404-9.
- Loe, Casey, ed. Pokémon Special Pikachu Edition Official Perfect Guide. Sunnydale, CA: Empire 21 Publishing, 1999. ISBN 1-930206-15-1.
- Nintendo Power. Official Nintendo Pokémon FireRed Version & Pokémon LeafGreen Version Player’s Guide. Nintendo of America Inc., August 2004. ISBN 1-930206-50-X
- Nintendo Power. Official Nintendo Pokémon Emerald Player’s Guide. Nintendo of America Inc., April 2005. ISBN 1-930206-58-5
[edit] External links
- Official Pokémon website
- Bulbapedia (a Pokémon-centric Wiki)’s article about Chinchou as a species.
- Chinchou’s fourth-generation Pokédex entry on Serebii.net
- Pokémon Dungeon Pokédex entry, full of statistics analysis
- PsyPoke Pokédex entry
- Smogon Pokédex entry
- WikiKnowledge.net’s entry for Chinchou Previously hosted by Wikibooks