Tropical Bloyster

Tropical Bloysters, close relatives of Toady Bloysters, spend most of their time basking in shallows or meandering about in search of their next meal. They are highly fond of Pikmin and are found most often in shallow, warm-watered tide pools or beaches near Onions, where unusually large concentrations of Pikmin are, though they have been known to feed on Blue Bulborbs. Tropical Bloysters are social creatures and are found usually in groups ranging from three to five individuals, and have been known to feed on local plant life when small prey fails to present itself.

Though the only known photo of a Tropical Bloyster can be seen on the right, specimens have been noted to be much more elongated and otherwise sleek-looking by those visiting the Spiral Tail Island chain. Multiple color variants have been observed in the wild, with the vast majority falling into pastel shades of red, green, blue, and gold, though albino specimens have also been observed.

Tropical Bloysters are known for their mild toxin, which can cause effects in Pikmin and other small creatures ranging from dizziness to, in cases of extreme exposure, death. Tropical Bloysters secrete poison through pores located on the surface of their skin.

A dedicated leader should be able to take down a single Tropical Bloyster with relative ease, though they are not typically found alone. Due to the watery nature of the beachside areas and inlets that they inhabit, it's usually best for a leader to focus on taking down one bloyster at a time using ultra-bitter spray and Blue Pikmin for maximal effect. If left in the water, the gill-like organ on the back of a Tropical Bloyster is actually capable of splitting into several very small Tropical Bloyster polyploids, which eventually grow into adult bloysters.

Even though they live primarily underwater, Tropical Bloysters have a strong sense of smell while out of the water and infrequently travel along the shorelines in search of sweet-scented objects, and have been known to attempt to ingest everything from flowers to burning therapeutic candles.

=In other games=

In Pikmin: Wide World
The Tropical Bloyster is a colorful mollusking appearing in Pikmin: Wide World that is found only in Arid Oasis and its dens and caves. They can be found exploring a small territory, either on dry land or more commonly in water, alone or in pairs, stopping occasionally to admire their surroundings. A Tropical Bloyster's tail may periodically sway or twitch, and when on land, it leaves a short-lasting slime trail in its wake. Tropical Bloysters are poisonous to the touch, as they secrete toxins through their slimy, porous skin, although their tail and hard tail-bulb can be safely touched. It is almost entirely oblivious of the presence of Pikmin and leaders, although it will try to eat them if they linger in front of it for too long, unleashing a bovine bellow before lashing out seven separate tongues from its mouth at them. Any leaders it eats will be chewed up, swallowed, and then forcefully regurgitated, inflicting damage to affected leaders during chewing and regurgitation. Because it swallows leaders instead of spitting them out before doing so, Pikmin in its mouth at the time can only be saved by killing the creature before it can ingest them. Because of its physiology, leaders, Pikmin, and even some enemies can walk up onto the back of a Tropical Bloyster, although all Pikmin except White Pikmin will begin suffocating, and most enemies that don't themselves use poison may take damage for as long as they remain in contact with the bloyster. The Tropical Bloyster will eventually shake them off if they remain on top of it for too long.

Tropical Bloysters have a colorful, oblong body, a green, plant-like tail, and a tan and brown tail-bulb that resembles a walnut shell. It has a slimy, sluglike body that is electric blue in color with yellow details, and tapers to an edge at its flattest points. Each Tropical Bloyster has a unique pattern of yellow markings spanning its entire body, except for its tail and tail-bulb. On top of its hump are four small spikes that are completely harmless and do no harm upon contact. It has two small eyestalks that each have a single yellow band around their middle, and each eyestalk supports a yellow eye with a small black pupil. Its plantlike tail is lush and dark green in color with lighter green details, and the leaflike appendages at the end are colored identically. At the end of its tail is its tail-bulb, which, unlike the tail-bulb of other molluskings, is bumpy in appearance, rough in texture, and very resistant to damage. Its gaping mouth contains seven separate tongues that are red in color.

The poison produced by a Tropical Bloyster is only part of what makes it so dangerous besides its ability to eat Pikmin. Any Pikmin that touches its main body, not its tail or its tail-bulb, will be poisoned unless they are White Pikmin. However, because Tropical Bloysters are often found in water, White Pikmin often cannot be used against one. To make matters worse, the tail-bulb of a Tropical Bloyster is vulnerable only to the attacks of Rock Pikmin, and Purple Pikmin pounding on it, with any other Pikmin type attacking it to no effect and being unable to latch onto it. Rock Pikmin and Purple Pikmin can be used to harm a Tropical Bloyster, but both Pikmin types will be poisoned on contact with the creature and most likely end up in the water with it if it is in water. A Tropical Bloyster may defend itself by violently shaking its attackers off of its body, flinging them all around itself. Additionally, when in water, a Tropical Bloyster may also defend itself by ejecting a short-lasting poison cloud into the water within its immediate vicinity. Upon death, a Tropical Bloyster will tense up, stiffening and then shrinking dramatically, adopting a dried and shriveled appearance, also yielding. At this point, its tail-bulb can be carried. Aboveground, its remains can be taken to either the Dolphin Lander to receive or the Master Onion to gain eighteen Pikmin seeds. Underground, its remains can be carried to the Lander Pod to either gain or be stored to later gain eighteen Pikmin seeds of a chosen discovered main Pikmin type from the Master Onion, but only if the cave is exited using an escape geyser.

Olimar's notes

 * "Having a brilliant coloration and no predators, the tropical bloyster is a sight to behold. It frequents bodies of saltwater in search of prey, feeding on plantlife as it waits. It constantly secretes toxins through its porous skin and it has an armored gill-bulb, meaning any predators that attempt to attack it will have a hard time doing so. When threatened, it may squirt poison into the water around it, forming a dangerous cloud around itself."

Shacho's notes

 * "This colorful creature creates some very potent poison I'm sure someone on Hocotate would like to get their hands on!"

Marie's notes

 * "If it wasn't for their potent poison, I'd say the tropical bloyster would make for a fine pet. It's very visually appealing, for sure!"

Louie's notes

 * "Inedible, unless the beast can be sliced thin enough that its toxins are not immediately fatal."

Dolphin Lander's notes

 * "Tropical bloysters are such beautiful creatures! They're one of my favorite lifeforms on PNF-404 because of their vibrant, unique appearance."