Desiccated Skitter Leaf

The Desiccated Skitter Leaf is a hostile Skitterling, contrary to the harmless Skitter Leaf. It disguises itself as a withered leaf. It scuttles around with great speed and can snatch a Pikmin with what appear to be claws and devour it within a split second. It produces noises similar to those of a Skitter Leaf, but they sound much more aggressive. Also like the other Skitterling, upon death, it slowly floats to the ground, and produces a soft noise. It is easy to carry, requiring one Pikmin, and unlike the Skitter Leaf, it is useful for Pikmin cultivation, producing three sprouts.

Although they are agile, Desiccated Skitter Leaves are extremely frail and will die instantly if a Pikmin is thrown on top of one. Some Pikmin, such as Winged Pikmin, can crush a resting Desiccated Skitter Leaf, but not an active one. These creatures can snatch and eat Pikmin quickly, so if one is on the attack, caution must be taken.

When nothing is happening, Desiccated Skitter Leafs idle around on the ground, disguised as leaves. If lonesome Pikmin get near them, they pop out of their disguise and quickly attack. However, they are afraid of leaders, so if one gets close, whether accompanied by Pikmin or not, it will stand still to avoid being found out. If a leader bumps into one that is hiding, it will stop disguising and run around in a panic, in hopes of evading the leader. While in this panicked state, they can still stop to snatch a Pikmin or two but are much less likely to do so.

Pikmin: Infection in Progress
Desiccated Skitter Leaves make a reappearance in Pikmin: Infection in Progress. They appear in Polluted Creek and Withering Terrace, littered around the area. A Desiccated Skitter Leaf appears as a dead leaf when idle to fool potential prey. The President cannot assist in carrying the corpse of a deceased Desiccated Skitter Leaf due to it being so light.

Appearance
Desiccated Skitter Leaves possess an appearance almost identical to that of a dried leaf when idle. When approached, however, the Desiccated Skitter Leaf will quickly rise and begin its assault. Desiccated Skitter Leaves possess red eyes and clawed appendages that serve as both camouflage and limbs to eat its prey with. Desiccated Skitter Leaves also possess a yellow fleshy abdomen on the underside of their main leaf.

Combat
When initiated into combat, Desiccated Skitter Leaves abandon their camouflage and rise from the ground quickly. Desiccated Skitter Leaves tend to swipe at the nearest Pikmin to eat them first, and knocking away and deflowering others that it fails to grab. Larger targets, like the President, cannot be eaten. Instead, the President is knocked down and cannot get up for a short time. Luckily, his loyal Pikmin defend him with their lives until he rises to his feet.