Clawed Pikmin

Clawed Pikmin are the first variety of Pikmin identified in all three Pikmin games. Aside from their color, the distinguishing feature of Red Pikmin is their pointed noses. These Pikmin possess an immunity to fire, making them useful for fighting Fiery Bulblaxes and Fiery Blowhogs and passing by - or, in Pikmin 2, destroying - fire geysers. They spend nights in the Red Onion. Of the three Pikmin types in the first game, they have the greatest attack strength, and are superseded in that ability only by Purple Pikmin in Pikmin 2, though their high strength is removed in 2-Player mode to make them equal to Player 2's Blue Pikmin.

Trivia

 * The first piece of downloadable content in Animal Crossing: City Folk was a hat item called "Red Pikmin". The item covers all of the character's head except the face and stems out into a leaf. It could be sent to other regions through befriending Japanese players. The same item was later made available in Europe and then North America (3/25/09 as the second DLC item). It is worth 360 Bells.
 * A rectangular pot with a Red, Blue, and Yellow Pikmin planted in it is a furniture in Animal Crossing: City Folk. It can only be obtained by hacking, however.
 * Red Pikmin become obsolete early in Pikmin 2, as all manner of fire hazards in the game can be easily destroyed without the use of Red Pikmin. Their greater attack strength also becomes negligible, as Purple Pikmin can also be brought to any area that Red Pikmin can go to.