Spinarak Line
Morphs [Oak Catalog #]
- Spinarak (#167)
- Ariados (#168)
Physical Description
Spinarak is a Bug-Poison Pokémon. It is half a meter long, and weighs 8.5 kilograms. Its body is divided into two sections: head (actually a cephalothorax) and abdomen, which are separated by a cylindrical joint. Spinarak’s head is a pale green, with two large compound eyes, a small white horn (actually a spinneret) protruding from the center of its forehead, and two stubby red chelicerae. Spinarak’s mouth is on the underside of its head, and cannot be seen on a casual glance. The head makes up about one third of Spinarak’s body. Its abdomen is also green. A pair of legs is attached at the gap between head and abdomen, and another two pairs extend backwards from Spinarak’s cephalothorax, giving them the appearance of being spaced throughout the abdomen. Spinarak’s legs are yellow, with a dark blue band around the joint, and dozens of tiny hairs at the tip. Spinarak’s abdomen contains pigments that form a blue, face-like pattern on Spinarak’s back, which are used to startle would-be predators. These pigments will occasionally shift, causing the face to change. Rumors that the face-spot reflects Spinarak’s moods are unfounded and most likely false. Although novices to the Pokémon world occasionally have trouble figuring out whether Spinarak is facing towards or away from them, an experienced Trainer should have no trouble. At the tip of Spinarak’s abdomen are two small spinnerets, which can produce a stream of webbing at command (Spinarak produce webbing at a very fast rate, enabling them to fire jets of it as a defense).
Ariados is much larger than Spinarak, at 1.1 meters long and 33.5 kilograms. It is now primarily red, with black pigments in its abdomen, which has stretched, becoming more egg-shaped than round. Ariados’s head has shrunk slightly in comparison to its body, although it is still larger than Spinarak’s. Ariados’s chelicerae are white, and are longer and sharper than those of Spinarak. Its eyes are purple, and its horn-spinneret has lengthened to almost fifteen centimeters. Ariados’s legs are far longer than as Spinarak, at about 60 centimeters each. They are yellow, with purple stripes at the joint and near the tip. Ariados now has only four legs, as the last pair has moved onto its back, becoming sharp stingers. The spinneret at the tip of its tail has grown, becoming an eight-centimeter yellow protrusion. Wild Ariados use this spinneret to leave a trail of web, which will always lead back to its nest. (See Notable Biology for information)
Both Spinarak and Ariados exhibit a mutation in which their colors change drastically. Spinarak with the mutant gene are primarily cyan, with pink replacing the yellow on their legs and the red in their mandibles. Ariados with the gene are mostly pink, with a light blue in place of their ordinary purple leg stripes and eyes. The sections of Ariados’s body that are normally yellow also become a much lighter shade. These variations are highly prized for their rarity.
Notable Biology
A Spinarak’s web is incredibly strong, capable of stopping a charging Tauros in its tracks. Ariados’s is even stronger, and studies show that it is capable of immobilizing an 18-wheeler. The web also appears to have properties that interfere with electrical signals, as it can prevent a Pokémon from being called back into its Pokeball. The Spinarak line’s webbing also gives off faint pheromones, and a Spinarak or Ariados can use balls or trails of web as tracking devices. They use this adaptation to find prey, and leave a trail back to their nest. (See Diet). Spinarak and Ariados will both spin webs along the ground, and will use them as tripwires to catch prey that wanders into their territory. The silk also contains various nutrients, and if a web is broken, the Spinarak or Ariados will eat it before making a new one.
The Spinarak line has no muscles in its legs, and although it can flex them at the base, it can only extend its legs by boosting its own blood pressure. Consequently, a member of the Spinarak line with an injured cephalothorax is incapable of extending its legs (crippling it severely), and the legs of a dead Spinarak or Ariados will curl up. Ariados are capable of jumping incredible distances by rapidly increasing the blood pressure in its back legs in a sudden burst.
The tiny hairs on the Spinarak line’s legs serve two purposes. First, they allow the members of the Spinarak line to crawl along vertical surfaces. Second, and more importantly, they are capable of sensing tiny vibrations, such as the ones caused by a very small animal walking along a trip-web. After evolution, the bristles only become stronger. They are sensitive enough to wake even a sleeping Ariados, and are responsible for a rumor that Ariados do not sleep (completely false).
Both Spinarak and Ariados are poisonous. While both Pokémon hold venom in their chelicerae, Ariados also stores it in its two stingers. Ariados cannot manipulate its stingers, so when it needs to attack with them, it will spin and jump wildly, flailing its stingers at its foe and secreting venom randomly. While this may seem pointless and haphazard, it is frighteningly effective in battle (See Hazards). Due to their resemblance, many people believe Spinarak to be related to the Unovan Pokémon Joltik. Scientists are currently looking into this, and most people believe it to be the case. An additional factor that adds weight to this case is the ability of the Joltik line to spit webbing at targets, an ability previously believed to belong only to the Spinarak line.
The Spinarak line appears to have evolved certain latent psychic ability. Older Spinarak or Ariados are capable of harnessing this power to create a mental blast, which they will use primarily to stun prey or predators. While members of the Spinarak line can learn how to control their psychic powers in the wild, captivity-born members are usually much better at it. In addition to psychic attacks, Spinarak are also capable of firing beams of obscura, and augmenting their own shadow with obscura to strike at their foes from behind. Spinarak and Ariados exhibit three noted subtypes. The first has bristles far more developed and sensitive than other Spinarak or Ariados, and the slightest vibration is enough to wake them from the deepest sleep. The second will exhibit a surprising boost in strength when injured or fatigued (scientists theorize that wild Ariados use this boost to quickly end a battle so that they can escape). The third, which is far rarer than the other two, has developed far better eyesight than the other two subtypes, and is also capable of focusing for much longer. This enables them to study their opponent carefully, and find any possible weak points. Coupled with the ability to charge energy for attacks far quicker than others of its species, Spinarak or Ariados with this subtype can inflict far greater injury with carefully-placed attacks.
Habitat
The Spinarak line is native to Johto. Spinarak are found almost everywhere, while Ariados are found only on a handful of routes. Both Pokémon are nocturnal, and will hide in trees and burrows during the day. Ariados is also found on Route 229 in Sinnoh, the Dreamyard and occasionally Route 22 in Unova, and Kalos' Victory Road and the Terminus Cave, although Spinarak is not. Spinarak can be found in a small patch of forest north of Fortune Island called the Pattern Bush, but there is not enough prey in the area to support populations of Ariados. Neither species is naturally found in Hoenn, although they were recently introduced into the Safari Zone there and a population has taken residence within the Sky Pillar.
Spinarak and Ariados live in forests, and make several different types of nests. While the majority of Ariados will make a large web in a tree, and are thus not seen often by Trainers, Spinarak are more commonly found in small burrows (although they are occasionally found in trees). The Sinnoh Ariados will also make burrows on occasion. Due to the variety of Spinarak and Ariados’s homes, when walking in a forest known to be inhabited by members of the Spinarak line, Trainers should always be prepared for the possibility of an appearance, no matter how safe the area looks.
Diet
Both Spinarak and Ariados are mostly carnivorous. After killing their prey, they will inject it with digestive enzymes, liquefying its innards, and will then drink the result.
Spinarak hunt primarily through ambush. They will climb a tree or dig a burrow, waiting for a Pokémon (usually small Bug-types, although Spinarak will happily eat birds or small mammals if given a chance). When an edible Pokémon passes by, Spinarak will burst out of cover, attempting to down the prey with webs and occasionally psychic assaults. Ground-dwelling Spinarak will use a trip-web to assist this process.
Ariados also use these methods, but they will add several steps to it. First, most Ariados have a web (not a trip-web, but an actual web built up between trees) reasonably near their burrow, which will catch any Pokémon that are too hasty about running away, leaving Ariados to eat them at leisure. Second, should would-be prey actually manage to escape, Ariados will attach a small ball of webbing to it. It will then use the pheromones left by the web to track its escaped prey, usually back to the prey’s nest, where additional food is readily available. Ariados will eat almost any Pokémon it can find (although it prefers Bug and Flying types), and there are even reports of live Stantler being trapped in a web. Ariados is also one of the few Pokémon that will happily eat humans.
On very rare occasions, when prey is scarce, both Spinarak and Ariados have been seen eating plants and drinking nectar.
[Trainer’s Note: In captivity, if you are uncomfortable with your Ariados eating meat, they are perfectly capable of subsisting on a vegetarian diet of berries. However, it is best that you occasionally serve your Ariados meat as a treat.]
Hazards
Spinarak are not particularly hostile or dangerous Pokémon. If you encounter one, the odds are is that it is more scared of you, and unless you intentionally disturb it, the Spinarak in question will probably run away. However, should you be attacked by a Spinarak (most likely only if it is starving), do not release your Pokémon, as it may see them as a snack. Just run away. It isn’t likely to follow.
Ariados, however, are undoubtedly dangerous Pokémon. While Spinarak’s venom will cause severe swelling and irritation in larger animals, a standard dose (the amount delivered in a bite) of Ariados’s is almost invariably fatal if not quickly treated. Should you or one of your Pokémon be injured by a wild Ariados, seek medical attention immediately. In addition, even the blow from an Ariados’s stinger can cause severe bruising and occasionally broken bones. Because of these dangers, many people have petitioned for the banning of Ariados, but the major leagues allow them (There is, however, a condition, that Ariados deliver only one-tenth of their standard doses, which they are capable of doing. Trainers found using a full dose of venom will be fined severely) if the trainer has a license.
[Trainer’s Note: Even if your Pokémon has only been poisoned by the league-accepted dose, seek medical attention for Pokémon poisoned by an Ariados at your first opportunity.]
[Trainer’s Note: Should you find yourself trapped in the web of either member of the Spinarak line, do not panic. Struggling will only attract your captor, and is unlikely to free you. Instead, release as many Pokémon as you can reach, and enlist their help in freeing you. Once you’re out, run as fast as you can before the Spinarak or Ariados to whom the web belongs sees you and starts spraying web at you.]
Keep in mind that Ariados are not actually aggressive Pokémon. Should you come across one outside of its nest, it is most likely following a different Pokémon, and will not bother you unless provoked.
Courtship and Childrearing
Spinarak do not breed in the wild, although they will do so in captivity.
When an Ariados finds another Ariados, it will check if the other one is of the opposite gender and if it is currently receptive to mating. If it is, the male will begin an elaborate courtship dance. If the female finds the dance satisfactory, she will mate with the male. Ariados lay several thousand eggs at a time, and the female will bury them in the ground.
Mating time is a ritual fraught with danger for the male. If at any point the female decides that he is unsatisfactory, she will attack him. Even if all goes well, the male will most likely be attacked as soon as the female is done with him. Consequently, few male Ariados survive mating (In captivity, Ariados can be trained out of this behavior, although it takes dedication).
Baby Spinarak are only a few millimeters long. After they are born, their mother will carry the babies around until they have grown (during this period, the baby Spinarak will eat each other until they have grown to full size; usually only three or four remain at this point). The Spinarak will then leave to find their own homes.
Spinarak, like many Bug Pokémon, have a hard cuticle as opposed to skin. Because of this, when Spinarak’s soft inner body outgrows the cuticle, it undergoes molting, where the cuticle is discarded and Spinarak is allowed to grow before developing a new cuticle. Spinarak usually eat a lot in preparation for each molting, as their body needs an extra boost of energy in order to grow.
Social Structure
Spinarak are fairly solitary Pokémon, and are rarely found in groups larger than three or four. When Spinarak groups meet, they will engage in contests of intimidation until one group backs down and leaves. These contests involve posturing, rapid scuttles at opponents, and a clicking sound that Spinarak produce by rapidly snapping their chelicerae. Spinarak groups will remain together until evolution. In sharp contrast to their pre-evolved state, Ariados are usually solitary, and will immediately drive out any Ariados (of the same gender, they are likely to mate if of the opposite gender) found in their territory.
Both members of the Spinarak line will occasionally form large swarms, primarily to drive out invaders to an Ariados forest. These swarms have been known to swell up to dozens strong, and anything that gets in the way of an Ariados swarm will find itself in grave danger.
In Human Society
Although many people are scared of Spinarak, it is generally respected in most communities. Spinarak silk is incredibly strong, and Spinarak are often used in construction to help lift large blocks. A small town in Johto even uses Spinarak in place of the standard Growlithe to assist police officers in tracking down criminals. Some Spinarak are also trained to make decorative webs, and can produce beautiful patterns for festive occasions.
Ariados, however, is far less liked. Its habit of tracking prey back to its home and eating its family has led to the belief that Ariados never allows prey to escape, and will track it to the ends of the Earth if necessary. While this is false (Ariados will follow prey for a long time, but will most likely lose the trail after an hour or two), Ariados have still obtained a very bad reputation. In media, they are usually portrayed as sneak thieves (Ariados can get almost anywhere with a little effort, and could make incredible thieves if they tried hard enough) or as stock enemies in video games. There is also a famous poem involving the interaction of an Ariados and an unfortunate Vibrava, who makes the extremely fatal mistake of stepping into the Ariados’s “parlor.”
The venom of both members of the line (although Ariados’s more often, due to its higher lethality) has been researched as a non-polluting pesticide. Because the venom does no harm if ingested, and does not appear to kill plants, it can be sprayed on a garden to deter Bug Pokémon from attacking the plants.
Written by MeMyselfAndI2.
