Who's That Pokémon? #010 Caterpie

#10 Caterpie

Bulbapedia Article

Caterpie (in both English and Japanese) is basically a shortened version of caterpillar because it is essentially a caterpillar.  More specifically, it is based on the appearance of an Eastern Tiger Swallowtail, and its Pokédex entries further this connection with the description of Caterpie's antennae.

From the Pokédex: It is covered with a green skin. When it grows, it sheds the skin, covers itself with silk, and becomes a cocoon. Its short feet are tipped with suction pads that enable it to tirelessly climb slopes and walls. If you touch the feeler on top of its head, it will release a horrible stink to protect itself. It has large, eye-like patterns on its head as protection. They are used to frighten off enemies.

This is basically all of the skills of the actual caterpillar.  Although, at least in the anime, it seems as if the large black area on the head is Caterpie's full pupil, whereas actual caterpillars only have markings to make it look like big eyes (to ward off birds).

Generation I Moveset and Strategy

Caterpie can Tackle and it can String Shot.  That's all it can do.  That's all it will ever do for this generation.

Tackle - Normal String Shot - Normal

Tackle will mildly damage your opponent.  String Shot will slow it down.  Don't use Caterpie.

Generation I Sprites

  

The Red/Green and Red/Blue sprites are nearly identical, with Caterpie's angle turning ever so slightly. The Yellow sprite is a bit too bulky and bulgy for me, so I'll tip my hat to the Red/Blue sprite which looks the most correct.

Generation I Locations

In every version, Caterpie can be found in Viridian Forest, but they are entirely centralized there in the  Yellow version.  Caterpie are more common in Green/Blue where they appear more often in the Viridian Forest than in Red and also make appearances on Route 2, Route 24, and Route 25 (they also appear on this last route in Red as well).  Yellow had the right idea in keeping them isolated to the forest, because, if you're not going to catch it there, there is no point in catching it anywhere else.

Notable Generation I Caterpie

1. Ash/Red/Shu's Caterpie (Anime and nearly every manga)

While Rattata represented the "average young trainer starting their journey," Caterpie is reserved for the "protagonist young trainer starting their journey" as it is nearly often their first capture after the starter.  Ash's gets the most screentime while Shu's gets the most panel time (Red's capture occurs off screen, although we see him searching for it briefly).  At any rate, they are all basically there to show us that the journey has begun.

2. Kitty (Pokémon Adventures)

Sticking with the young trainer theme, Yellow catches this Pokémon all by herself, and keeps it on her team as a Caterpie for as long as she can.  Only when she is in grave danger does it force itself to evolve and protect her.  It has a similar personality to Ash's Caterpie and could be considered a spiritual counterpart.

3. Bug Catcher's Caterpie (Red/Green/Blue/Yellow and Pokémon Stadium)

While most trainers quickly catch a Caterpie and evolve it, the Bug Catchers have taken Caterpie ownership to a new level.  To mimic Satoshi Tajiri's love for collecting bugs, the young Bug Catchers are content with catching multiple of these weak creatures.  Interestingly, Caterpie is one of the few Pokémon that isn't owned by any Generation I Gym Leader or Elite Four member in any of the canon.  Perhaps it is because Bug Catchers have the monopoly on them.  It won't be until Generation II where a Bug Catcher will be elevated to Gym Leader status.

Final Thoughts

What else is there to say about Caterpie?  Sure, I always catch one out of habit.  It just seems like the thing to do.  It's always fun to have that eventual Butterfree around.

Caterpie's Verdict - Don't Gotta Catch 'Em (Unless You're an Obsessive Collector)