Character from Pikmin by Nintendo / Shigeru Miyamoto
A spotted, slumbering predator that lunges awake with open jaws — the most common creature on the planet and the first thing that teaches Olimar his Pikmin can die.
The Red Bulborb is the Pikmin franchise's signature threat — a creature that looks almost comical when sleeping and becomes terrifying when it wakes up. They are nocturnal by nature, spending daylight hours in deep sleep in open clearings. This sleep is genuine: a careful player can approach from behind and attack before the Bulborb registers what is happening. A careless player walks into its face and watches it swallow three Pikmin in a single bite. Their hunting behavior is simple but effective. They lunge forward, jaws wide, and anything caught in the bite radius is consumed. They shake off swarming Pikmin by thrashing their bodies. When overwhelmed, they panic — but panic for a Bulborb means thrashing harder, which means more casualties. Olimar classifies them as Grub-dogs — the most plentiful predator family on the planet. Juveniles live in treetops until they develop their signature spots, then descend to ground level to begin their lives as apex ambush predators. Their nocturnal schedule means the player is always racing against sunset: any area with sleeping Bulborbs becomes a death zone after dark.
A rotund, low-slung creature roughly the size of a large apple relative to Olimar. Scarlet abdomen covered in white polka dots. Pointed snout flanked by two saber-tooth-like mandibles. Purple eyes mounted on short stalks. Moves in a heavy, shuffling waddle when awake, but can lunge with startling speed when prey is close.
Also known as: Bulborb, Spotty Bulborb, Red Bulborb