Wooper

Wooper is a species of fictional creatures called Pokémon created for the Pokémon media franchise. Developed by Game Freak and published by Nintendo, the Japanese franchise began in 1996, with the video games Pokémon Red and Green for the Game Boy, which were later released in North America as Pokémon Red and Blue in 1998.{{cite magazine |last=Hilliard |first=Kyle |date=December 25, 2016 |title=Pokémon Red & Blue – A Look Back At The 20-Year Journey To Catch 'Em All |url=https://www.gameinformer.com/b/features/archive/2016/12/25/pok-233-mon-red-amp-blue-a-look-back-at-the-20-year-journey-to-catch-em-all.aspx |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231001192920/https://www.gameinformer.com/b/features/archive/2016/12/25/pok-233-mon-red-amp-blue-a-look-back-at-the-20-year-journey-to-catch-em-all.aspx |archive-date=October 1, 2023 |access-date=January 22, 2024 |magazine=Game Informer}} In these games and their sequels, the player assumes the role of a Trainer whose goal is to capture and use the creatures' special abilities to combat other Pokémon. Some Pokémon can transform into stronger species through a process called evolution via various means, such as exposure to specific items.{{cite book |last=Allison |first=Anne |title=Millennial Monsters: Japanese Toys and the Global Imagination |date=May 2006 |publisher=University of California Press |isbn=9780520938991 |pages=192–197}} Each Pokémon have one or two elemental types, which define its advantages and disadvantages when battling other Pokémon.{{cite book |title=Pokémon Deluxe Essential Handbook |date=July 28, 2015 |publisher=Scholastic Inc. |isbn=9780545795661 |page=5}} A major goal in each game is to complete the Pokédex, a comprehensive Pokémon encyclopedia, by capturing, evolving, and trading with other Trainers to obtain individuals from all Pokémon species.

Wooper was first introduced in Pokémon Gold and Silver. When developing the games, around 300 individual Pokémon designs were drafted by various members of the development team, with each deciding their names and features, revising the drafts as needed. During this process the team actively tried to avoid vague design concepts, as they felt this had caused difficulty in creating completed Pokémon during Red and Blue development. As the team selected which Pokémon would be included, they were drawn and finalized by lead artist Ken Sugimori.{{cite magazine |magazine=64 Dream |date=February 2000 |page=73 |script-title=ja:『ポケモン金・銀』の 開発者に話を聞きました! |trans-title=We Spoke to the Developers of Pokémon Gold and Silver!|language=Japanese}} To maintain balance, many of the newer species did not appear in the early stages of the game. Additionally, many of the Pokémon were designed with merchandise in mind, taking into account the related Pokémon toy line and anime series. As a result, designs often had to be kept simplistic, something that caused strain for Sugimori and affected his approach to the next subsequent Pokémon franchise titles, Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire.{{cite magazine |magazine=Nintendo Dream |language=Japanese |pages=117–126 |script-title=ja:ポケットモンスター ルビー・サファイア 大ヒット記念 ロングインタビュー |issue=84 |date=February 2003 |trans-title=Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire: A Long Interview to Celebrate Their Huge Success}}

Wooper is a blue Water and Ground-type Pokémon that resembles an axolotl with two legs and no arms. It also has a flat tail, external gills, three curved lines on its stomach, and antennae protruding from its head. In the beta release of Gold and Silver, it has a chubbier design and walks on all fours. Its name comes from the term "wooper looper," a term coined in Japanese for pet axolotls. A feature introduced in Pokémon Diamond and Pearl saw certain Pokémon, including Wooper, given gender differences. Female Wooper have shorter antennae.{{cite web |date=June 15, 2006 |title=アプリで進化する新アイテム「ポケモンウォッチ」とは？――「ポケットモンスター ダイヤモンド・パール」 |url=https://nlab.itmedia.co.jp/games/articles/0606/15/news003_3.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240310194707/https://nlab.itmedia.co.jp/games/articles/0606/15/news003_3.html |archive-date=March 10, 2024 |accessdate=March 11, 2024 |work=IT Media |language=Japanese}} Another design was later introduced, dubbed Paldean Wooper. Unlike regular Wooper, it has brown skin, the pattern on its stomach resembles a rib cage, and its antennae resemble a skull and crossbones. The original Wooper evolves into Quagsire, while Paldean Wooper evolves into Clodsire.{{Cite web |last=Broadwell |first=Josh |date=2022-11-24 |title=Pokémon Scarlet & Violet: How To Get Wooper And Quagsire |url=https://www.nintendolife.com/guides/pokemon-scarlet-and-violet-how-to-get-wooper-and-quagsire |access-date=2024-09-06 |website=Nintendo Life |language=en-GB}}

First featured as one of one hundred new Pokémon added to Gold and Silver, Wooper has appeared in many subsequent releases in the Pokémon series.{{cite web |url=https://www.thegamer.com/pokemon-sword-shield-find-location-evolve-wooper-quagsire/ |title=Pokémon Sword & Shield: How To Find & Evolve Wooper Into Quagsire |work=TheGamer |last=O'Gorman |first=Erin |date=May 7, 2020 |accessdate=March 4, 2025}} It is a Water and Ground-type Pokémon, and this form evolves into Quagsire, which retains this type combination.{{Cite web |last= |date=2003-01-30 |title=Pokemon of the Day: Wooper (#194) |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2003/01/30/pokemon-crystal-version-pokemon-of-the-day-wooper-194-384307 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240311202625/https://www.ign.com/articles/2003/01/30/pokemon-crystal-version-pokemon-of-the-day-wooper-194-384307 |archive-date=March 11, 2024 |access-date=2024-03-11 |website=IGN |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Swanson |first=Drew |date=2023-01-30 |title=How Pokemon Scarlet and Violet's Clodsire Stacks Up Against Quagsire |url=https://gamerant.com/pokemon-scarlet-violet-clodsire-quagsire-comparison-unaware-poison-scald-burn-offense-defense/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230801020612/https://gamerant.com/pokemon-scarlet-violet-clodsire-quagsire-comparison-unaware-poison-scald-burn-offense-defense/ |archive-date=August 1, 2023 |access-date=2024-03-11 |website=Game Rant |language=en}} In the base release of Pokémon Scarlet and Violet, Wooper does not appear outside of an in-game trade,{{Cite web |last=Webb |first=Ethan |date=2023-01-01 |title=Pokémon Scarlet and Violet: How to Catch a Johtonian Wooper |url=https://screenrant.com/how-to-catch-johtonian-wooper-pokemon-scarlet-violet/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230319025420/https://screenrant.com/how-to-catch-johtonian-wooper-pokemon-scarlet-violet/ |archive-date=March 19, 2023 |access-date=2024-03-11 |website=Screen Rant |language=en}} and a regional Paldean variant appears instead. This form retains the Ground typing, but is Poison type instead of Water. Instead of evolving into Quagsire, this Pokémon evolves into Clodsire. Regular Wooper became readily available in a downloadable content expansion for Scarlet and Violet.{{Cite web |last=Wood |first=Martin |date=2023-06-24 |title=Pokemon Scarlet and Violet's Johtonian Wooper DLC Cameo Raises New Regional Questions |url=https://gamerant.com/pokemon-scarlet-violet-johtonian-wooper-dlc-kitakami-questions/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230920164151/https://gamerant.com/pokemon-scarlet-violet-johtonian-wooper-dlc-kitakami-questions/ |archive-date=September 20, 2023 |access-date=2024-03-11 |website=Game Rant |language=en}} Both forms of Wooper appear in Pokémon Go{{cite web |author=Chihiro |date=November 9, 2023 |title=「ポケモンGO」にオシャレをしたカイリュー，ウパーらが登場。11月15日にスタートするファッションウィーク2023の実施内容が明らかに |url=https://www.4gamer.net/games/316/G031663/20231109022/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240310194713/https://www.4gamer.net/games/316/G031663/20231109022/ |archive-date=March 10, 2024 |accessdate=March 11, 2024 |work=4gamer |language=Japanese}}{{Cite web |last=Lee |first=Julia |date=2023-11-04 |title=Pokémon Go Wooper Community Day guide |url=https://www.polygon.com/pokemon-go-guide/2023/11/4/23944989/wooper-paldean-community-day-shiny-quagsire-clodsire |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231112212419/https://www.polygon.com/pokemon-go-guide/2023/11/4/23944989/wooper-paldean-community-day-shiny-quagsire-clodsire/ |archive-date=November 12, 2023 |access-date=2024-03-11 |website=Polygon |language=en-US}} and the Pokémon Trading Card Game.{{Cite web |last=Littlechild |first=Chris |date=2020-10-15 |title=10 Pokémon TCG Card Arts That Are Unlike All Others |url=https://www.thegamer.com/pokemon-tcg-card-art-unlike-others/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230304134814/https://www.thegamer.com/pokemon-tcg-card-art-unlike-others/ |archive-date=March 4, 2023 |access-date=2024-03-11 |website=TheGamer |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Dywer |first=Theo |date=2023-11-27 |title=Pokémon TCG Japan's Shiny Treasure Ex: Shiny Paldean Wooper |url=https://bleedingcool.com/games/pokemon-tcg-japans-shiny-treasure-ex-shiny-paldean-wooper/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240312171045/https://bleedingcool.com/games/pokemon-tcg-japans-shiny-treasure-ex-shiny-paldean-wooper/ |archive-date=March 12, 2024 |access-date=2024-03-11 |website=Bleeding Cool |language=en}} A Pokémon mini themed after Wooper was also released.{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=yCikDwAAQBAJ |title=Game Boy Modding |publisher=No Starch Press |last=Farrell |first=Greg |year=2020 |page=206 |accessdate=March 11, 2024 |isbn=9781718500150 |archive-date=March 12, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240312171051/https://www.google.com/books/edition/Game_Boy_Modding/yCikDwAAQBAJ |url-status=live }}

Wooper has appeared in various spin-off video games. It appears in multiple entries in the Pokémon Mystery Dungeon series, including Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Sky{{cite web |last=Fletcher |first=JC |date=February 16, 2009 |title=The few new features in Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of the Sky |url=https://www.engadget.com/2009-02-16-the-few-new-features-in-pokemon-mystery-dungeon-explorers-of-th.html |accessdate=June 12, 2024 |work=Engadget}} and Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Gates to Infinity, the latter which features it as one of a handful of Pokémon available that were not from the fifth generation of Pokémon species.{{cite web |last=Sleeper |first=Morgan |date=March 31, 2013 |title=Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Gates to Infinity Review (3DS) |url=https://www.nintendolife.com/reviews/3ds/pokemon_mystery_dungeon_gates_to_infinity |accessdate=June 12, 2024 |work=Nintendo Life}} It appears in Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Adventure Team for WiiWare as a starter Pokémon in the Storm Adventure Squad version.{{cite web |author=Laura |date=July 29, 2009 |title=Pokemon Mystery Dungeon On Wii Times Three |url=https://www.siliconera.com/pokemon-mystery-dungeon-on-wii-times-three/ |accessdate=June 12, 2024 |work=Siliconera}} A short animation was released by Studio Colorido that focuses on a Wooper-obsessed girl who wanted to see Woopers in the wild.{{cite web |url=https://www.crunchyroll.com/news/latest/2024/10/2/new-pokemon-anime-short-spotlights-woopers-and-clodsires-of-paldea |title=New Pokémon Anime Short Spotlights Woopers and Clodsires of Paldea |work=Crunchyroll |last=Dennison |first=Kara |date=October 2, 2024 |accessdate=March 4, 2025}} Multiple Wooper appear in the Pokémon Concierge animated series.{{cite web |url=https://www.polygon.com/pokemon/24011390/every-pokemon-in-concierge-psyduck-magikarp-list |title=Every Pokémon that makes an appearance in Pokémon Concierge |work=Polygon |last=Radulovic |first=Petrana |date=December 28, 2023 |accessdate=March 4, 2025}}

Both forms of Wooper have received multiple pieces of merchandise, including stuffed animals,{{cite web |date=December 23, 2019 |title=『ポケモン』プライズぬいぐるみになったゲンガーとウパーのふわふわ生地の肌触りにほっこり癒されよう！ |url=https://hobby.dengeki.com/news/902474/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240310194719/https://hobby.dengeki.com/news/902474/ |archive-date=March 10, 2024 |accessdate=March 11, 2024 |work=Dengeki |language=Japanese}} figurines,{{cite magazine |date=November 10, 2022 |title=『ポケモン』泉がテーマのジオラマフィギュア登場！ラインナップには"滝行中"のヌオーも？ |url=https://www.inside-games.jp/article/2022/11/10/141726.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240310194710/https://www.inside-games.jp/article/2022/11/10/141726.html |archive-date=March 10, 2024 |magazine=Famitsu |language=Japanese |accessdate=March 11, 2024}}{{cite web |date=March 20, 2023 |title=『ポケモン』の指人形フィギュアに 『グレンアルマ・ソウブレイズ」が登場。8月発売でウミディグダやモトトカゲ、ガケガ二などパルデア地方の新ポケモンをラインナップ |url=https://news.denfaminicogamer.jp/news/230320k |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240310194710/https://news.denfaminicogamer.jp/news/230320k |archive-date=March 10, 2024 |accessdate=March 11, 2024 |work=Den Fami Nico Gamer |language=Japanese}}{{cite web |date=August 22, 2023 |title=『ポケモン』ウパーののんきな笑顔をお部屋に。パルデアのすがたも見逃せない顔型クッション |url=https://hobby.dengeki.com/reviews/1154432/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240310194710/https://hobby.dengeki.com/reviews/1154432/ |archive-date=March 10, 2024 |accessdate=March 11, 2024 |work=Dengeki Online |language=Japanese}} apparel,{{cite magazine |date=February 17, 2024 |title=ポケモングッズをコーデのワンポイントに！最新ポケモングッズまとめ |url=https://app.famitsu.com/20240217_2196822/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240219004719/https://app.famitsu.com/20240217_2196822/ |archive-date=February 19, 2024 |magazine=Famitsu |language=Japanese |accessdate=March 11, 2024}} and jewelry.{{cite web |author=YamaChan |date=April 21, 2021 |title=指に巻きつくハクリュー，耳を彩るニョロモとウパー。ポケモンデザインの新作アクセサリーが2021年4月28日に発売 |url=https://www.4gamer.net/games/555/G055590/20210421144/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240310194712/https://www.4gamer.net/games/555/G055590/20210421144/ |archive-date=March 10, 2024 |accessdate=March 11, 2024 |work=4gamer |language=Japanese}} A large yawning Clodsire plush was also released, with buyers able to choose one that comes with two, five, or thirty Paldean Wooper.{{cite web |last=Liu |first=Stephanie |date=November 2, 2023 |title=Yawning Clodsire Pokemon Plush Includes Lots of Woopers |url=https://www.siliconera.com/yawning-clodsire-pokemon-plush-will-come-with-lots-of-woopers/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240310194707/https://www.siliconera.com/yawning-clodsire-pokemon-plush-will-come-with-lots-of-woopers/ |archive-date=March 10, 2024 |accessdate=March 11, 2024 |work=Siliconera}}

File:Pooper.png

Wooper has received generally positive reception, noted as a historically beloved Pokémon and the subject of frequent memes by IGN writer Rebekah Valentine.{{cite web |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/once-again-the-pokmon-community-is-memeing-the-heck-out-of-the-last-pokmon-presents |title=Once Again, the Pokémon Community Is Memeing the Heck out of the Last Pokémon Presents |work=IGN |last=Valentine |first=Rebekah |date=August 3, 2022 |accessdate=March 11, 2024 |archive-date=December 30, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231230114449/https://www.ign.com/articles/once-again-the-pokmon-community-is-memeing-the-heck-out-of-the-last-pokmon-presents |url-status=live }} Inside Gamer writer Benjamin Ben considered Wooper among the best designs added to Pokémon Gold and Silver, praising its ability to make people happy with its simple smile. He also felt that its axolotl inspiration helped contribute to that.{{cite web |url=https://inside.gamer.nl/31441-top-5-tofste-pokemon-designs-van-de-2e-generatie/ |title=Top 5 – Tofste Pokémon-designs van de 2e generatie. |work=Inside Gamer |last=Ben |first=Benjamin |date=February 18, 2017 |accessdate=March 11, 2024 |archive-date=December 4, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231204031529/https://inside.gamer.nl/31441-top-5-tofste-pokemon-designs-van-de-2e-generatie/ |url-status=live }} Following the leak of unused Pokémon in Pokémon Gold and Silver, Wooper's beta design became a particularly popular one, identified by Polygon writer Patricia Hernandez as the most popular who stated that some fans prefer the beta Wooper to the final design. Hernandez praised it for its cuteness and short stature, being unsurprised by its popularity and noting the large amount of fan art.{{cite web |url=https://www.polygon.com/2020/4/27/21238306/pokemon-gold-silver-leak-beta-wooper-sprite-iwata-nintendo-spaceworld-1999-demo |title=Apparent Pokémon leak turns 'Beta Wooper' into a sensation |work=Polygon |last=Hernandez |first=Patricia |date=April 27, 2020 |accessdate=March 11, 2024 |archive-date=December 19, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231219213348/https://www.polygon.com/2020/4/27/21238306/pokemon-gold-silver-leak-beta-wooper-sprite-iwata-nintendo-spaceworld-1999-demo |url-status=live }} HobbyConsolas writer Javier Escribano noted that, due to its chubbier design compared to Wooper, it has become a meme.{{cite web |last=Escribano |first=Javier |date=April 27, 2020 |title=Las filtraciones de Pokémon Oro y Plata conciben un nuevo meme: Beta Wooper |url=https://www.hobbyconsolas.com/noticias/filtraciones-pokemon-oro-plata-conciben-nuevo-meme-beta-wooper-629803 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240310194706/https://www.hobbyconsolas.com/noticias/filtraciones-pokemon-oro-plata-conciben-nuevo-meme-beta-wooper-629803 |archive-date=March 10, 2024 |accessdate=March 11, 2024 |work=HobbyConsolas |language=Spanish}}

Upon being revealed in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet, Paldean Wooper became a popular Pokémon among fans, being given the nickname of "Pooper". Polygon writer Cass Marshall thought that Wooper was "always cute" due to its "silly expression."{{cite web |url=https://www.polygon.com/23290359/pokemon-scarlet-violet-wooper-paldea-variant-fan-art-memes |title=Everybody loves 'Pooper,' Pokémon Scarlet and Violet's new Wooper |work=Polygon |last=Marshall |first=Cass |date=August 3, 2022 |accessdate=March 11, 2024 |archive-date=December 19, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231219213348/https://www.polygon.com/23290359/pokemon-scarlet-violet-wooper-paldea-variant-fan-art-memes |url-status=live }} Game Rant writer Benjamin Jones suggested that its reveal was among the best at the time, noting how it being a Ground/Poison-type Pokémon was a notable change, arguing that the type combination was a powerful one, especially in combination with its ability, Water Absorb.{{cite web |last=Jones |first=Benjamin |date=August 9, 2022 |title=Why the Pokemon Scarlet and Violet Wooper Variant is a Big Deal |url=https://gamerant.com/pokemon-scarlet-violet-paldean-wooper-variant-abilities-leak-confirmation/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220902235606/http://gamerant.com/pokemon-scarlet-violet-paldean-wooper-variant-abilities-leak-confirmation/ |archive-date=September 2, 2022 |accessdate=March 11, 2024 |work=Game Rant}} GamesRadar+ writer Hope Bellingham also noted its Poison/Ground typing as a notable one, noting how it's the first time since Pokémon Red and Blue to have the type. They described it as a cute Pokémon, though noted that its type combination and abilities Poison Point and Water Absorb showed potential.{{cite web |url=https://www.gamesradar.com/pokemon-scarlet-and-violets-paldean-wooper-is-the-first-poison-ground-pokemon-since-gen-1/ |title=Pokemon Scarlet and Violet's Paldean Wooper is the first Poison Ground Pokemon since Gen 1 |work=GamesRadar+ |last=Bellingham |first=Hope |date=August 4, 2022 |accessdate=March 11, 2024 |archive-date=March 10, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240310194707/https://www.gamesradar.com/pokemon-scarlet-and-violets-paldean-wooper-is-the-first-poison-ground-pokemon-since-gen-1/ |url-status=live }} Vice writer Renata Price noted that Wooper was a favorite Pokémon of theirs, appreciating that it got a new form that they made it a "dirty, grimy boy."{{cite web |url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/pokemon-scarlet-and-violet-may-actually-be-worth-being-excited-about/ |title='Pokémon Scarlet' and 'Violet' May Actually Be Worth Being Excited About |work=Vice |last=Price |first=Renata |date=August 3, 2022 |access-date=March 11, 2024 |archive-date=March 10, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240310194707/https://www.vice.com/en/article/93aamy/pokemon-scarlet-and-violet-may-actually-be-worth-being-excited-about |url-status=live }} Famitsu writer Count Tsukune appreciated the reveal, saying it was the cutest of the Pokémon revealed at the time, both in its game model and art. They stated that they decided to buy Scarlet and Violet after seeing Paldean Wooper.{{cite magazine |author=Tsukune |first=Count |date=September 10, 2022 |title=【週間PVランキング】『ワンピース』コミックス90巻分が無料開放スタート。『エルデンリング』がまさかのギャグ漫画に!? 【9/2～9/8】 |url=https://www.famitsu.com/news/202209/10275329.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240310194711/https://www.famitsu.com/news/202209/10275329.html |archive-date=March 10, 2024 |magazine=Famitsu |accessdate=March 11, 2024}} Despite the positive reception for Paldean Wooper, Fanbyte writer Imran Khan was critical of it, arguing that it was an example of a less inspired regional variant. He felt that Paldean Wooper was a less interesting idea for a Ground/Poison-type Pokémon than they could have done.{{cite web |last=Khan |first=Imran |date=August 29, 2022 |title=I Am Already Fatigued By Regional Pokemon Variants |url=https://www.fanbyte.com/pokemon/features/i-am-already-fatigued-by-regional-pokemon-variants |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231219230440/https://www.fanbyte.com/pokemon/features/i-am-already-fatigued-by-regional-pokemon-variants |archive-date=December 19, 2023 |accessdate=March 11, 2024 |work=Fanbyte}}

Critics have discussed the influences behind both Wooper and its Paldean form. Author Jean-Bruno Renard, while discussing fictional representations of axolotls, discussed Wooper, noting its various design and conceptual inspirations, citing its external gills and flat tail.{{cite journal |url=https://www.cairn.info/revue-societes-2010-2-page-19.htm |title=L'axolotl. De la controverse scientifique au mythe littéraire |journal=Cairn.info |last=Renard |first=Jean-Bruno |date=February 2010 |volume=108 |issue=2 |pages=19–32 |doi=10.3917/soc.108.0019 |accessdate=March 11, 2024 |archive-date=March 15, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230315145821/https://www.cairn.info/revue-societes-2010-2-page-19.htm |url-status=live }} While multiple authors noted that Wooper is based on an axolotl,{{cite book |title=L'ibolo L'idolo dei bimbi è una salamandra |date=July 11, 2024 |publisher=Il Gazzettino |page=14 |language=Italian}} GamesRadar+ writer Hope Bellingham argued that the Paldean form is based on the iberian ribbed newt. They argued that multiple design choices correlate between the two, including their brown skin, rib-like pattern, and their use of poison as a defense mechanism.

{{reflist|2}}

• [https://www.pokemon.com/us/pokedex/wooper Wooper on Pokemon.com]
• {{Bulbapedia}}

{{Pokémon Generation 2|state=expanded}}

{{Pokémon}}

Category:Fictional characters with earth or stone abilities

Category:Pokémon introduced in generation II

Category:Pokémon with regional variants

Category:Video game characters introduced in 1999

Category:Video game characters with water abilities