Morphs [Oak Catalog #]
Notable BiologyRecent advances in technology have allowed scientists to regenerate dead tissue, allowing them to clone previously-extinct Pokémon. At first, these devices had limited potential, but with the gradual advancement and refinement of these devices, it is now possible to extract and copy DNA from up to 560 million years ago. Anorith is one of the oldest non-Legendary types of Pokémon, and is believed to be the very first species of Pokémon to evolve into a stronger form, the amphibious Armaldo. It was once believed that Anorith and Armaldo were the oldest known ancestor of all Bug-type Pokémon, but recent evidence has shown that the two species are an offshoot (and subsequent evolutionary dead end) from an unknown common ancestor. From studies in captivity, paleo-Pokémon researchers believe that the Anorith was the dominant aquatic predator of the time, cruising the warm shallow seas for prey like Lileep. It also possesses a unique form of propulsion - by moving the muscular plates on its back in a rhythmic beating motion, it can move far quicker than one would think. Upon evolution, the mature form of the species, the Armaldo, would nest on the shores. However, at the time of its existence, there was very little life (and therefore hardly any prey) on land, so it spent much of its life in deeper waters, searching for prey. It is also interesting to note that Armaldo possess the first legs in known biological history. It is widely believed (see Mating and Courtship) that the animals would lay eggs on land, where there were no predators to threaten their young. Upon hatching, Anorith would crawl to the sea. To support this theory, Anorith are capable of "holding their breath" while away from the sea - they can store large amounts of oxygen in their blood, a surprisingly advanced adaptation for such an ancient Pokémon. Lucky Trainers who own either one of these Pokémon may also notice that it has a habit of swallowing small pebbles. This helps to grind their food in their stomach and acts as ballast, allowing them to sink to greater depths.
HabitatAnorith once lived in shallow seas. In its heyday, the land was still near-uncolonized save for a handful of plants, and it is believed that Armaldo were some of the first Pokémon to travel ashore.
DietBoth Anorith and Armaldo are carnivorous. Both animals possess a simple set of jaws, with which they can crack open tough shells and even bone. It is believed that Armaldo were the apex predators of their time.
HazardsAnorith and Armaldo are still incredibly rare amongst the casual Trainer community. As they have been extinct for millions of years, they tend to fare poorly when not in the care of a trained researcher. They have little to no immunity against most conventional diseases, and they have tremendous difficulty respirating in dry air. [[Trainer's Note: Keep your Anorith oxygenated by making sure it has ready access to a source of cool water.) Nonetheless, an agitated or alarmed Anorith or Armaldo is not something to be taken lightly. The large prehensile crushing tentacles around the Anorith's mouth have the capability to crush bone easily, and an Armaldo can easily trample a human into the ground. However, these sorts of attacks are rare and the Pokémon prefer to flee from danger. When moving, they are generally slow and sluggish, and so are easy to outrun. They only display bursts of energy if they believe that their life is threatened (such as in battles.) Recently, there has been some controversy about the ethics of using extinct Pokémon for battle. Supporters of this movement claim that these Pokémon, not used to being caught or trained in their own time, should only be used for research purposes. The movement is gaining strength, and some smaller Leagues do indeed forbid the use of revived Pokémon in tournament matches. However, in the Indigo, Hoenn, Sinnoh, and Unova Leagues, the use of extinct Pokémon is still permitted.
CourtingNo Armaldo have ever been observed mating. All specimens of these Pokémon are created artificially.
Social StructureVery little is known about the social structure of these Pokémon. Seeing as how there are less than 100 revived animals alive today, it is very rare to see more than one in the same location, as many are on loan to research labs and universities around the world.