The fungus on Paras is identified as tochukaso, an endoparasitoid that replaces the host tissue and can affect the behavior of its insect host. The base insect appears to be a cicada nymph.
Paras is a shortening of parasite, referring to the parasitic mushroom growing on its back.
No: 046
English Name: Paras
Japanese Name: Parasu
Generation: 1
Type: Bug, Grass
Species: Mushroom Pokémon
Abilities: Dry Skin, Effect Spore, Damp (hidden ability)
Evolution: Paras > Parasect
Paras is an orange, insectoid creature resembling the nymph stage of a cicada. Its ovoid body is segmented, and it has three pairs of legs. The foremost pair of legs is the largest and has sharp claws at the tips. There are five specks on its forehead and three teeth on either side of its mouth. It has circular eyes with large pupils.
Red-and-yellow mushrooms known as tochukaso grow on this Pokémon’s back. The mushrooms can be removed at any time, and grow from spores that are doused on this Pokémon’s back at birth by the mushroom on its mother’s back. Tochukaso are parasitic in nature, drawing their nutrients from the host Paras’s body in order to grow and exerting some command over the Pokémon’s actions. For example, Paras drains nutrients from tree roots due to commands from the mushrooms. The mushrooms are also popular among collectors and have medicinal uses, usually involving extended life. The mushrooms are also the source of its former signature move, Spore.
The anime has shown that Paras can often be found in caves. However, it can also thrive in damp forests with high amounts of humidity where conditions are ideal for fungi. It is also very timid as shown in the anime when it runs away from a battle with a Charmeleon.
POKEDEX ENTRIES
Pokemon Red: Burrows to suck tree roots. The mushrooms on its back grow by drawing nutrients from the bug host.
Pokemon Blue: Burrows to suck tree roots. The mushrooms on its back grow by drawing nutrients from the bug host.
Pokemon Yellow: Burrows under the ground to gnaw on tree roots. The mushrooms on its back absorb most of the nutrition.
Pokemon Stadium: Grows by sucking nutrients from the roots of trees. The mushrooms on its back grow by drawing extracts from the bug host.
Pokemon Gold: It is doused with mushroom spores when it is born. As its body grows, mushrooms sprout from its back.
Pokemon Silver: As its body grows large, oriental mushrooms called tochukaso start sprouting out of its back.
Pokemon Crystal: The tochukaso growing on this Pokémon’s back orders it to extract juice from tree trunks.
Pokemon Stadium 2: It is doused with mushroom spores when it is born. As its body grows, mushrooms sprout from its back.
Pokemon Ruby: Paras has parasitic mushrooms growing on its back called tochukaso. They grow large by drawing nutrients from this Bug/Grass Pokémon host. They are highly valued as a medicine for extending life.
Pokemon Sapphire: Paras has parasitic mushrooms growing on its back called tochukaso. They grow large by drawing nutrients from this Bug/Grass Pokémon host. They are highly valued as a medicine for extending life.
Pokemon Emerald: A Paras has parasitic tochukaso mushrooms growing on its back. They grow by drawing nutrients from the host. They are valued as a medicine for long life.
Pokemon FireRed: Growing out of the bug’s back are mushrooms called tochukaso. The mushrooms grow with the bug host.
Pokemon LeafGreen: Burrows to suck tree roots. The mushrooms on its back grow by drawing nutrients from the bug host.
Pokemon Diamond: Mushrooms named tochukaso grow on its back. They grow along with the host Paras.
Pokemon Pearl: Mushrooms named tochukaso grow on its back. They grow along with the host Paras.
Pokemon Platinum: Mushrooms named tochukaso grow on its back. They grow along with the host Paras.
Pokemon HeartGold: It is doused with mushroom spores when it is born. As its body grows, mushrooms sprout from its back.
Pokemon SoulSilver: As its body grows, large mushrooms named tochukaso start sprouting out of its back.
Pokemon Black: Mushrooms named tochukaso grow on its back. They grow along with the host Paras.
Pokemon White: Mushrooms named tochukaso grow on its back. They grow along with the host Paras.
Pokemon Black 2: Mushrooms named tochukaso grow on its back. They grow along with the host Paras.
pokemon White 2: Mushrooms named tochukaso grow on its back. They grow along with the host Paras.
Pokemon X: Growing out of the bug’s back are mushrooms called tochukaso. The mushrooms grow with the bug host.
Pokemon Y: Burrows under the ground to gnaw on tree roots. The mushrooms on its back absorb most of the nutrition.
Pokemon Omega Ruby: Paras has parasitic mushrooms growing on its back called tochukaso. They grow large by drawing nutrients from this Bug Pokémon host. They are highly valued as a medicine for extending life.
Pokemon Alpha Sapphire: Paras has parasitic mushrooms growing on its back called tochukaso. They grow large by drawing nutrients from this Bug Pokémon host. They are highly valued as a medicine for extending life.
Pokemon SUN: No matter how much it eats, the mushrooms growing on its back steal away most of the nutrients it consumes.
Pokemon MOON: Mushrooms called tochukaso sprout from its back. They can be dried and powdered to make a medicine used to extend life.
