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Wattrel and Kilowattrel

ID No. 0940,

D No. 0941

Wattrel and Kilowattrel are seafaring avian pokemon commonly found in Paldea, though they have been sighted worldwide due to their maritime nature. The line is known for its striking electric yellow feathers, unique energy generation, and remarkable tenacity and endurance on the open ocean. 

Notable Biology

Common among the majority of electric types, Wattrel and Kilowattrel have a significant amount of electrochemical cells within their bodies, concentrated within their wings chest, gular pouch, and notably, near the articular cartilage in the joints of their wings. The joint socket where the humerus bone of the wing connects to the coracoid bone is hypermobile, allowing for greater control of the wing and the ability to capture electricity.  The cells within the joints are specialized to catch kinetic energy from the buffeting of the wind they fly in the open ocean, converting it into electricity to store within their bodies. Most of this electricity is stored within specialized “battery” cells located within the chest of Wattrel, which eventually move to the gular pouch upon evolution. This allows the line to easily generate electricity when food is scarce, which happens often when traversing across the water.

Wattrel and especially Kilowattrel have powerful muscles, focused along the wings and chest of the Pokemon. This allows them to traverse large swathes of open ocean without tiring, and to weather the heavy winds within storm fronts. Their muscles also have remarkable endurance, with the lines being able to keep aloft for around two months without touching land. Kilowattrel thrive in heavy weather, prioritizing traveling within thunderstorms when in flight across open water, with the harsh winds and occasional lightning strikes providing additional energy for their journey. Despite their seafaring nature, both morphs lack the natural oils in their feathers to float on the ocean, instead skimming the water to catch prey.

There are 3 recorded subspecies of the Wattrel line, each with distinct characteristics. One subspecies has a notably higher concentration of electrochemical cells within the joints, allowing for the creature to fire off stronger attacks after being hit by attacks created out of wind. Another subspecies has a higher concentration of battery cells within their bodies, giving them complete immunity to electrical attacks, and healing them when struck. The third subspecies is more psychological, 

Social Structure

Wattrel are extremely sociable creatures, feeding and traveling in flocks of a few dozen members. During the months when they nest, between September and October, they gather together on rocky cliffs, reaching numbers in the thousands. Kilowattrel are comparatively very solitary Pokemon, only traveling with their mates on long-distance journeys, linking up with others during the nesting season.

Habitat

Due to their behavior, both members of the line can be found in practically any region, always being near the shoreline. This method of encountering them is uncommon as they rarely touch land, and when they do, it is only for a brief couple of days before they set out again. They can be more reliably found in Paldea, with small populations of Wattrel lining the southern coast from the west to east province. Kilowattrel favor harsher weather and thus are located on the northwest coasts of the region. Both morphs land to nest in the western province, near the cliffs of Levincia, and are where the largest percentage of both are caught.

Diet And Predators

Wattrel and Kilowattrel rely on their electricity to hunt, unable to swim and dive to catch their prey like other seabirds like Pelipper. Wattrel fly down close, their legs skimming the water's edge, sending a jolt of electricity into the water to paralyze their prey. Kilowattrel, having stronger and more developed electrochemical cells, let loose massive thunderbolts from above, swooping down only when the paralyzed remains float to the surface.

Both Pokemon are carnivorous, though can eat fruits such as berries in a pinch. Near Paldean coastlines their preferred prey is Arrokuda, though Wattrel can be found eating a variety of things in the open ocean, mainly small fish such as Wishiwashi, Magikarp, and Luvdisc. Kilowattrel is similar, with their diet mainly consisting of Veluza and Barraskewda and, being strong enough to withstand their prey's harsh attacks. The Clawitzer line is occasionally on the menu for both morphs, with Clawitzer claws being one of their favorite meals, though attacking them is risky due to their tendency to fight back, shooting the bird out of the sky

Wattrel tend to congregate around fishing vessels and Wailord to steal the scraps of their catches. Kilowattrel are known for stealing the catches of other seabirds, harassing Pokemon like Wingull and Pelipper away from fish they caught. These Pokemon almost always lose the fight due to the type disadvantage, being especially weak to lightning. 

Hazards

While these Pokemon are not at all aggressive to humans, it is highly important to treat them with respect, at the risk of provoking one. As with all electric-type Pokemon, one of the biggest hazards of interacting with the Kilowattrel line is their tendency to shoot out paralyzing bursts of electricity. Wattrel are less dangerous, able to output at most 2000 volts of electricity, enough to seriously injure humans. Kilowattrel strikes on the other hand are potentially lethal, able to strike with up to 2,900 volt blasts, enough to incur cardiac arrest. 

Due to their rare typing, they can be quite tricky to take down being immune to ground moves and practically thriving off of electric attacks. Despite this, they are susceptible to the other common flying type weaknesses, rock and ice. These moves will normally make wild Wattrel and Kilowattrel scatter, unfamiliar with how to deal with such moves.

Courting

Female Wattrel choose their mates through a nocturnal display flight before nesting season. The male chases after the female at sea whilst the female attempts to evade, all the while calling back to the male. The gular pouch of Kilowattrel serves as a secondary feature as a means of display and is also included during these flights, swelling and lighting up with internal electricity.

Every year, Wattrel and Kilowattrel gather together on nesting coastal cliffs in colonies in the thousands. Wattrel make their nests out of solidified saliva within the cliffs and typically lay clutches of 1-2 eggs. Kilowattrel make their nests on top of the cliffs and lay around 2-4 eggs. Both morphs are highly monogamous and will mate for life.

In Society

Wattrel and Kilowattrel are most commonly associated with their relationship with thunderstorms, their appearance on coasts, and the ocean forecasting stormy weather, signifying a bad omen. They were also thought to be the reborn souls of dead sailors and Pokemon lost at sea, with killing bringing bad luck. Wattrel Nests, made out of the solidified saliva of the creature, are edible, and are a regional delicacy within Paldea. They are said to have a “crackling” texture and are used in special “Wattrel Nest Soup”, fetching a high price overseas. Kilowattrel, known for their remarkable electrical pouches, have a fair bit of a negative reputation with foreigners, as their tendency to bully and steal catches from other Pokemon has not gone unnoticed.

*First write-up for the expanded pokedex project, let me know what you all think.

-Prof. Hem