Clamperl Report

Clamperl (the Bivalve Pokémon) is a common Water-type Pokémon found amongst the seafloor in all parts of the world. Though they may be rather inept at combat, Clamperl are wondrous creatures that clearly demonstrate just how bizarre evolution can really be in some cases. These odd critters might not be worth much on the battlefield, but if you're looking to score some treasure while on a diving trip, make sure to keep your eyes open for them; if you can find a shell that's uninhabited, there's a good chance that you'll also find something round and valuable inside!

Clamperl are exceptionally odd, and that's putting it lightly. Clamperl themselves are relatively featureless and merely consist of a spongy, tentacle-armed mass of flesh and organs within their shells; what many assume to be the actual animal is actually a beautiful pink pearl that acts as a natural beacon for psychic energy. Because they lack the organs needed to communicate with others, Clamperl send weak pulses of psychic energy through these home-grown pearls in order to give themselves not only a face but a visible personality and even a small voice; unfortunately, Clamperl can only make one of these pearls in a lifetime, so if they lose it, they're out of luck. Although Clamperl are extremely soft, they are anchored to the insides of their shells by hundreds of tiny muscle fibers and are almost impossible to pry out within the use of extreme force; this protection is only enhanced by the shell itself, which is formed from compacted calcium carbonate and is effectively as hard as rock. It is noted, however, that Clamperl do not just use their shells for defense; they also use them as portable clamp-traps for catching small fish. While Clamperl are generally filter-feeders, they begin to feed on macroscopic animals about a third of the way through their natural lifecycle in preparation for the skills they will need after evolving, clamping down on prey and never letting go until said prey stops moving; as such, the more nicks and scratches a shell has from struggling prey, the closer its occupant is to evolution. As Clamperl age, their bodies begin to gradually outgrow their shells, making life within harder and harder with each passing day; it is only when they can no longer feed properly that Clamperl finally leave their shells and evolve. In doing so, they leave behind the magnificent pearl inside of their empty shell, which interestingly enough still maintains its ability to amplify psychic energy when held; this has made them exceedingly precious to collectors, and they often sell for prices ten times higher than a pearl one might find inside of a Shellder.

What makes Clamperl completely unique is that the form they will take is both easy and difficult to actually calculate. Both Huntail and Gorebyss share many similarities with one another, such as their anatomy, choice of habitat and predatory lifestyles, but are also differentiated in battle by their stats, some of the moves they learn and their hunting tactics. While there is still little evidence around to explain why they actually exist as two separate species, a recent breakthrough has been able to deduce how the differentiation happens and points to two very simple (yet deviously complex) factors as the root cause: temperature and nearby organic remains. Since Clamperl and their evolutions all dwell near the bottom of the seafloor, temperatures are automatically quite cold and difficult for most life forms to handle; it has been noted, though, that the precise temperature of the environment at the time of evolution does in fact have a large impact on the evolution of Clamperl. If the water is particularly cold, they will evolve into Huntail, but if the water is relatively warm, they will evolve into Gorebyss. While the exact temperature barrier seems to vary from region to region, this difference is nonetheless believed to be the root cause behind the evolution of at least 90% of all Clamperl. The other 10% (much of which comes from trainers) is caused by the presence of certain objects associated with a particular evolution, namely the chemical odors released by a Huntail fang (known as a Deep Sea Tooth) and a Gorebyss scale (known as a Deep Sea Scale). While the items alone double the Special Attack and Special Defense stats of Clamperl when held, respectively, their presence also causes a Clamperl to evolve into the species associated with the item when either exposed to many of them at once or exposed to the energy used in a trading device while holding one. Trainers that are hoping to get one particular species should therefore be very careful about what items they keep around their Clamperl, especially considering temperature is a far less reliable gauge for determining a precise evolution.

Though they might not be able to do much in terms of offense, Clamperl are sturdy creatures that can certainly take a lot of punishment before their shells begin to crack. Whether you want one for its evolutions or simply to get the beautiful pearl it holds inside, you'll probably have to go pretty far down into the water if you ever want to see or catch one. Just be careful to keep your fingers away from them; they might not be exceptionally bright, but these odd clams will gladly slam shut on your prying hands if it means getting a free meal in the process!

Professor Wormwood