Paras is an orange, insectoid Pokémon that resembles 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 pseudopupils.
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. Prior to Generation III, Spore was its signature move.
Paras can often be found in caves; however, it can also thrive in damp forests. In the Alola region, the mushrooms on its back do not grow well. This is thought to be from a lack of moisture or nutrients.
Evolution
Paras evolves into Parasect.
(For specifics on this Pokémon's Evolution in the games, refer to Game data→Evolution data.)
Major appearances
In The Problem with Paras, Cassandra owns a Paras that is extremely weak, but she needed it to evolve into a Parasect so she could use its giant mushroom to aid her in her medical research. It did so towards the end of the episode.
Minor appearances
Multiple Paras debuted in Clefairy and the Moon Stone, where they were removing the mushrooms on their backs. Seymour explained that this behavior was due to someone stringing lights in the caves of Mt. Moon, and implied that this was not good for them.
In Bulbasaur and the Hidden Village, a Paras was under Melanie's care. It reappeared in a flashback in Bulbasaur... the Ambassador!.
In Pokémon Fashion Flash, a Paras was on Scissor Street.
A Paras appeared in A Chansey Operation.
A Paras appeared in The Breeding Center Secret.
In Pikachu's Vacation, a Paras was at the Pokémon Theme Park.
In Showdown at the Po-ké Corral, multiple Paras were living at Professor Oak's Laboratory.
Two Paras of the Valencia Island variant appeared in Poké Ball Peril.
In In the Pink, a pink Paras was a resident of Pinkan Island.
In Tracey Gets Bugged, a Paras was on Murcott Island.
In The Power of One, a Paras sensed the disturbance caused by Lawrence III.
A wild Paras appeared in Pikachu's Rescue Adventure.
In The Fortune Hunters, a Paras was stolen by Butch and Cassidy.
In The Bug Stops Here, a Paras was chased away by Misty after it scared her.
In The Grass Route, a Trainer's Paras competed in the Grass Tournament.
A Paras appeared in Celebi: The Voice of the Forest.
In Got Miltank?, a Paras was an inhabitant of a Pokémon-exclusive oasis.
A Paras appeared in A Bite to Remember.
A Paras appeared in Destiny Deoxys.
A Paras appeared in the opening sequence of Lucario and the Mystery of Mew.
A Coordinator's Paras appeared in Harley Rides Again.
In Once More With Reeling!, a Coordinator's Paras participated in the Terracotta Contest.
A Paras appeared in Borrowing on Bad Faith!.
In Genesect and the Legend Awakened, multiple Paras were residents of Pokémon Hills.
A Trainer's Paras appeared in Alola to New Adventure!.
In Lillie's Egg-xhilarating Challenge!, a Paras was playing in Lillie's garden. It reappeared in The Ol' Raise and Switch!.
In I Choose You!, a Paras taking shelter from the rain in a cave alongside Entei.
In Alola, Kanto!, multiple Paras were seen at Professor Oak's Laboratory.
Five Trainers' Paras appeared in A Young Royal Flame Ignites!.
Five Paras appeared in The Power of Us, with four under the ownership of different Trainers and the fourth being wild.
Three Paras appeared in Securing the Future!, with two under the ownership of different Trainers and the third being wild. They joined the rest of Alola in showering Necrozma with light so it could return to its true form.
In The Battlefield of Truth and Love!, a Paras was watching Bewear and Stufful put on a performance in their hot springs.
In Working My Way Back to Mew!, Goh caught a Paras. It has since made further appearances in Pokémon Journeys: The Series.
Multiple Paras appeared in a fantasy in Trade, Borrow, and Steal!.
A Trainer's Paras appeared in Take My Thief! Please!.
A Paras appeared in This Could be the Start of Something Big!.
A Paras appeared in Distant Blue Sky!.
A Paras appeared in The Rainbow and the Pokémon Master!.
Pokédex entries
Episode
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Subject
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Source
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Entry
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EP044
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Paras
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Ash's Pokédex
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Paras, the Mushroom Pokémon. Rare mushrooms grow on its back.
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EP044
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Paras's type
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Ash's Pokédex
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Paras has qualities of both Bug and Grass Pokémon.
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