Skeledirge is a large, red, crocodilianPokémon covered in rectangular scales. Its belly is angular and has a white coloration flanked by black stripes on either side, resembling an open suit jacket and dress shirt. It also has various white-colored patterns on its head, lower jaw, neck, back, shoulders, arms, legs, and the cylindrical tip of its tail. The white coloration on the top of its head resembles alute. Skeledirge has three black claws on each foot, and while it usually walks on all fours, it is capable of standing on its hind legs. Its head is delineated with a black circular shape at the top. It has black eyes with yellow irises and red eyelids, serrated jaws with purple insides, and various square and triangular patterns that come in red, orange, yellow, and purple. A wreath of solid orange-and-yellow fire energy emerges from the back of Skeledirge's jaws, which circles around its head.
Skeledirge has a meddlesome but caring personality. Its singing is gentle but powerful and full of vitality, capable of soothing the souls of all who hears it. Opponents hearing its singing will feel warm and fulfilled inside, losing their will to battle. There is an orange fiery bird resting on top of Skeledirge's head, which is a separate, independent entity from the Pokémon. This bird is spherical, with a yellow face, white eyes, a short crest and tail, and a singular tiny pointed "foot" it balances itself on. The bird was born when the egg-shaped fireball Skeledirge had as aCrocalor gained a soul, which also gave it itsGhosttype.[1] It can sometimes be seen pecking at Skeledirge's jaws, supposedly cleaning its teeth. Skeledirge burns its enemies by unleashing flames that exceed 5,400 °F (3,000 °C). When it sings, its bird transforms into a microphone, growing its "foot" longer until it reaches the ground.The bird is then powered up by Skeledirge's singing, growing larger and flying towards its target. As shown inPokémon Sleep, Skeledirge and its pre-Evolutions are known to sometimes sleep with an eye open. The fiery bird on Skeledirge's head occasionally moves about and even plays pranks on it when its sleep is shallow. An excellent caretaker, it never gets angry no matter what's done to it and continues sleeping.[2]
The fireball on its head has gained a soul, and when Skeledirge's sleep is shallow, the fireball moves around and sometimes plays pranks. Skeledirge is an excellent caretaker and never gets angry no matter what's done to it. It just keeps sleeping.
Roy's Crocalor evolved into Skeledirge inHZ119, during his battle againstDrayton. In the same episode, heTerastallized into aFiretype for the first time as a Skeledirge.
Skeledirge is the first fully evolved Fire-typefirst partner Pokémon to be quadrupedal.
In a trademark filed byThe Pokémon Company on November 7, 2022, Skeledirge's Japanese name was romanized as "Loudbone" instead of "Laudbon".[3] The name "Laudbon" was trademarked a month later on December 19, 2022.[4]
Skeledirge resembles acrocodile with a skull pattern or acalavera on its forehead. InPokémon Sleep, Skeledirge and its pre-Evolutions are revealed to sleep with one eye open, just like real-life crocodiles. Skeledirge's association with singing and "suited" appearance in general resembles a singer such as those inrock music,mariachi, oropera; or aconductor. ItsFire typing andsignature move may be inspired by the fact that crocodiles release excess heat through their mouths.
Skeledirge may be a reference to some crocodile legends in theIberian Peninsula, notably theDrac de Na Coca, whose preserved body with an exposed skull may have inspired Skeledirge's skeletal appearance, and whose presence in pyrotechnicalcorrefoc festivities may have inspired Skeledirge's Fire type. It may also reference other legends such as the ghostlyCocollona; or theCucafera, depicted as a crocodilian dragon creature with the dome-shaped body of a turtle.
The "hatched" fiery bird on its head may be based ontrochilus, a legendary bird (speculated to be aEgyptian plover or aSpur-winged lapwing) depicted as having acleaning symbiosis relationship with aNile crocodile. The location of the bird might also be inspired by the bulbous protuberance at the tip of malegharials' snouts, which enables them to produce certain sounds.
Skeledirge'sGhost type may also be inspired by Mexican holiday of theDay of the Dead, with its face resembling a calavera and the fire energy around its neck resemblingMexican marigolds put on display to honor the dead. Its colorful look may be based onalebrije, a form of Mexican sculpture art depicting fantastical creatures in brightly colored patterns, ortrencadís.
Name origin
Skeledirge may be a combination ofskeleton anddirge (a song or hymn performed in mourning, such as during funerals).
Laudbon may be a combination oflaúd (Spanish lute, a musical instrument),loud, andbone.
This Pokémon article is part ofProject Pokédex, aBulbapedia project that aims to write comprehensive articles on each Pokémon species, as well as Pokémon groups and forms.