Piplup is a Water type Pokemon introduced in Generation IV. It evolves into Prinplup starting at level 16, which evolves into Empoleon starting at level 36. Along with Turtwig and Chimchar, Piplup is one of three starter Pokemon of Sinnoh available at the beginning of Pokemon Diamond, Pearl and Platinum. Take a look below for 25 fun and interesting facts about Piplup.

1. Piplup is a light blue, penguin like Pokemon, which is covered in thick down to insulate against the cold.

2. It has a dark blue head with a primarily white face and a short, yellow beak.

3. The dark blue feathers on its head extend down its back and around its neck, which causes it to appear to be wearing a cape.

4. There are two white ovals on its chest and a small, light-blue marking resembles a crown above its beak.

5. It has flipper-like arms and yellow feet with three toes each.

6. Piplup has a strong sense of self-pride.

7. Because of its pride, it has a hard time accepting food from humans and bonding with its caretakers.

8. It will even puff out its chest after it falls down, which it often does due to its poor walking abilities. However, it is a skilled swimmer that can dive for over ten minutes in order to hunt.

9. It has also been shown to fly short distances in the anime.

10. It lives along the seashore in colder climates.

11. Piplup and its evolved form share its category with Eiscue. They are all known as the Penguin Pokémon.

12. Piplup is the most selected Sinnoh starter Pokémon in the anime, being the starter Pokémon of Dawn, Kenny, and Tyler.

13. Piplup was designed by Yusuke Ohmura.

14. Piplup is based on a young penguin, possibly a little penguin. The light blue crown-shaped marking above its beak may be inspired by emperor penguins.

15. Piplup is derived from plop or plup from the sound of a pebble hitting water. It may also incorporate pip, a stage of growth in baby birds immediately before they hatch from the eggshell.

16. Piplup debuted in Following A Maiden’s Voyage!, where one in Professor Rowan’s lab got into a fight with a Chimchar over their food. After ruining the lab, the two escaped, and Dawn was given the task of finding them. She found Piplup, and the two narrowly escaped an Ariados attack. Back at Rowan’s lab, Dawn chose Piplup as her starter Pokémon. Since then, he has been her main Pokémon and has been mostly seen outside of his Poké Ball.

17. A Piplup, who used to be a human, was one of the two main members of Team Poképals in the Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Time & Darkness and Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Sky – Beyond Time & Darkness.

18. A female Piplup nicknamed Pippy appeared in The Thief That Keeps on Thieving!, under the ownership of Tyler. He used her to catch a Yanma. She is different from other Piplup because she wears a tiara.

19. A Piplup appeared in DPS01, under the ownership of Professor Rowan, who was presenting it to Shinko as one of the starter Pokémon for her to pick. It fought with Rowan’s Chimchar after it stole its food; this led to a window breaking and Piplup and Chimchar escaping. They were then captured by an Ariados’s web before being rescued by Shinko and Dawn.

20. A Piplup appeared in I Choose You!, under the ownership of Verity. It was her main Pokémon.

21. A Piplup appeared in SS008, under the ownership of Misaki. It ran away from Sinnoh after becoming jealous of Misaki’s new Croagunk, but it was returned to her by Ash and Go after they found it in Vermilion City. Piplup then entered itself and Croagunk into the Pokémon Drift Ice Race, but the two partnered up to save Misaki after Team Rocket interrupted the race.

22. A Piplup appeared in Meloetta’s Moonlight Serenade as one of the Pokémon watching Meloetta’s concert.

23. Multiple Piplup appeared in Going for the Gold!, where they were among the Pokémon seen in the Ambrette Aquarium. Seeing these Piplup reminded Ash of Dawn’s, since her Piplup was “something else”.

24. A Piplup appeared in Pikachu and the Pokémon Music Squad. It was among the Pokémon residing in a forest.

25. A Piplup appeared in Volcanion and the Mechanical Marvel.