Pikmin are a species of fictional creatures from the video game series Pikmin . The Pikmin are approximately one inch tall. They eat nectar (which matures them into flower Pikmin) and breathe oxygen.

During his journey, Captain Olimar finds these indigenous creatures in their dwellings, which are called Onions. Pikmin have 3 stages of growth: leaf, bud and flower, in order of strength, endurance, and speed. The battle-hardened Pikmin or those left in the ground as seeds will gradually mature, but this process can be accelerated by letting them suck up nectar found throughout the planet. Pikmin are half-plant, half-animal. Both games feature rather lengthy descriptions of Olimar's discoveries regarding them, sometimes in slightly humorous pseudo-scientific style.

Olimar uses the Pikmin to defeat enemies, carry objects such as parts for the spaceship, pellets or treasure, demolishing walls, pushing large boxes, and constructing various objects to get around easier.

Pikmins' natural enemy are the bulborbs.

The number of Pikmin in the field cannot exceed 100.

Original Pikmin

In the first game, the Pikmin come in red, blue, and yellow, and have their own advantages and weaknesses. These Pikmin are bred by placing nutritious food pellets or slain animals in the beam of the Pikmin Onion, which will result in the Onion to produce more Pikmin seeds.

Red Pikmin

Red Pikmin are fire-resistant and are the strongest fighters. They can defeat various fire-breathing creatures, as well as 'natural' flamethrowers. Other Pikmin burn when they touch fire.

Yellow Pikmin

Yellow Pikmin are the lightest Pikmin. They can be thrown up twice as high than the others. In the first game they are able to carry bomb rocks. The second game has no bomb rocks, instead, the yellow Pikmin are resistant to electricity, which will electrocute any other Pikmin.

Blue Pikmin

Blue Pikmin are able to cross bodies of water. The other Pikmin, when venturing into water, will panic and drown if they are not rescued in time. The blue Pikmin can act as lifeguards by grabbing and throwing them out of the water.

New species in Pikmin 2

In Pikmin 2, new species of Pikmin are introduced - purple Pikmin and white Pikmin, who do not have Onions of their own. They are stored inside Olimar's ship and are bred differently. To breed them, other colors of Pikmin are thrown into a "candypop bud" of the right color (purple or white) to let it produce these new Pikmin seeds. They are only found underground.

Purple Pikmin

Purple Pikmin are 10 times as strong as the others. When thrown, they cause a thud, stunning enemys nearby and in some cases even squishing it. A purple Pikmin counts as 10 regular Pikmin, yet takes only the space of a single one on the field. They are the strongest and the slowest of the Pikmin.

White Pikmin

White Pikmin are immune to poison, and when eaten by an enemy, can poison their devourer as a revenge after death. Various obstacles bellow out foul clouds of purple smoke, and white Pikmin are the only ones that can safely approach and destroy them. Additionally, they can uncover buried treasures. They are the fastest and the weakest of the Pikmin. They look albino due to there small stature, red eyes and white bodies.

Bulbmin

Bulbmin are dungeon-only creatures found in caves. The 'mother' Bulbmin must be killed before its children will follow Captain Olimar. They cannot leave the cave, but can be transformed via multi-colored flowers (Candypop Buds). They are immune to fire, water, electricity, and poison.