Startle Spore

The Startle Spore is an enemy introduced in. It has a similar appearance to the Creeping Chrysanthemum, but it mimics red mushrooms instead of flowers. It hides as a cluster of said mushrooms, with its eyes being the only thing differentiating it from the true mushrooms. When a leader, Oatchi, or Pikmin come near, it hops up and attempts to attack them with its long, poison spewing tongue.

Behavior
Startle Spores will hide partially underground, mimicking mushrooms in the nearby area. Occasionally, if observed long enough, it will open its eyes to look around. Much like the Skitter leaf and the Desiccated Skitter Leaf, it can't be spotted on the Map while it's burrowed underground. When something gets close, its eyestalks will turn to look at its target, while a dramatic sound plays to note it's awakening. It will hop out of the ground, knocking down Pikmin, Captains, and Oatchi too close to it. Almost immediately, it will launch out its tongue to eat Pikmin, leaving a splatter of poison on where it landed, which can only be traversed safely by White Pikmin or Oatchi when he has the Sniff Saver. It will eat any Pikmin who get stuck on its tongue, but it will hit itself with said tongue and be stunned for a bit if it catches no Pikmin (however, this will still release poison). It can also catch the player, but will regurgitate them instantly. It shakes off Pikmin by inflating its cheeks and throat when too many have begun to attack it. When its prey is close, it will take chase, but it will re-enter hiding if its prey strays far away, returning to its original spot.

Strategy
Use the same strategy as the Creeping Chrysanthemum but be weary of the pools of Poison it spews.

Trivia

 * The Startle Spore, much like the Creeping Chrysanthemum, shares a genus name with the Dandelion even though they are in separate families; in real life, this is impossible, as different species cannot be in the same genus and different families. This is likely a mistake.