Bearded Amprat

The Bearded Amprat is a rodent-like enemy in  and. It attacks Pikmin by generating electricity, stunning all Pikmin attacking it (except Yellow Pikmin), and then eating them. It resembles a small white guinea pig with large brown spots on its face and back. Its head is rounded with small eyes in the front and no apparent ears. As its name implies, its face is draped in large amounts of long, straight hair which gives their face a slight resemblance to a skull. It has four small, mouse-like feet which it uses to move around and to grab prey. Unlike the rest of its body, the feet are green with brown tips on the toes, which lack claws. Its body ends in a few small brown spots and a skinny, mouse-like tail.

Behavior
Normally, the creature passively walks around its territory. When Pikmin or a leader come close, however, it will begin to rapidly rub its beard, generating electricity, which causes its hair to flare up and reveal its true face as it charges to try and grab Pikmin and eat them. This hair spikes up when they are attacked and electricity will begin to pulse through their entire body to harm all non-Yellow Pikmin. After a short period of being on the attack, or after the player leaves the creature alone, the Amprat will return to its neutral, harmless state of wandering around.

Strategy
Due to their electricity, in any case, the Bearded Amprat is best fought with Yellow Pikmin. Whether electricity is flowing through one's body or not, Yellows can be thrown onto the body to deal safe damage. However, the creature, when flared up, can still shake the Pikmin off and eat a few at a time, so you must stay alert and whistle them back before this happens. The leaders should keep a good distance from the Amprat while fighting because if a leader is struck, if you have not acquired the space suit upgrades, they will be forced back and immobilized briefly. This leaves the Pikmin vulnerable to any enemies in the area.

Red Pikmin and Rock Pikmin may also be used to defeat the Amprat efficiently, but with a greater risk. While the creature is roaming about, swarm it with at least 12 Red and Rock Pikmin to defeat it before it can react. If the creature does manage to charge up its electrical attack, then you should immediately call back all Pikmin, and move a considerable distance from it, or use nearby plants to hide in. The Amprat should calm down quickly, providing a second chance to attack and defeat it.

Trivia

 * The Bearded Amprat is one of the few creatures in the Pikmin universe that seems to retain some traits from modern-day mammals, which is noted by Olimar's log entry as being unusual.
 * The Bearded Amprat is the only enemy that displays a visible anus, though the mouth of the Sandbelching Meerslug technically serves the same purpose.
 * The Bearded Amprat's name is based on an "ampere", which is a unit of electric current.