The Electric Sheep Pokemon

The wool of a Mareep is one of the most valuable across all regions, many generations of farmers have made a comfortable lifestyle farming them. Their wool is not only water proof but retains a static charge from contact with the air that keeps the wearer warm, although people have noted getting slight shocks when they come in contact to metal. But after a few washes it loses this electric charge while still retaining its warmth.

They are natural herd animals, using the charge of its wool to produce a strong light at the end of its tail to communicate with others. The bulb at the end resembles a cyst with a strong thick skin; the electrical charge builds up and produces a strong light that can be seen for up to 100 metres. It was thought that this was a high risk as it attracted predators to their location. While this is true it attracts predators to the tail end of Mareep giving it a chance to use the tail as a very effective club before running away. In large groups they can cause large electric shocks and so predators tend to only go for the individuals that stray.

As they grow they place more and more energy into these bulbs which begin to grow all over the body, replacing the wool. The body by now is able to metabolically produce electricity without the aid of the wool. The weight of the bulbs on the tail began to weight it down, enabling it to walk on its hind legs. With its front legs free it can use the hooves to attack predators that attack as well as discharge electricity. It becomes known more commonly as Flaaffy.

Eventually the wool sheds completely, leaving a fine course hair that covers the body, although after years of electrical build up many Ampharos lose their hair completely. They are kept warm by the constant flow of electricity in their bodies which builds up to such an extent that bulbs begin appearing all over the body. These constant trickles of light give the body a strong yellow glow which is most prominent in healthy individuals. The light they can produce has been known to blind predators and trainers who choose to peruse them in the wild. But trainers who have raised them since they were young describe them as highly intelligent creatures, very useful for giving light at night time or within caves. They are a common Pokemon where there are high levels of Sea or Air traffic, as their lights can be seen for miles and use no electricity and produce no green house gasses.

NOTE: Sorry for the small preview of just Mareep's face, unfortunately the new DA would not let me upload this without a separate preview and the original image was too big.... *grrrr*