Countdown Timer
The Countdown Timer (originally just Timer) is a feature in Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island, Yoshi's Island: Super Mario Advance 3, Yoshi's Island DS, and Yoshi's New Island. This feature is first explained in the "Welcome To Yoshi's Island" level. If a Yoshi takes damage, Baby Mario (or any other baby in Yoshi's Island DS) flies away in a bubble and starts crying, and the countdown begins, indicating how long the star powers can protect them. The timer turns from white to red when it falls below ten (In Yoshi's Island DS, the timer turns yellow below 10 seconds, and red in the last 3 seconds.). If the Countdown Timer reaches zero, a few Toadies come and steal Baby Mario (or whichever baby is riding on the Yoshi's back in Yoshi's Island DS).
The countdown will stop when the Yoshi retrieves the baby, and the Countdown Timer will slowly restore to ten seconds. However, if the Yoshi recovers the baby while the Countdown Timer is above ten seconds, no increase is awarded. Stars add one more second to the timer, and Middle Rings add ten more seconds. One obstacle that gives Yoshi stars is the Tulip; as when a spit up enemy enters it, the Tulip will toss out eight stars and Yoshi can add eight more seconds. The Countdown Timer can take a maximum up to 30 seconds. The Countdown Timer also plays a part in determining the score for completing a level, with a point awarded for each second left on the timer. If there are already 30 seconds, Winged Clouds (which originally hold stars), will hold 5 coins (as opposed to five stars); but none will be Red Coins.
In Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island and Yoshi's Island: Super Mario Advance 3, in addition to collecting individual Stars to increase the timer, the Yoshis can use items called 10-Point Stars (which adds ten more seconds when used) and 20-Point Stars (which adds twenty more seconds when used).
