Yoshi (species)

This article is about the Yoshi species. For Yoshi as a character, see Yoshi. For other uses, see Yoshi (disambiguation).

Yoshi
Artwork from Yoshi's New Island
First appearance	Super Mario World (1990)
Latest appearance	The Super Mario Bros. Movie (2023)
Latest portrayal	Kazumi Totaka (1997–present)
Subject origin	Dinosaur
Variants Baby Yoshi
Relatives Bahamutt Dorrie Koopa Plessie Rex
Comparable Birdo Fake Yoshi
Notable members Boshi Mini-Yoshi Village Leader Yoob Yoshi

Template:Quote2 Yoshis (referred to as Yoshisaurs in the Super Mario World cartoon, and alternatively pluralized as "Yoshies" in the SNES version of Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island) are a sapient species of omnivorous dinosaur-like creatures that first appeared in Super Mario World. They later starred in their own series of games. The most well-known Yoshi is simply named Yoshi and is an ally of Mario, often aiding Mario or being a protagonist of his own adventures.

Yoshis lay eggs on their own or after eating enemies or fruits, and they can throw said eggs; other eggs hatch into items, and some eggs hatch into Baby Yoshis. In some games, such as the Super Smash Bros. series, Yoshis can hide in eggs for defense (instead of using shields as with most fighters) and roll into eggs for an attack. Yoshis come in a variety of colors, such as red, blue, yellow, etc., although green is the most common color. Yoshis also mostly live on Yoshi's Island; however, they are a widespread species and can live on a number of other islands, such as Lavalava Island and Isle Delfino, as well as the continental Mushroom Kingdom and the neighboring Beanbean Kingdom.

History

Super Mario series

Super Mario World

Mario and three colors of Yoshis in Star World

The four colors of Yoshis and Mini-Yoshis at the end of Super Mario World

In Super Mario World, Bowser invades Dinosaur Land, and with his Koopalings, trap a number of Yoshis in enchanted eggs, and steal seven unhatched Yoshi Eggs, who then have to be rescued by Mario and Luigi. This is also how the brothers meet Yoshi, whom they befriend very early in the game.

In addition to Green Yoshis, Red, Blue, and Yellow Yoshis can be found in Star World, exclusively found as Mini-Yoshis, which can grow into adult Yoshis if they eat enough enemies or fruits. However, Blue Yoshis can be obtained elsewhere if a player grabs the Yoshi's Wings power-up while riding any colored Yoshi in a level in the SNES version. Eating Koopa shells gives Yoshis different abilities: when eating a Red Shell, Yoshis spit out three fireballs, when eating a Yellow Shell, Yoshis can create sand clouds each time they land on the ground, and when eating a Blue Shell, Yoshis grow wings which allow them to fly. When they hold any shell in their mouths, Red, Blue, and Yellow Yoshis always experience the abilities of Red, Blue and Yellow Shells respectively, in addition to that shell's specific ability if it is of a different color than the Yoshi. Flashing Shells grant all three abilities, while Green Shells yield no extra abilities, and can merely be spat out as a projectile. If a Yoshi holds a shell in its mouth for too long, it swallows it. Yoshis can also eat other enemies, as well as berries that grow on bushes in certain areas; eating ten red berries causes a Yoshi to lay an egg that hatches into a Super Mushroom, two pink berries will release a Yoshi Cloud, and eating any number of green berries extends the Time Limit.

If a Yoshi gets hurt by an enemy, it will drop Mario and run around in a panic until Mario jumps back on its saddle.

Super Mario Sunshine

Mario riding on a Green Yoshi

An Orange Yoshi in Hotel Delfino in Super Mario Sunshine.

Yoshis reappear in Super Mario Sunshine, being able to be ridden by Mario to help him collect Shine Sprites. To get a Yoshi, Mario must first find a Yoshi egg and give it the specific fruit it wants, the Yoshi will then hatch and Mario can ride on it. Depending on the fruit it has eaten, the Yoshi will be one of three colors: orange (if fed a papaya or a pineapple), pink (if fed bananas or a coconut), or purple (if fed a durian or pepper). Even after hatching, a Yoshi can still change colors by eating fruits of a different type. Each color will give a Yoshi the ability to spit juice of the same color (which replaces FLUDD's water tank) that affects enemies by turning them into various types of platforms. The orange juice turns enemies into orange stationary platforms, the pink juice turns them into pink ascending platforms, and the purple juice turns them into purple forward-moving platforms. All three types of platforms disappear after a short amount of time. Unlike FLUDD, Yoshis can also destroy Orange Juice Generators. Yoshis are unlocked by beating Episode 4 of Pinna Park, afterwards Shadow Mario will appear in Delfino Plaza carrying a Yoshi egg.

A Yoshi's juice meter depletes as the Yoshi sprays it, and will drain over time as well; the juice meter can be fully replenished by having the Yoshi eat any fruit, changing the Yoshi's color and the juice's properties depending on the fruit. If a Yoshi runs out of juice, it will turn green and begin to flicker for a few seconds before vanishing altogether; during this time, it can only spit water instead of juice. Landing in sufficiently deep water makes the Yoshi disappear immediately, as they cannot swim in this game.

Super Mario 64 DS

Yoshi, Red Yoshi, and Blue Yoshi in the Castle Grounds in VS Mode.

While Yoshi himself is playable in the main story for Super Mario 64 DS, up to three additional Yoshis are playable in the game's multiplayer mode. The first player (the host) plays as Yoshi, the second player plays as a Red Yoshi, the third player plays as a Blue Yoshi, and the fourth player plays as a Yellow Yoshi. Each Yoshi has the same abilities and can pick up caps of Mario, Luigi, and Wario to use the abilities of those characters. It is also possible for a Yoshi to eat another Yoshi and spit them out, but the same cannot be done on a Yoshi with a cap. When a Yoshi gets wings, it grows wings out of its body, like in Super Mario World.

Additionally, a Light Blue Yoshi appears in the minigame Tox Box Shuffle, alongside Yoshi himself after enough rounds have passed.

New Super Mario Bros.

Yoshi and Red Yoshi in the Snowball Slam minigame

Yoshi, along with Red, Yellow, and Blue Yoshis, appear in the Snowball Slam and Balloon Racing minigames in New Super Mario Bros. In both minigames, player one controls Red Yoshi, player two controls Yoshi, player three controls Yellow Yoshi, and player four controls Blue Yoshi. In the Balloon Racing minigame, both Red and Yellow Yoshi's are colored slightly differently, with their head spines and saddles both matching their shoe color.

New Super Mario Bros. Wii

Three of the Yoshis found in New Super Mario Bros. Wii.

Green Yoshis, along with Yellow, Light Blue, and Pink Yoshis appear in New Super Mario Bros. Wii, where they can help the Mario Bros. and the two Toads. Red and Blue Yoshis were originally going to appear in New Super Mario Bros. Wii, but they were replaced by the Pink and Light Blue Yoshis in the final game.

In this game, Yoshis only appear in World 1-3, World 2-5, World 3-2, World 4-5, World 6-4, and World 7-6, they also appear in World Coin-5 of the Coin Battle mode.

Yellow Toad riding a flutter-jumping Light Blue Yoshi

Yoshis can Flutter Jump and stomp enemies that Mario and the others cannot normally defeat with jumps. Like in Super Mario World, their main ability is eating enemies and fruits, but they cannot swallow shelled enemies, and the shells do not give Yoshis any special abilities. Instead, swallowing a Venus Fire Trap gives a Yoshi the ability to spit a fireball, they can also spit fireballs from a Venus Fire Trap or a player, iceballs thrown by an Ice Bro, and hammers thrown by a Hammer Bro. Eating five fruits and leaf-covered Pokeys causes Yoshis to lay eggs that hatch into power-ups for the players to collect. When hurt, the Yoshi drops off its rider and runs around in panic until someone jumps back on its saddle. Unlike in Super Mario World, Yoshis cannot be taken out of the levels in which they are found.

New Super Mario Bros. U

Mario riding on a Green Yoshi in New Super Mario Bros. U

In New Super Mario Bros. U, only Green Yoshis appear, though they behave identically to the ones in New Super Mario Bros. Wii. Up to four Green Yoshis can appear in multiplayer.

The three Baby Yoshis: Bubble Baby Yoshi, Balloon Baby Yoshi, and Glowing Baby Yoshi

Baby Yoshis also appear on the world map and certain levels and have different colors with special abilities. Bubble Baby Yoshis spit out bubbles that trap enemies when the player shakes their Wii Remote. Balloon Baby Yoshis inflate like a balloon when the Wii Remote is shaken. Glowing Baby Yoshis can illuminate the dark and stun enemies when the Wii Remote is shaken. Baby Yoshis are also vital in a Toad House minigame. A new meter appears when Yoshi eats fruits, which shows how many fruits Yoshi has eaten, effectively replacing the number system. Yoshis also appear in New Super Luigi U with the same role and purpose.

Adult Yoshis and Glowing Baby Yoshis cannot be taken out of levels, but Bubble and Balloon Baby Yoshis can.

Super Mario Run

A variety of colored Yoshis appear in Super Mario Run's second update as playable characters along with Mario, Luigi, Peach, Toad, Toadette, and Daisy. They have the special ability of obtaining more Toads of their own color in Toad Rally. Blue Yoshi is the only Yoshi available to unlock if players do not have the full version of this game.

Character	Image	Unlock criteria
Blue Yoshi		Recruit 50 Red Toads and 50 Blue Toads through Toad Rally to unlock Blue Yoshi's House, which costs 800 coins to be built.
Yoshi		Recruit 30 Red Toads and 30 Yellow Toads through Toad Rally to unlock Yoshi's House, which costs 1000 coins to be built.
Purple Yoshi		Recruit 150 Blue Toads, 150 Green Toads, and 100 Purple Toads through Toad Rally to unlock Purple Yoshi's House, which costs 3000 coins to be built.
Yellow Yoshi		Recruit 300 Blue Toads, 300 Green Toads, and 200 Purple Toads through Toad Rally to unlock Yellow Yoshi's House, which costs 5000 coins to be built.
Red Yoshi		Recruit 1000 Yellow Toads and 9999 total Toads through Toad Rally to unlock Red Yoshi's House, which costs 50000 coins to be built.

Super Mario Maker / Super Mario Maker for Nintendo 3DS

Yoshis return in Super Mario Maker and Super Mario Maker for Nintendo 3DS, appearing in both the Super Mario World and New Super Mario Bros. U styles, where they retain their functions in each style. They are replaced by the Goomba's Shoe in the Super Mario Bros. and Super Mario Bros. 3 styles. In addition, Yoshi (and yarn forms) appears as an unlockable Mystery Mushroom costume in the original game, which can be unlocked either at random upon completion of the 100-Mario Challenge, or by scanning a compatible Yoshi amiibo. The standard Yoshi costume replaces the usual Super Mario Bros. sound effects with sounds from Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island while Yarn Yoshis use sound effects from Yoshi's Woolly World.

Super Mario Maker 2

Fire Mario riding a Red Yoshi spitting fireballs in a wallpaper for Super Mario Maker 2

Yoshis appear in Super Mario Maker 2 with the same appearance and functionality as in Super Mario Maker. Red Yoshis are available as a course element created by applying the Super Mushroom modifier to Yoshi's Egg to create a big red Yoshi's Egg. Rather than using their tongue, they spit fireballs, and if Mario is Fire Mario, Red Yoshi will spit three fireballs at once like in Super Mario World.

Super Mario Adventures

Mutiple Yoshis living in Yoshi Village

In Nintendo Power's Super Mario Adventures comics, which is based on the Super Mario World video game, Bowser kidnaps various Yoshis from the Yoshi Village, and their leader, Yoshi himself, has to team up with Mario and Luigi to save them and Princess Peach. They later are able to free the Yoshis and have them stampede the wedding between Bowser and the brainwashed Peach, rescuing the princess. Bowser tries to hide in the giant wedding cake, but the Yoshis eat it, forcing him to accept defeat and leave Dinosaur Land.

Their language is shown to consist of nothing but the word "Yoshi", making Yoshis unintelligible to Mario and Luigi.

Club Nintendo

Yoshi appeared in various issues of the Nintendo-based German Club Nintendo comics. Other Yoshis also appeared in a few issues:

• Super Mario: Mario im Wunderland: In this comic, Mario meets a Yoshi who wants darker skin, and is later turned into a Black Yoshi by the Crab wizard.
• Super Mario: Verloren in der Zeit: Mario gets sent back to the Stone Age in this 16-page comic, where he encounters a Yoshi as well as dinosaurs and cave men. The Yoshi is wearing a hat reading "taxi" and offers his services to Mario, but he declines.
• Auf der Suche nach dem Glück!: In this comic, Kamek sucks all of the color out of Yoshi's Island. But six gray Yoshi eggs hatch six colorful baby Yoshis. The Yoshis soon see that something is wrong with the world around them when a colorful Lakitu flies over to them and tells them the predicament that they are in. The Yoshis then go to town and start eating all of the fruit in the market. After that, the color starts returning. They are soon on a talk show that Baby Bowser is watching which makes Baby Bowser furious, so he and Kamek go out to find the Yoshis. Meanwhile the Yoshi finish the talk show and start a band concert about fruit. Baby Bowser and Kamek soon interrupt their concert and trap them in a force field. The people in the stands then start throwing fruit at the Yoshis, which the Yoshis eat and use to break out of the force field. Baby Bowser and Kamek attempt to fly away, but Baby Bowser falls off and lands in a cannon. A clown then blasts the cannon and shoots Baby Bowser into the sky, ending the comic.

A Green and Yellow Yoshi swimming away from a shark (which turns out to be a Black Yoshi) Translation: That wants to have us for breakfast!

• Die Nacht der leuchtenden Yoshis!: This comic is the second part of the comic above. The Yoshis are at the beach, when a shark appears in the water. Everyone runs away except a Green and Yellow Yoshi who are still swimming. When they notice the shark, they panic and try to swim away, but end up needing to be saved by a lifeguard. After they are all out of the water, the shark turns out to be a Black Yoshi. When the Yoshis see him, they think he has dirt all over him because they have never seen a Black Yoshi before. So thinking they are cleaning him, they wash him. He turns out still black when he tells them this is his skin. They all reject and leave him and he stands in the same spot until night falls. The Yoshis then camp out as soon as night falls. Meanwhile, hiding in a bush, Baby Bowser and Kamek plan the Yoshis' capture, waiting until they are asleep before raiding the campsite with an army of Shy Guys. Then, out of nowhere, both Kamek and Baby Bowser are struck by Yoshi eggs. They then get angry and ask who did threw them, only to have dozens and dozens of eggs rain down and chase them away. It turns out that the Black Yoshi is the one who threw the eggs. He then unties the Yoshis and tells them his story. It turns out that he is the same Yoshi from Super Mario: Mario im Wunderland who was turned black by the wizard. It turns out that after he was turned black, his life got harder: he was not allowed into movies, he was yelled at, and he was chased by a chef who wanted to make a meatball out of him. The Yoshis finally accept the Black Yoshi as a friend, and they all have a good rest of the night.
• Das Lied der Yoshi's!: This short 1-page comic is the third part of the above comics. It pictures the Yoshis continuing their life and doing many different things. The last part of the comic shows all of the Yoshis singing together.

Yoshi franchise

Yoshi

In the first game of the Yoshi franchise, Mario has to arrange egg halves and enemies to produce Small, Tall, Winged, and Star Yoshis. To get a Small Yoshi, Mario must combine two halves of a Yoshi egg. To get a Tall Yoshi, Mario must have one to four enemies in between the two halves of an egg. To get a Winged Yoshi, Mario must have five or six enemies in between the two halves of an egg. To get a Star Yoshi, Mario must have seven enemies in between the two halves of an egg. If a Small Yoshi hatches, 50 points are awarded. If a Tall Yoshi hatches, 100-250 points are awarded. If a Winged Yoshi hatches, 300-350 points are awarded. If a Star Yoshi hatches, 500 points are awarded.

Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island / Yoshi's Island: Super Mario Advance 3

The Yoshis with Baby Mario.

In Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island, Baby Bowser's caretaker, Kamek, predicts that two babies born that morning will spell disaster for the Koopas and attempts to steal them from the stork, who is carrying the babies to their parents. However, he only manages to snag Baby Luigi, while Baby Mario falls to Yoshi's Island and lands unharmed on Yoshi's back.

The infant causes some brief panic among the Yoshis, until Yoshi takes charge and decides to help reunite Mario and Luigi and send them to their parents. The other Yoshis agree to help him transport Baby Mario across Yoshi's Island to Bowser's Castle through use of a relay system. Each Yoshi carries the baby for one level in each world, before passing him on to the next Yoshi in line. Yoshis can eat enemies, turning them into eggs which they can then throw at other enemies and obstacles. Yoshis can also use the Flutter Jump ability, allowing them to prolong their descend and stay airborne temporarily. Yoshis can also transform themselves into various vehicles through the use of morph bubbles, which helps them progress through the island. Later in the game, Yoshi defeats Baby Bowser and forces Kamek to retreat, allowing him to rescue Baby Luigi and free the stork. The Yoshis then let the stork send Baby Mario and Baby Luigi to their parents.

Tetris Attack

The title screen of Tetris Attack.

In Tetris Attack, Bowser curses Yoshi's friends, including a baby Yoshi, forcing him to battle them to break their spell. Baby Yoshis of various colors also appear in the title screen.

Yoshi's Story

All of the Baby Yoshis in Yoshi's Story.

In Yoshi's Story, Baby Bowser steals the Super Happy Tree, the source of the island's happiness, and transforms it into a storybook. He curses the Yoshis, making them unable to stop him. However, the curse does not affect six Baby Yoshis in their eggs. When they hatch, the six Baby Yoshis go to find the Super Happy Tree to refill the island's happiness.

More and more worlds become available to the Yoshis as their happiness levels increase by eating fruit. Later on, the Baby Yoshis reach Baby Bowser's Castle where they defeat Baby Bowser and reclaim the Super Happy Tree.

The color of Yoshi used determines their favorite fruits; Green Yoshi favors watermelons, Yellow Yoshi favors bananas, Red Yoshi and Pink Yoshi favor apples and Blue Yoshi and Light Blue Yoshi favor grapes. Both Black Yoshi and White Yoshi favor all fruits equally (barring the Lucky Fruit chosen before a playthrough) while all Yoshi colors favor melons. Additionally, both Black and White Yoshis have faster horizontal flutter jump movement than the other Yoshis can while they are Super Happy.

Each Yoshi also has a different pitch to their voices; Green and Yellow retain a normal pitch, Red and Pink are slightly higher and White Yoshi has the highest pitch, while Blue and Light Blue are slightly lower, and Black Yoshi has the lowest pitched voice. This is not present in the Japanese version of the game.

Brown and Purple Yoshis were originally going to appear in this game, but they were scrapped.

Yoshi Touch & Go

In Yoshi Touch & Go, the Yoshis have to transport Baby Mario to the stork after Kamek kidnaps Baby Luigi and causes the bird to drop Baby Mario. The color of the Yoshi varies depending on how many coins the player collects while guiding Baby Mario down to the ground. The amount of eggs a Yoshi can carry varies depending on their color: Green Yoshi has 20 eggs, Light Blue Yoshi has 25 eggs, Pink Yoshi has 30 eggs, Blue Yoshi has 35 eggs, Yellow Yoshi has 40 eggs, Red Yoshi has 45 eggs, Black, Orange, and Purple Yoshi have 50 eggs, and White Yoshi has unlimited eggs. In marathon, a Yoshi's own color changes after every 1,000 yards.

Yoshi's Island DS

Yoshis carrying babies in Yoshi's Island DS

In Yoshi's Island DS, Bowser and Kamek travel back in time to kidnap seven star children in order to use the energy within their bodies to let Bowser take over the world. Without knowing the identity of the children, they plan to steal every single infant in the Mushroom World, but one way or another, the babies escape their grasps. Baby Luigi is successfully captured, but manages to avoid detection for the duration of his time at the castle, and all the other children escape or are cast out by the villains, and help the Yoshis save the rest of the babies.

In the final battle, Yoshi and three others fight Bowser, carrying Baby Mario, Baby Peach, Baby Donkey Kong and Baby Wario, as Baby Bowser turns traitor when they reach Bowser's Castle. After their defeat, the Koopas return to the future and the babies are brought home by the storks.

A Green Baby Yoshi hatching from its egg

A Green Baby Yoshi is shown hatching in the end credits for the game, and is revealed to be the seventh star child.

Yoshi's New Island

Yoshi's New Island takes place directly after Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island, revealing that the stork delivered the babies to the wrong house in the previous game. Kamek then attacks and steals Baby Luigi and the stork, but Baby Mario falls onto Egg Island, another home of the Yoshis. Baby Mario is then found by the Yoshis, who help reunite him with his brother and save the island from Baby Bowser. During the final boss fight, after Baby Bowser is defeated, adult Bowser travels back in time and must be defeated so that Yoshi can rescue Baby Luigi and the stork.

Gameplay is similar to the original Yoshi's Island, with some new features. Yoshi can now eat Mega Guys and Metal Guys to lay Mega Eggdozers and Metal Eggdozers, respectively. The latter prevents Yoshi from flutter-jumping, but allows him to go undersea. New vehicle transformations also exist, such as Hot-Air Balloon Yoshi, Bobsled Yoshi, and Mine-Cart Yoshi. The Yoshi Star is also a new item that transforms Yoshi into Super Yoshi. Gold Yoshi Stars allow him to run on walls, while Red Yoshi Stars allow Yoshi to fly horizontally like a rocket.

Yoshi's Woolly World / Poochy & Yoshi's Woolly World

In Yoshi's Woolly World and Poochy & Yoshi's Woolly World, Kamek turns all Yoshis into Wonder Wools, except for Green and Red Yoshi, who hide from the events. The two set out to restore Craft Island to its former appearance. The gameplay is mostly the same as in the other Yoshi games, though instead of laying eggs, Yoshi will lay yarn balls, which act like Yoshi's Eggs. In addition to 10 basic colored Yoshis, there are 58 that have specific design patterns.

Yoshi's Crafted World

In Yoshi's Crafted World, the 8 Yoshis (green, pink, red, orange, yellow, cyan, blue and purple) work together to gather the pieces of the shattered Sundream Stone after they destroyed it in a fight with Kamek and Baby Bowser. The Yoshis here are similar in terms of abilities to the ones in Yoshi's Woolly World, though they can also flip between 2D and 3D perspectives as well as throw eggs at items in the background and foreground.

Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars

In Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars Mario and his partners visit Yo'ster Isle, where Yoshis race each other in a competition known as the Mushroom Derby.

Boshi, a Yoshi in Super Mario RPG.

The last winner of the derby is a Yoshi named Boshi who proceeds to name himself leader of Yo'ster Isle and suspends the races. Instead, only one-on-one races between himself and slower Yoshis are allowed, with Yoshi Cookies as the prize. When Mario arrives, he helps Yoshi defeat Boshi in a race, prompting the Yoshis to try and appoint Yoshi as their new leader. Yoshi declines the offer, however, and instead re-opens the Mushroom Derby to everyone, with no Yoshi in charge.

During the game, Yoshi also serves as a translator between Mario and the Yoshis, who speak their own language.

A pudgy Baby Yoshi, named Baby Fat, appears as a inhabitant of the isle that hatches after Mario defeats Bundt in Marrymore. It can be fed Yoshi Cookies, and if fed 30 of them, he will become fat. If fed more Yoshi Cookies afterwards, he may give out items by hatching them out of eggs for Mario to collect.

Super Smash Bros. series

All of Yoshi's color schemes in Super Smash Bros. Melee

Green, Red, Pink, and Yellow Yoshi in the thumbnail of Event 11 from Super Smash Bros. Brawl

While Yoshi himself appears as a playable character throughout the Super Smash Bros. series, he also has alternate color schemes to reference other members of his species: Red, Blue, Yellow, Pink, Light Blue, Purple, and Black. Some stages and events involve fighting multiple Yoshis. In Super Smash Bros., Yoshi only has three alternate colors alongside his default green color scheme: Red, Light Blue, and Yellow. The first six Yoshi colors are used in the computer-controlled Yoshi team battled during the 1-Player mode, and they all become playable in Super Smash Bros. Melee and onward. Yoshis also make a small appearance in the opening of Super Smash Bros. Melee during a stampede, and as stickers in Super Smash Bros. Brawl. Yoshi gained Purple and Black Yoshi color schemes in Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS / Wii U, although Super Smash Bros. Ultimate replaced his Black Yoshi color scheme with a costume based on the Green Yoshi's appearance in Yoshi's Crafted World. Yoshis also appear during Yoshi's Final Smash in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, Stampede!, which is based on the Super Smash Bros. Melee opening.

Paper Mario series

Paper Mario

The Yoshis living in Yoshi's Village.

Mario and his partners visit Yoshi's Village on Lavalava Island in Paper Mario. They are there looking for a Star Spirit that Bowser has trapped in a playing card and given to a minion to guard within the island's volcano, but they find they cannot get into the mountain on their own. The Yoshi Village Leader says he will help Mario and the others if they help round up five missing Yoshi Kids. With the help of their Cheep Cheep babysitter, Sushie, Mario and co. soon find the young Yoshis and can continue on with their quest.

Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door

Mini-Yoshi in Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door can hatch into one of seven colors.

A Green Yoshi in Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door.

When Mario and his current set of partners visit Glitzville in Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door, they soon find themselves with custody of a Yoshi's Egg, after its initial owner, Mr. Hoggle, decides against cooking and serving it once he realizes it could move on its own accord. For a while, the egg follows Mario and his partners. Then, after the match with the Armored Harriers, Mario returns to find that the egg has hatched into a Baby Yoshi, called Mini-Yoshi, the color of whom varies depending on how much time has passed between Mario's acquisition of the egg and its hatching. Mario names the Yoshi, who then travels with him and the other partners for the remainder of the game, before becoming a fighter in the Glitz Pit after the quest is over.

One of Mini-Yoshi's attacks involves summoning a stampede of Green Yoshis to trample the enemy, and another Green Yoshi businessman can be found on the Excess Express.

Paper Mario: Color Splash

“Listen here, dino-dragon things! It's not OK to go around eating people whole. I mean, you don't even know where Mario has been! I'd go brush my teeth if I were you.”

—Huey, Paper Mario: Color Splash

The Yoshis in Paper Mario: Color Splash.

For the first time in the Mario franchise, nonspecific Yoshis appear as enemies in Paper Mario: Color Splash, even though they cannot be targeted or defeated. They are found in the Emerald Circus. When Mario first arrives, the Yoshis are locked in a cage around the corner of the main entrance. If Mario attempts to open the cage, one of the Yoshis will swallow him and spit him out, dealing 5 points of damage to him. After Lemmy flees from the stage, the Yoshis escape from the cage. During the battle on the stage, they will randomly appear out of a curtain to try to eat Mario. Mario has to block their tongues, or they will waste his next card. The Yoshi will then run back into the curtain. Yoshi also appears in the Dark Bloo Inn, albeit invisible at first. If Mario tries to mount him, he runs off to the Emerald Circus, where Mario can talk to him once the Yoshis escape from their cage. A picture at Tangerino Grill appears to be the silhouette of a Toad riding a Yoshi.

Paper Mario: The Origami King

Although Yoshis do not appear in Paper Mario: The Origami King, the specifications of the Boot Car mention that it outputs 150 Yoshis, equivalent to the real-life horsepower for motor vehicles.

Mario & Luigi series

Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga / Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga + Bowser's Minions

A Green Yoshi watching a movie at the Yoshi Theater.

The Yoshis in Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga and Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga + Bowser's Minions.

In Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga and its remake, Yoshis are shown living in the Beanbean Kingdom. They are found at the Yoshi Theater and Mario and Luigi must find Bean Fruit for seven hungry Yoshis to earn Neon Eggs and ultimately obtain a Beanstar piece. They can be seen in the credits in Yoshi Theater watching the events of the game at the conclusion of the end credits; the remake instead shows a similar scene during a pre-intro cutscene. Regardless of their color, the Yoshis in the original GBA version all have orange or yellow shoes. In the 3DS remake, the Yoshis have their normal shoes, depending on their skin color.

Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time

Yoob and Yoshi in Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time.

The Yoshis in Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time.

In Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time, the Shroobs drop a Giant Egg on Yoshi's Island. It then becomes a tourist attraction, but later hatches into a Yoshi-like creature known as Yoob, which proceeds to eat every Yoshi with its tongue. A factory in its belly then encases the eaten Yoshis in eggs, so that they will also hatch as Yoobs. The plan is stopped by Yoshi, who is aided by Baby Mario, Baby Luigi, and their adult counterparts, who had both traveled back in time to save Peach and stop the Shroobs. Yoshi discovers a way to escape through Yoob's digestive tract and the four Mario Bros. free the captured and imprisoned Yoshis to help him. They also defeat the guardian of the factory, Sunnycide, by pushing a large rock on him, and once the Yoshis escape and the factory is destroyed, Yoob falls asleep. The Sunnycide boss battle is the only time when a Black Yoshi appears in the game, although it is replaced with a Yellow Yoshi in the Japanese version of the game.

After Yoob falls asleep, the Yoshis all think that Baby Bowser rescued them, until the Cobalt Shards send him flying, and Toadbert tells the Yoshis that the Mario Bros. saved them.

Mario & Luigi: Dream Team

The Yoshis in Mario & Luigi: Dream Team.

Yoshis appear in Mario & Luigi: Dream Team as one of the many species invited to Pi'illo Island. Many Yoshis can be seen in various places such as Pi'illo Castle, Mushrise Park and Wakeport, coming in Green, Red, and Yellow.

Mario & Luigi: Paper Jam

The Yoshis in Mario & Luigi: Paper Jam.

In Mario & Luigi: Paper Jam, Yoshis act as minor NPCs throughout the game and can be found in the various Toads Villages throughout the Mushroom Kingdom. One Yoshi appears in the Gloomy Woods Village, and has to be beaten in a footrace to win the melon he has so it can be given to Wiggler. Later on, this Yoshi's brother appears in Mount Brrr, and challenges the trio to a more difficult race, giving them the Speed Gloves as a prize if they win.

Mario & Sonic series

Mario & Sonic at the London 2012 Olympic Games

Seven different Yoshi colors, as seen in Mario & Sonic at the London 2012 Olympic Games.

In Mario & Sonic at the London 2012 Olympic Games, Yoshis serve as the main objective in Dream Equestrian, where players must race to the finish line, carrying a wagon full of seven color Yoshi eggs. The eggs will hatch into Yoshis upon reaching the goal.

Mario & Sonic at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games

Yoshis reappear in the Nintendo 3DS and Wii U versions of Mario & Sonic at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.

Nintendo 3DS version

In Football, five different-colored Yoshis (red, blue, light blue, yellow, and pink) accompany the playable Green Yoshi as his teammates. Additionally, the Yellow and Light Blue Yoshis operate shops in the Road to Rio mode, with Yellow Yoshi's shop being used to trade apples for Mii outfits, and Light Blue Yoshi's shop being used to trade melons with sports gear.

Wii U version

In the Mario League, due to Team Mario not having enough non-guest characters to create three teams of four for any of the events, a Red and Yellow Yoshi are featured alongside Yoshi himself as one of the members of Team Mario, with each Yoshi occupying a team.

Mario Party series

The Blue and Pink Yoshis in Mario Party

In Mario Party, a Blue Yoshi and a Pink Yoshi appear on the board Yoshi's Tropical Island. The Blue Yoshi is separated from the Pink Yoshi, who is trapped in a small island surrounded by whirlpools and the Blue Yoshi is unable to get across. The players must collect the stars to use them as a bridge to allow the Blue Yoshi to go to the island, The game ends when the bridge is formed to allow the Blue Yoshi to reunite with the Pink one. They are also accompanied by the top three winners along with Toad, Boo, Koopa, a Thwomp, and a star, while the fourth place player tries to join them, but is devoured by Bubba.

There is also an unused minigame known as Yoshi's Tongue Meeting, where the players jump atop a Yoshi, either Pink, Yellow, Blue or Red (if the player plays as Yoshi, he just stands in the same position without a rider). The Yoshis have baby Wigglers on their tongues, which extend to the Wigglers' mothers in order to reunite the children with their parents. If it comes too late, the baby will kick its mother into the bush. If it comes too far, both the Wiggler and its baby will simply cry. However, if is pressed at the right time, the mother and child will reunite and the player wins.

Yoshis reappear in Mario Party Superstars due to the Mario Party board Yoshi's Tropical Island returning. Unlike the original N64 version, there are a few more Yoshis on the board. The Blue Yoshi returns but is moved to Cantaloupe Island and now seen relaxing on a sliced cantalope. A Red Yoshi appears on the central island, replacing the Pink Yoshi (though it now appears on a sliced cantaloupe floating on the water beside Cantaloupe Island) and being surrounded by Cheep Cheeps instead of whirlpools from the original game. A Yellow Yoshi additionally appears on Watermelon Island cheering on top of a sliced big Watermelon.

Mario Golf series

Mario Golf (Nintendo 64)

Yoshi's alternate costumes in Mario Golf

In Mario Golf, Yellow, Red, and Light-Blue Yoshi can be selected as Yoshi's alternate costume on the character select screen. The player can choose the colors by using , , and , and each Yoshi can be chosen multiple times if there is more than one player.

Mario Golf: Super Rush

For the first time in the Mario Golf series, Yoshis appear as NPCs in Mario Golf: Super Rush. A Pink Yoshi appears in Bonny Greens in the qualifying round. It is then never seen again unless the player plays the qualifying round again.

As of the version 2.0.0 update:

• If the player achieved a rank of A- or higher in Ranked Match during August 2021, they would be able to unlock Red Yoshi, Blue Yoshi, and Yellow Yoshi as variants for Yoshi.
• If the player achieved a rank of A- or higher in Ranked Match during April 2022, they would be able to unlock Pink Yoshi, Light-Blue Yoshi, and Orange Yoshi as variants for Yoshi.

Mario Tennis series

Mario Tennis (Nintendo 64)

Yellow Yoshi in Mario Tennis

In Mario Tennis, if both players select Yoshi in the Short Game or Tiebreaker Game, the second player will have a Yellow Yoshi as Yoshi's alternate costume.

Mario Power Tennis

In Mario Power Tennis, if players play the doubles tournament and complete the Mushroom Cup and the Flower Cup, they can power up the Rolling Egg Return, making Yoshi change into one of eight colors every time he uses it. The eight colors are Red, Yellow, Green, Light-Blue, Blue, Pink, Black, and White. An image of the Yoshis also appears in the mini-game Artist On the Court on Expert Mode.

Mario Tennis Open

Most of the colored Yoshis (excluding the Purple, Orange, and Brown varieties) make an appearance in Mario Tennis Open as downloadable QR characters. The different colors, and their playing types, are listed below.

• Red Yoshi - Technique
• Blue Yoshi - Speed
• Light-Blue Yoshi - Speed
• Yellow Yoshi - Power
• Pink Yoshi - Technique
• Black Yoshi - All-Around
• White Yoshi - Tricky

Mario Tennis Aces

Colored Yoshis return as alternate colors for Yoshi in Mario Tennis Aces, in the October 2018 update. Unlike in Mario Tennis Open, all Yoshis have the same green tennis racket as Green Yoshi in this game.

Mario Kart series

Mario Kart Arcade GP DX

Red Yoshi in Mario Kart Arcade GP DX

Black Yoshi in Mario Kart Arcade GP DX

In Mario Kart Arcade GP DX, Red and Black Yoshis appear as downloadable color swaps of Yoshi, with their own exclusive Special Items; Egg Launcher, and Black Yoshi's Egg respectively.

Mario Kart 8 / Mario Kart 8 Deluxe

The playable Yoshis in Mario Kart 8 and Mario Kart 8 Deluxe.

In Mario Kart 8 and Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, Yoshis can be seen as spectators in Sweet Sweet Canyon, Mount Wario, GBA Mario Circuit, SNES Donut Plains 3, N64 Yoshi Valley, GCN Yoshi Circuit, Excitebike Arena, GCN Baby Park, and Super Bell Subway, as well as the battle courses Sweet Sweet Kingdom, SNES Battle Course 1, and 3DS Wuhu Town. Occasionally, some of these Yoshis will hum Totaka's Song.

Additionally, several differently colored Yoshis are playable as variants of Yoshi, namely Light Blue, Black, Red, Yellow, White, Blue, Pink, and Orange Yoshis. In Mario Kart 8, these variants are unlocked when both DLC packs (The Legend of Zelda × Mario Kart 8 and Animal Crossing × Mario Kart 8) have been purchased, while in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, they are available from the start in the base game. Red Yoshi is the Staff Ghost for GCN Yoshi Circuit and Orange Yoshi is the Staff Ghost for GBA Cheese Land; additionally, in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, White Yoshi is the 200cc Staff Ghost for Shy Guy Falls, Yellow Yoshi is the 200cc Staff Ghost for 3DS DK Jungle, and Blue Yoshi is the 200cc Staff Ghost for Super Bell Subway.

Mario Kart Tour

Red, Blue and White Yoshi tricking on Paris Promenade 3 in Mario Kart Tour

In Mario Kart Tour, Yoshis can be seen as spectators on many courses in the game such as GCN Yoshi Circuit.

Most of Yoshi's alternate colors from Mario Kart 8 (with the sole exception of yellow) return as playable drivers, separate from Yoshi himself, those being Red, Black, Blue, White, Pink, Orange, and Light-blue Yoshi, who were respectively introduced in the 2020 New Year's Tour, 2020 Yoshi Tour, 2021 Yoshi Tour (blue and white), September 2021 Sydney Tour, 2022 Autumn Tour, and 2023 Yoshi Tour and have the Yoshi's Egg (red and orange), Double Bob-ombs, Dash Ring, Triple Mushrooms, and Heart as their respective special skills. Light-blue Yoshi's special skill is currently unknown. Red, Blue, Pink, and Orange Yoshi are classified as Super drivers while Black and White Yoshi are classified as High-End drivers. Black Yoshi and White Yoshi were originally exclusive to their debut tour and several subsequent tours but became regular High-End drivers starting with the Berlin Tour and September 2021 Sydney Tour, respectively.

Yoshi (Kangaroo) and Yoshi (Gold Egg) take the appearance of a Yellow Yoshi (albeit with orange shoes instead of green). While most of the colored Yoshis retain a similar coloring as the one seen in Mario Kart 8, Blue Yoshi features a brighter, more saturated blue coloring instead.

Mario Strikers series

Super Mario Strikers

In Super Mario Strikers, Yoshis can be seen as spectators in stadiums during gameplay.

Mario Strikers: Battle League

Yoshis return as spectators in Mario Strikers: Battle League. Sometimes, one Yoshi will throw a ? Block to one of the teams' members during gameplay. The player can select up to four Yoshis on the character select screen per team. Different colored Yoshis will be playable based on the corresponding team color, excluding the lime-green team using Green Yoshis and the purple and light-purple teams using Blue Yoshis (though originally Purple Yoshi was seen on the purple team in the overview trailer for the game, but was scrapped in the Mario Strikers: Battle League First Kick pre-release demo and the final game).

Regardless of the color chosen though, all Yoshi colors excel best at Passing and Shooting, while their other stats are low.

Mario Super Sluggers

Five colored Yoshis (Red, Blue, Yellow, Light Blue, and Pink) along with Yoshi himself appear in Mario Super Sluggers as unlockable characters. Unlike Yoshi himself, however, they do not have Star Skills nor can they be selected as a team captain.

The Super Mario Bros. Movie

This section is referring to a subject in an upcoming or recently released film. When the film is released, or more information about this subject is found, this section may need major rewriting.
This notice should be removed after a month has passed since the film was first released.

Yoshis in The Super Mario Bros. Movie

A herd of Yoshis appears in Illumination's The Super Mario Bros. Movie. Yoshi himself makes a brief appearance in a post-credits scene, where he begins to hatch from his egg. Since no green Yoshis make an appearance during their brief cameo early on, this also appears to foreshadow Yoshi's hatching at the end of the movie. The herd of Yoshis coloration is based off of their appearance in Super Smash Bros. Melee intro as well as the alternate colors of Yoshi from Mario Sports Mix.

Other appearances and references

In the Super Mario All-Stars and Super Mario Advance 4 adaptations of Super Mario Bros. 3, the king of the Pipe Maze is transformed into a Green Yoshi by Ludwig von Koopa (whereas in the NES version of the game, predating Yoshis, the king was transformed into a Piranha Plant).

In Super Mario Chess, Yoshis appear as knights on Mario's team.

In addition, many Yoshi-themed Mario Kart racecourses have appeared: Mario Kart 64 has Yoshi Valley, Mario Kart: Super Circuit has Yoshi Desert, Mario Kart: Double Dash!! has Yoshi Circuit, Mario Kart DS has Yoshi Falls and reuses the GameCube course Yoshi Circuit, Mario Kart Arcade GP 2 has a two-course Yoshi stage, and while it does not introduce a new course, Mario Kart Wii reuses Yoshi Falls from the DS title. Yoshis also spectate a few courses in Mario Kart 8 and Mario Kart 8 Deluxe. Yoshi Valley from Mario Kart 64 and Yoshi Circuit from Mario Kart: Double Dash!! also reappear as retro courses in these two games. A track based on Yoshi's Island appears in both the Mario Kart 8 Deluxe - Booster Course Pass DLC and Mario Kart Tour under the same name, as well as Yoshi Circuit from Mario Kart: Double Dash!!, Yoshi Valley from Mario Kart 64 and Yoshi Desert from Mario Kart: Super Circuit all returning as classic courses.

Although Yoshis do not appear in Super Paper Mario, a stone statue of one appears in Chapter 5: Land of the Cragnons. There is also a Sammer Guy called "Belly of the Yoshi", which is a reference to how Yoshis can eat as much food as they want without getting full. Yoshis were also referenced in Super Mario Galaxy by a planet shaped like a Yoshi's Egg in the Good Egg Galaxy and by a planet shaped like a Yoshi head in the Space Junk Galaxy. Similarly, in Paper Mario: Sticker Star, there is a sphinx in World 2-2 called the Yoshi Sphinx, whose head is shaped exactly like a Yoshi's head.

Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story and its remake are the only games in the Mario & Luigi series that does not feature Yoshis. Yoshi noises can be found in audio files within the original game's code, but they are unused. It is unknown if Yoshis themselves were going to appear in the game or its remake or it was left over from Partners in Time (as the game's engine was based off this game's).

Also, the Fawful Guy and its dark variant have an attack where a roar very similar to Yoob's can be heard in the original game; a long tongue then snags them, turns them into an egg and throws the egg at their target using a Yoshi's Island-style targeting cursor.

In Fortune Street, many Yoshis can be seen in the background on the Yoshi's Island board. A majority of the Dragon Quest characters refer to them as "dragons."

General information

Physical appearance

A Green Yoshi in Super Mario World

Yoshis initial designs are portrayed with long necks and small hands with three digits, but hands with four digits appear first in the Super Mario World television series from DIC, then in the Japanese commercial of Mario Paint, and in artwork of Super Mario Kart; this has become a common design choice by the end of the 1990s. The design of Yoshis has since changed to make them more anthropomorphic, with upright postures, shorter necks and human-like four-digit hands. Even though Yoshis are usually portrayed as having no visible teeth and swallowing their enemies without chewing them after having grabbed them with their long red tongue, they have been shown to have a full set of upper and lower teeth since the Super Mario Picture Books published by Shogakukan and written in collaboration with Nintendo, in particular: Super Mario Story Quiz Picture Book 2: Mario's Sports Day, and Super Mario Chie Asobi Ehon ④ Larry No Itazura (Super Mario Wisdom Games Picture Book ④ Larry's Mischief), with the new design retaining them as seen in artwork for Yoshi's Story. The teeth are commonly shown in-game in sprite-based Yoshi platformers while one is flutter jumping. Yoshis were originally conceived of as a type of Koopa, with the saddles on their backs being their shells. Even in the bio of Yoshi on Nintendo's Japanese site, the saddle is considered to be a shell. Although most Yoshis have never been seen without their shoes, the appearance of Boshi in Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars confirms that Yoshis have three toes on each foot, and also have white pads on the bottom of their feet, as shown in Super Mario Story Quiz Picture Book 5: Mario's Amusement Park (「スーパーマリオおはなしクイズえほん 5 マリオの ゆうえんち」). Early Yoshi sprites for Super Mario World showed babies that were blob-like in shape and adults with mouths resembling those of the current Baby Yoshis.

A Yoshi's physical appearance changes depending how old they are. For example, in Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door, Mini-Yoshi appears much smaller compared to other Yoshis. He also has hair, while most other Yoshis do not, though this is most likely to differentiate the character as playable. Newly-hatched Baby Yoshis featured in Super Mario World (among other games) are both smaller and also proportioned differently than the adults, with short, stubby bodies lacking in saddles, almost no neck, and a slightly down-curved snout. After eating enough enemies, food or power-ups, these Baby Yoshis will undergo a rapid growth spurt and turn into adults from that point onward.

Color variations

Yoshis come in a variety of colors. In Super Mario Sunshine, they can change skin color by eating different fruit, while their colors are determined by hatching time in Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door. In Yoshi's Woolly World and Poochy & Yoshi's Woolly World, Yoshis come in many themed designs and patterns as opposed to being one color, including designs based on enemies, Nintendo consoles and even other Nintendo characters. Shoe color changes along with skin color: a Green Yoshi has orange shoes, a Red Yoshi has blue shoes, a Yellow Yoshi has green shoes, etc. This shoe color denomination was not standardized until Yoshi's Story.

In Super Mario World, Yoshis have different abilities depending on their color and the Koopa Shell they hold in their mouth. If a Blue Yoshi holds a Koopa Shell of any color, it can temporarily grow wings until it is swallowed or spat out. If a Red Yoshi holds a shell of any color, it can spit it back out as a trio of fireballs. If a Yellow Yoshi holds a shell of any color, it can create sand clouds when landing on the ground until it is swallowed or spat out. Shells of corresponding color can also grant these abilities for a Yoshi of any color. In the Super Nintendo version, all Yoshi sprites, excluding the overworld map sprites, have orange arms. This was changed for the GBA port to having the arms match the rest of the body.

The following is all the known colors of Yoshis and the first appearance of said color of Yoshi:

Image	Color	Primary shoe color	First appearance
	Green	Orange	Super Mario World
	Red	Blue Orange (Super Mario World) Turquoise (Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island)	Super Mario World
	Blue	Magenta Orange (Super Mario World, New Super Mario Bros. U (Bubble Baby Yoshi))	Super Mario World
	Yellow	Green Orange (Super Mario World)	Super Mario World
	Pink	Golden yellow Light Blue (Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island) Orange (Super Mario Sunshine)	Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island
	Light-blue	Violet Yellow (Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island)	Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island
	Black	White	Yoshi's Story (as a Baby Yoshi)
	White	Azure	Yoshi's Story (as a Baby Yoshi)
	Orange	Blue Orange (Super Mario Sunshine)	Game & Watch Gallery 2 (Game Boy Color)
	Purple	Orange (Super Mario Sunshine, Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS / Wii U) Brown (Yoshi's Woolly World) Magenta (Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island)	Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island
	Brown	Red-brown (Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island) Green (Yoshi's Story) Plum (Paper Mario)	Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island
	Magenta	Orange	Template:Media link
	Gold	Orange	New Super Mario Bros. U

Biology

Yoshis are known for their long tongues that allow them to swallow whatever they eat and turn it into an egg. The eggs can then be thrown at obstacles, enemies, and bosses, while other eggs hatch into items like 1-Up Mushrooms. Yoshis usually swallow items and enemies very quickly, although in Super Mario World, Yoshis takes a while before swallowing Koopa Shells.

Yoshis have large snouts which they can use to sniff out fruit and other collectibles or objects that are buried underground, although this ability is seen only in Yoshi's Story.

Most games show that Yoshis can swim, although how well they swim varies. In Super Mario World, they can swim and dive, although in Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island and Yoshi's Island DS, they cannot dive without their submarine form. Yoshi also cannot dive in Super Mario Galaxy 2, although he can swim. In Super Mario Sunshine, Yoshis that live on or around Isle Delfino turn green and disappear if they touch water.

In Super Mario World, when carrying a Yellow Shell in their mouths (or any shell if the Yoshi itself is yellow), the Yoshi becomes heavy and shakes the ground each time it lands after a jump or fall. Yoshis are also one of the first creatures shown performing proper Ground Pounds - a move in which the performer jumps into the air, flips, and then slams into the ground. Yoshis first performed the move in Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island. Yoshi's Yoshi Bomb in the Super Smash Bros. series has him ground pound as his down special move. Bowser is shown doing the equivalent of a Ground Pound in Super Mario Bros. 3 (before the debut of Yoshis), and in games since then. Other characters have also been shown Ground Pounding, including Mario himself in titles such as Super Mario 64, Super Mario Sunshine, and various entries in the Mario Party franchise.

Gender and reproduction

The in-game Japanese text of Yoshi's trophy in Super Smash Bros. Melee states that Yoshis are neither male nor female. In the Chef minigame in Game & Watch Gallery 2 and Game & Watch Gallery 4, a Yoshi is shown to hatch other Yoshis without a mate; after being fed long enough, the Yoshi produces an egg that eventually hatches into another Yoshi. The baby then takes its parent's place and proceeds to eat enough food to turn into an adult, eventually producing an egg of its own, which then continues the cycle.

Other sources have shown Yoshis appearing to have a gender. At least one of the Yoshis in Paper Mario refers to his "son," and in Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door, the Yoshi who sometimes appears on-board the Excess Express expresses his hatred of business trips due to them keeping him away from his "lovely wife". The original Mario Party also features a pair of Yoshis which appear to be one male and one female, although the exact nature of their relationship is not known. Additionally, while Japanese language rarely refers to Yoshi with gender-specific pronouns, Yoshi is consistently referred to with masculine pronouns in translation, with laying eggs being one of his trademarks. This confusion is addressed in Super Smash Bros. Brawl, where Solid Snake assumes that Yoshi is a female because of his egg-laying abilities, only to be corrected by Otacon (both of whom use "it" rather than "he" or "she" while they are talking about Yoshi). It is addressed again in Super Smash Bros. for Wii U, where Viridi remarks that there is nothing natural about a male who lays eggs while Palutena asserts that all living beings have both male and female elements.

Diet

Though omnivorous, Yoshis favor fruit, and in Yoshi's Story, they become happy when eating fruit of their own color. Melons are their favorite fruit regardless of color. Some Yoshis, such as Black and White Yoshis, can digest Peppers without hurting themselves. However, in Super Mario Galaxy 2, Yoshi can eat the Dash Pepper, turning him into Dash Yoshi, and causing him to run very fast for a short amount of time. All Yoshis can eat enemies of various kinds, from large Koopa Troopas to plants. Also, if they eat a Bean Fruit, then they will lay a rare Neon Egg, the color of which depends on the Yoshi's own color.

Speech

A translation of the Yoshi language, as seen in the Super Mario Adventures comic.

Yoshis are capable of speaking human languages, as demonstrated by Yoshi in Super Mario World, Super Mario 64, Super Mario Galaxy 2, and Tetris Attack, as well as other Yoshis in games like Yoshi's Story, Paper Mario, Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door, and others. However, it seems that Yoshis speaking in human language is rare, as Yoshi must translate for Mario in Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars and Mario Super Sluggers.

In older games (and more recent ones such as New Super Mario Bros. Wii), Yoshi and his friends are "voiced" by the sound of two pitch-bended orchestra hits (in Super Mario World only Yoshi speaks with a text bubble, though this was changed in the Super Mario Advance 2 version). In Yoshi's Story and many later games, the Yoshis are voiced by Nintendo musician Kazumi Totaka, who mutters the word "Yoshi" as well as a series of intelligible and unintelligible words, such as "Blum" and "Ho Hup". His voice is sped up to create the babylike, high-pitched voices of the Yoshis.

Oddly, in the Mario & Luigi series, Yoshi still speaks with Super Mario RPG-style parentheses.

The Super Mario Adventures comic joked that Yoshis can only say the word "Yoshi".

Although Baby Yoshis retain their squeaky voices in New Super Mario Bros. U and New Super Luigi U, their speech bubbles once again consist of the word "Yoshi", which is translated for the player.

Profiles and statistics

Super Mario series

Super Mario World

• Nintendo Power Issue #28: Yoshi has three special abilities that are triggered when he swallows Koopa shells of certain colors. He also has three cousins who come in those colors and carry one of Yoshi's special traits when they swallow any shell. You'll discover them in the elusive Star World.
  • Red Yoshi: When this crimson creature grabs the shell of a Koopa, he lets forth a three-Fireball blast.
  • Blue Yoshi: By biting down on a tasty turtle, this blue wonder will gain the ability to fly for a few seconds.
  • Yellow Yoshi: When Yoshi's yellow cousin eats a Koopa, he'll be able to shake the ground with super strong jumps.

Super Mario Run

Notebook bios

• Red Yoshi: "Yoshi is Mario's loyal adventuring buddy. He can Flutter Jump, and he's got no fear of spikes! Popular with Red Toads."
• Blue Yoshi: "Yoshi is Mario's loyal adventuring buddy. He can Flutter Jump, and he's got no fear of spikes! Popular with Blue Toads."
• Purple Yoshi: "Yoshi is Mario's loyal adventuring buddy. He can Flutter Jump, and he's got no fear of spikes! Popular with Purple Toads."
• Yellow Yoshi: "Yoshi is Mario's loyal adventuring buddy. He can Flutter Jump, and he's got no fear of spikes! Popular with Yellow Toads."

Items descriptions

• Blue Yoshi's House: "The house where Blue Yoshi lives. Place this and Blue Yoshi will join!"
• Purple Yoshi's House: "The house where Purple Yoshi lives. Place this and Purple Yoshi will join!"
• Yellow Yoshi's House: "The house where Yellow Yoshi lives. Place this and Yellow Yoshi will join!"
• Red Yoshi's House: "The house where Red Yoshi lives. Place this and Red Yoshi will join!"

New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe

• North American website bio: "The path to Princess Peach is full of foes—luckily, you’ll also meet some friendly and familiar faces along the way. Hatch a Yoshi Egg to get a lift or pick up a Baby Yoshi and use their unique skills to help you reach tough places, light up passages, and more!"

Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time

• Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time Official Nintendo Player's Guide: The cookie-loving Yoshis helped save Baby Mario and Baby Luigi once before. Now they meet again—without the annoying crying!

Yoshi franchise

Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island

• Shogakukan guide: 平和な南の島に住む恐竜の一族。ある日のこと、のんきにお散歩を楽しんでいたら、空から赤ちゃんが降ってきた。なんとかこの赤ちゃんを、パパとママのもとへとどけたい。なんでもぺロリと食べてしまう食欲はあい変わらず。食べたものをタマゴにして投げれば、赤ちゃんをねらう敵をやっつけることもできる。ヨッシーたちは仲間を集め、冒険の旅に出発した⋯⋯。カメックの魔の手から赤ちゃんを守って、無事にパパとママの家にたどり着けるだろうか。旅の途中で変身アイテムを取ると、ヨッシーはいろんなものに変身して、特別な能力を使うことができるようになるぞ。

(A family of dinosaurs lives on a peaceful southern island. One day, while they were taking a carefree stroll, a baby fell from the sky. They wanted to bring this baby back to his mother and father. He still has the same appetite to eat anything and everything. If they could turn what they could eat into eggs and throw them, they can defeat the enemies who are trying to harm the baby. Yoshi and his friends gathered together, and started their adventurous journey... Will they be able to protect the baby from Kamek's evil and get back to the home of mom and dad safely?
By acquiring transformation items along the way, Yoshi will be able to transform into various objects and use his special abilities.)

Yoshi's Crafted World

• North American website bio: "There's Yoshi, and then there are all the other Yoshis: red, pink, blue, yellow, and more."

Mario Kart series

Mario Kart Arcade GP DX

• Weight Class: Medium
• Stats
  • Speed:
  • Acceleration:
  • Handling:

Mario Kart Tour

Red Yoshi

Statistics
Special skill	Yoshi's Egg
Favorite courses (Three items per Item Box)	GCN Yoshi Circuit GCN Dino Dino Jungle R/T Tokyo Blur 2T Tokyo Blur 2R/T 3DS Rock Rock Mountain T 3DS Daisy Hills R/T GCN Yoshi Circuit R/T SNES Koopa Troopa Beach 2R London Loop T Wii Maple Treeway R Yoshi's Island
Favored courses (Two items per Item Box)	GCN Yoshi Circuit R N64 Frappe Snowland R N64 Frappe Snowland T SNES Vanilla Lake 1 3DS Rock Rock Mountain 3DS Daisy Hills SNES Mario Circuit 2R SNES Mario Circuit 2R/T** London Loop 2 London Loop 2R/T SNES Donut Plains 1T SNES Donut Plains 1R* RMX Choco Island 1T SNES Koopa Troopa Beach 2T Tokyo Blur R/T London Loop London Loop R/T Wii Maple Treeway T London Loop 3R/T DS Peach Gardens T DS Peach Gardens R GBA Yoshi Desert R/T
* indicates a favored course upgraded to a favorite course after reaching level 3. ** indicates a favored course upgraded to a favorite course after reaching level 6. *** indicates a favored course upgraded to a favorite course after reaching level 8.

• Mario Kart Tour Twitter: "For some, red is the luckiest color. No wonder Red Yoshi looks so happy! Paired with the Red Turbo Yoshi, these two are sure to have good luck on the tracks!"

Blue Yoshi

Statistics
Special skill	Dash Ring
Favorite courses (Three items per Item Box)	RMX Mario Circuit 1 Tokyo Blur 4 GBA Sunset Wilds DS Waluigi Pinball SNES Koopa Troopa Beach 2 SNES Koopa Troopa Beach 2T 3DS Rosalina's Ice World R GCN Dino Dino Jungle R N64 Koopa Troopa Beach R/T N64 Frappe Snowland T GBA Cheep-Cheep Island R Tokyo Blur 3T DS DK Pass T Vancouver Velocity T
Favored courses (Two items per Item Box)	GCN Yoshi Circuit T* DS Waluigi Pinball R GBA Sunset Wilds T** Tokyo Blur 4R SNES Donut Plains 2R/T 3DS Rosalina's Ice World T Sydney Sprint Sydney Sprint R GCN Dino Dino Jungle SNES Vanilla Lake 1R SNES Vanilla Lake 1T GCN Yoshi Circuit R/T N64 Frappe Snowland R/T N64 Frappe Snowland R Paris Promenade 3 Paris Promenade 3T GBA Cheep-Cheep Island Tokyo Blur 3R/T RMX Vanilla Lake 1T RMX Vanilla Lake 1R Sydney Sprint 2T Vancouver Velocity R Vancouver Velocity 2R N64 Yoshi Valley T Amsterdam Drift 3 Amsterdam Drift 3T GBA Sky Garden R/T 3DS Piranha Plant Slide R/T N64 Yoshi Valley R/T
* indicates a favored course upgraded to a favorite course after reaching level 3. ** indicates a favored course upgraded to a favorite course after reaching level 6. *** indicates a favored course upgraded to a favorite course after reaching level 8.

Pink Yoshi

Statistics
Special skill	Heart
Favorite courses (Three items per Item Box)	GCN Yoshi Circuit R SNES Choco Island 2R/T Sydney Sprint R Sydney Sprint 2R/T London Loop London Loop R GCN Dino Dino Jungle T GCN Dino Dino Jungle R GBA Sunset Wilds R London Loop 3R GCN Yoshi Circuit R/T 3DS Daisy Hills N64 Royal Raceway Merry Mountain T Merry Mountain R 3DS Mario Circuit Los Angeles Laps 3 Ninja Hideaway
Favored courses (Two items per Item Box)	GCN Yoshi Circuit GBA Sunset Wilds R/T* RMX Rainbow Road 2T** New York Minute 4 New York Minute 4T GBA Sunset Wilds T Wii Maple Treeway R/T London Loop 3R/T N64 Royal Raceway R/T GBA Cheep-Cheep Island T 3DS Toad Circuit R Singapore Speedway R 3DS Wario Shipyard T Los Angeles Laps 2 3DS Rock Rock Mountain R GCN Cookie Land
* indicates a favored course upgraded to a favorite course after reaching level 3. ** indicates a favored course upgraded to a favorite course after reaching level 6. *** indicates a favored course upgraded to a favorite course after reaching level 8.

Orange Yoshi

Statistics
Special skill	Yoshi's Egg
Favorite courses (Three items per Item Box)	New York Minute 2 New York Minute 3 Los Angeles Laps 3T Los Angeles Laps 2T N64 Yoshi Valley R GBA Riverside Park T N64 Royal Raceway T DS Airship Fortress T Merry Mountain T 3DS Rosalina's Ice World R 3DS Cheep Cheep Lagoon R/T N64 Kalimari Desert R/T GBA Cheep-Cheep Island Bangkok Rush R Bangkok Rush T N64 Kalimari Desert RMX Choco Island 2 N64 Luigi Raceway 3DS Daisy Hills R GBA Yoshi Desert R/T
Favored courses (Two items per Item Box)	New York Minute 2T New York Minute 2R/T* Los Angeles Laps T New York Minute 3R/T** GCN Yoshi Circuit R N64 Yoshi Valley GCN DK Mountain GCN DK Mountain R/T DS Airship Fortress R/T 3DS Bowser's Castle R GBA Bowser's Castle 3 Merry Mountain R Merry Mountain R/T 3DS Rosalina's Ice World 3DS Rosalina's Ice World R/T 3DS Daisy Hills R/T GBA Cheep-Cheep Island R/T 3DS Cheep Cheep Lagoon 3DS Cheep Cheep Lagoon R GBA Cheep-Cheep Island T Bangkok Rush Bangkok Rush 2R Bangkok Rush 3T Bangkok Rush 2R/T Bangkok Rush 2T Bangkok Rush 3R/T N64 Kalimari Desert R GBA Sunset Wilds T GBA Sunset Wilds R/T N64 Luigi Raceway T RMX Choco Island 2R/T SNES Mario Circuit 2 SNES Mario Circuit 2T SNES Mario Circuit 3 SNES Mario Circuit 3R 3DS Daisy Hills T 3DS Wario Shipyard T 3DS Wario Shipyard R/T Wii Dry Dry Ruins Wii Dry Dry Ruins R/T Wii Dry Dry Ruins R GBA Yoshi Desert R
* indicates a favored course upgraded to a favorite course after reaching level 3. ** indicates a favored course upgraded to a favorite course after reaching level 6. *** indicates a favored course upgraded to a favorite course after reaching level 8.

Light-blue Yoshi

Statistics
Special skill	Yoshi's Egg
Favorite courses (Three items per Item Box)	GCN Yoshi Circuit R N64 Yoshi Valley T GBA Riverside Park T GCN Baby Park R/T
Favored courses (Two items per Item Box)	GCN Yoshi Circuit GCN Baby Park R* GBA Riverside Park R Yoshi's Island Yoshi's Island T**
* indicates a favored course upgraded to a favorite course after reaching level 3. ** indicates a favored course upgraded to a favorite course after reaching level 6. *** indicates a favored course upgraded to a favorite course after reaching level 8.

Black Yoshi

Statistics
Special skill	Double Bob-ombs
Favorite courses (Three items per Item Box)	SNES Donut Plains 1R/T RMX Mario Circuit 1R/T 3DS Daisy Hills GCN Yoshi Circuit R 3DS Daisy Hills T 3DS Rock Rock Mountain T DS DK Pass R/T 3DS Daisy Hills R/T 3DS Toad Circuit SNES Ghost Valley 1R SNES Ghost Valley 1T SNES Koopa Troopa Beach 2T N64 Choco Mountain T Tokyo Blur 3T Tokyo Blur 3R GBA Sunset Wilds GBA Sunset Wilds T Paris Promenade 2 SNES Donut Plains 2R Wii DK Summit R
Favored courses (Two items per Item Box)	GCN Yoshi Circuit* 3DS Rock Rock Mountain 3DS Rock Rock Mountain R 3DS Daisy Hills R* GCN Yoshi Circuit T 3DS Toad Circuit R/T GCN Yoshi Circuit R/T 3DS Toad Circuit R GCN Dino Dino Jungle T RMX Mario Circuit 1 SNES Ghost Valley 1** N64 Choco Mountain** Tokyo Blur 3 GBA Sunset Wilds R Berlin Byways 2T Berlin Byways 2R SNES Donut Plains 2T Wii DK Summit RMX Choco Island 1R/T*** SNES Vanilla Lake 2 N64 Yoshi Valley T DS Twilight House
* indicates a favored course upgraded to a favorite course after reaching level 3. ** indicates a favored course upgraded to a favorite course after reaching level 6. *** indicates a favored course upgraded to a favorite course after reaching level 8.

• Mario Kart Tour Twitter: "Black Yoshi is here for part two of the Yoshi Tour! He's ready and raring to make his mark with the Double Bob-ombs special item."

White Yoshi

Statistics
Special skill	Triple Mushrooms
Favorite courses (Three items per Item Box)	N64 Royal Raceway R/T Tokyo Blur 4 3DS Toad Circuit R RMX Mario Circuit 1 3DS Mario Circuit R 3DS Toad Circuit R/T SNES Donut Plains 2 SNES Donut Plains 2R SNES Koopa Troopa Beach 2 Sydney Sprint R SNES Mario Circuit 3 SNES Mario Circuit 3T GCN Dino Dino Jungle SNES Mario Circuit 3R/T RMX Choco Island 1R/T N64 Frappe Snowland Paris Promenade 3T Paris Promenade 3 3DS Cheep Cheep Lagoon T Los Angeles Laps 3R Tokyo Blur R Tokyo Blur 3T DS DK Pass Sydney Sprint 2T Sydney Sprint 2R Vancouver Velocity R New York Minute 4R SNES Vanilla Lake 2R GBA Boo Lake R
Favored courses (Two items per Item Box)	3DS Toad Circuit** GCN Yoshi Circuit GCN Yoshi Circuit T* RMX Mario Circuit 1R* Tokyo Blur 4R SNES Donut Plains 2R/T** 3DS Mario Circuit 3DS Mario Circuit T Sydney Sprint GCN Dino Dino Jungle R GCN Yoshi Circuit R/T N64 Frappe Snowland R GBA Cheep-Cheep Island GBA Cheep-Cheep Island T Los Angeles Laps 3T RMX Vanilla Lake 1T Vancouver Velocity T SNES Vanilla Lake 2T*** SNES Vanilla Lake 2 N64 Yoshi Valley R GBA Boo Lake
* indicates a favored course upgraded to a favorite course after reaching level 3. ** indicates a favored course upgraded to a favorite course after reaching level 6. *** indicates a favored course upgraded to a favorite course after reaching level 8.

Team Player Yoshis

Name	Bio	Ability	Bat	Glove	Stats
Red Yoshi	A speedy Yoshi with all-around skills.	Tongue Catch	Left	Right	Pitch	3/10
					Bat	4/10
					Field	4/10
					Run	8/10
Blue Yoshi	A speedy Yoshi with a decent arm.	Tongue Catch	Left	Right	Pitch	4/10
					Bat	2/10
					Field	6/10
					Run	8/10
Yellow Yoshi	A speedy Yoshi with a decent bat.	Tongue Catch	Left	Right	Pitch	3/10
					Bat	4/10
					Field	6/10
					Run	7/10
Light Blue Yoshi	A speedy Yoshi with a decent glove.	Tongue Catch	Left	Right	Pitch	3/10
					Bat	3/10
					Field	6/10
					Run	8/10
Pink Yoshi	An extra-speedy Yoshi who loves to run.	Tongue Catch	Left	Right	Pitch	2/10
					Bat	3/10
					Field	6/10
					Run	9/10

Super Smash Bros. Brawl sticker

Name	Image	Artwork from	Effect in The Subspace Emissary
Eight Yoshis		Super Mario Advance 3: Yoshi's Island	[Arm, Leg] - Attack +18 Usable by: Yoshi
Yoshi		Yoshi Touch & Go	[Arm, Leg] - Attack +8 Usable by: Mario, Luigi, Yoshi, Peach, Bowser

Mario Strikers: Battle League

• Type: Offense
• Default color: Green
• Hyper Strike: Egg Stomp
• Strength: 10/25
• Speed: 10/25
• Shooting: 17/25
• Passing: 17/25
• Technique: 9/25

Gallery

For this subject's image gallery, see Gallery:Yoshi (species).

• 

  Yoshi's Story

• 

  Yoshi's Island DS

• 

  Super Smash Bros. Melee

• 

  Mario Kart 8 Deluxe

Names in other languages

Language	Name	Meaning	Notes
Japanese	ヨッシー[?] Yosshī	Yoshi; romanized as "Yossy" in earlier Japanese materials. Portmanteau of Mie Yoshimura's name and Nessie.
Chinese	耀西[?] Yàoxī	Transliteration of the international name
French	Yoshi[?]	-
Greek	Γιόσι[?] Giosi	Transliteration of the international name
Korean	요시[?] Yosi	Transliteration of the international name
Latvian	Joši	Transliteration of the international name
Russian	Йоши[?] Yoshi	Transliteration of the international name
Spanish	Yoshi[?]	-
Ukrainian	Йоші Yoshi	Transliteration of the international name

Trivia

• According to the German Club Nintendo magazine, each Yoshi from Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island has its own name. The green one is called Yoshi, the light-blue one is called Jonny, the yellow one is called Sunny, the pink one is called Claudi, the brown one is called Eddi, the red one is called Netty, the dark-blue one is called Tommy, and the purple one is called Marci.
• In the Club Nintendo comic The Hunt For Happiness, newborn Yoshis are stated to be 1.3 meters tall and bright enough to be seen in the darkness up to 50 meters away.