Ratagator

Ratagator
Species	Alligator-rat hybrid
First appearance	The Super Mario Bros. Super Show! ("Alligator Dundee") (1989)
Latest appearance	The Super Mario Bros. Super Show! ("Opera") (1989)

The Ratagator (or Rat-A-Gator), also known as the Radigator or Irradigator, is a large, mutated creature, resembling a mixture of both a rat and an alligator, hence its name (though its more pointed snout and protruded nostrils make it more resemble a crocodile). The Ratagator also happens to be a friend of Mario and Luigi in The Super Mario Bros. Super Show!, often appearing to visit them in their home in Mario Brothers Plumbing.

History

"Alligator Dundee"

The Ratagator's first appearance in The Super Mario Bros. Super Show! is in the live-action segment "Alligator Dundee," where the Ratagator, having been frightened by something in its sewer home, rushes into Mario Brothers Plumbing, where it encounters Mario and Luigi. Seeing the Ratagator distressed, Mario and Luigi comfort it and learn that something had frightened it, only to be surprised when the Ratagator quickly speeds away back into the sewer upon the arrival of a man named Alligator Dundee.

Later, Alligator Dundee, who is revealed to be hunting the Ratagator, enters its sewer home in search of it while Mario and Luigi, having surmised that Alligator Dundee is what frightened the Ratagator earlier, reluctantly help him. Finding the Ratagator, Alligator Dundee, having seemingly failed to lure it out into the open with a tuna sandwich, seemingly gets into a skirmish with, but seemingly succeeds in getting the Ratagator to try and chase him out of the sewer.

In the end, it is revealed to Alligator Dundee, after being accidentally captured in a net by Mario and Luigi, that the Ratagator is their pet; learning this, Alligator Dundee decides to stop his hunt for the Ratagator and creates a major motion picture detailing his hunting of it, while also deciding to rename himself "Ratagator Dundee." The Ratagator, having heard Alligator Dundee say its name, rushed forwards out of the sewer and, along with letting Mario and Luigi pet it, it also allows Alligator Dundee to pet it as well.

"Mario Hillbillies"

The Ratagator makes a small appearance in "Mario Hillbillies," where it allows the visiting Ellie Mae to pet it; when Ellie Mae asks Mario Joe and Luigi Bob, who are posing as their cousins, Mario and Luigi, what the Ratagator's name was, the two respond with the names "Zeke" and "Luke."

"Baby Mario Love"

Similarly, the Ratagator plays a small role in the following episode, "Baby Mario Love," where it appears, carrying a leash in its jaws, trying to convince Mario to take it for a crawl, which Mario refuses to do, stating he has already taken the Ratagator for a crawl earlier; later, as Mario attempts to tell Luigi that their lives lack glitz, glamor and a certain "je ne sais pas," Luigi, apparently not comprehending Mario's last statement, tells him to watch his mouth, saying the Ratagator is present.

"Tutti Frutti, oh Mario"/"Tutti Frutti Mario"

The Ratagator is featured in "Tutti Frutti, oh Mario," where it is first seen with Luigi, who thinks it is making some strange noises, while that is actually Little Robert singing. After Luigi realizes it is not the Ratagator singing, it goes away, but returns at the end of the episode having eaten the tape Luigi used to record Little Robert singing. The Ratagator is then heard imitating Little Robert's song.

"Caught in a Draft"

The Ratagator has a small role in "Caught in a Draft." Towards the end of the episode, Sgt. Slaughter receives a call from the President who informs that he is supposed to be training the Ratagator instead of Mario and Luigi. He then orders it to report to Fort Dix before leaving.

"Toupee"

The Ratagator has a small role in "Toupee." As Inspector Klean inspects a slice of moldy anchovy pizza, the Ratagator steals his toupee; it is later seen playing with the toupee. Luigi, in an attempt to take the toupee from it, tells the Ratagator to fetch a stick before throwing one into its sewer hole. The Ratagator drops the toupee for the stick, allowing Luigi to pick it up.

"Adee Don't"

While the Ratagator does not appear in the segment, it is mentioned in the original version of "Adee Don't" when Luigi describes the couch in Mario Brothers Plumbing while he and Tawny Tyler attempt to snap Mario out of his camera fright, describing as being made of Corinthian imitation Ratagator leather.

"A Basement Divided"

The Ratagator has a small role in "A Basement Divided." When Mario is confined to his own area filled with junk after Luigi becomes fed up with him acting like a slob, he envisions the Ratagator as a gigantic hot dog.

"Goodbye Mr. Fish"

The Ratagator has a small role in "Goodbye Mr. Fish." After Mario accidentally kills Kenneth by dropping a meatball into his bowl, he and Luigi turn to the Ratagtor to find them a substitute fish in the sewer, which it does, finding a large trout, though Mario comments that the trout it gave them is "not even human." The Ratagator growls at Mario's rejection of the trout, to which Mario explains that it was on a short notice. Later, as Mario is about to explain what happened to Kenneth to Mrs. Periwinkle, the Ratagator lets them know of a substitute goldfish it found in the sewer, allowing Mario and Luigi to trick her into believing that it is Kenneth.

"Opera"

The Ratagator's final appearance is in "Opera," where it is upset by Mrs. Gammliss's singing, which Mario mentions. It is later seen singing with Mario and Luigi as they attempt to convince Mrs. Gammliss to stop singing.

Naming

The Ratagator's name is a portmanteau of "rat" and "alligator," and appears as a cross between them.

Names in other languages

Language	Name	Meaning	Notes
German	Ratagator	-
Norwegian	Ratagator	-
Spanish	Ratadrilo	Ratadile
Swedish	Ratagator	-