Hooktail

"Snack time, little appetizers! But which one of you morsels should I taste first?"

- Hooktail

Hooktail is a dragon in Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door that has terrorized Petalburg. She ate many of its residents who came to her castle to slay her, like Kolorado's Father, Old Man Skoo, and Koops' dad. When Mario, Goombella and Koops came to her castle to obtain the first Crystal Star, the Diamond Star, they were given a clue on how to defeat Hooktail once they found the dead body of Kolorado's father-- Hooktail cannot stand chirping sounds, especially ones that start with cr- and end with -icket. The reason for this weakness is because she got food poisoning from eating a Cricket. Some believe that it is a reference to the Toad of the Four Heroes, who is described as having a "strange voice". He defeated Hooktail long ago; his voice may have sounded like a cricket.

During the fight it seems Hooktail is defeated, but she then offers 1,000 Coins and a "Really Ultra Rare Badge" for her "trust". Mario declines her offer (both offers are traps and Hooktail will gobble you for some damage if you accept them), knowing it was a trick. Before Mario and his team can finish her off, she swallowed some of the audience members to replenish 10 of her HP. Once Mario defeats her completely, Koops' dad will burst out of her mouth, since he's lived in her stomach.

She has two older brothers named Bonetail and Gloomtail. It was not revealed that Hooktail was female until the fight with Gloomtail. Koops's dad even said that "he" gobbled him up, which is part of the reason it is implied that Hooktail was male until fighting Gloomtail. Gloomtail attempted to defeat Mario and his friends for slaying his sister. Hooktail resides in Hooktail Castle, while Gloomtail was in a chamber in the Palace of Shadow, and her (presumably oldest) brother Bonetail was on the bottom floor of the Pit of 100 Trials.

According to Grifty in Rogueport, the three siblings were once the pets of the Shadow Queen.

Later on in the game, when Mario and company revisit Hooktail's lair, they find no trace of Hooktail. Goombella wonders briefly where Hooktail disappeared to, but ends up deciding Hooktail's absence is a good thing.

Other Appearances
Hooktail also appeared in Super Mario-Kun in issue 32 of the series.

Trivia

 * In the E3 Demo, Hooktail was afraid of the sound of "something that starts with FR-, and ends in -OG" (Frog). This sound was also used in the Japanese and some translated versions of the game as well as Super Mario-Kun. The English version, mysteriously, uses "cricket" instead.
 * In the game Super Paper Mario, there is a dragon boss called Fracktail that closely resembles Hooktail.
 * Hooktail slightly resembles the Czar Dragon from the game Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars.
 * Hooktail appears as a sticker in the game Super Smash Bros Brawl. The sticker is usable by every character and increases resistance to fire-based attacks.
 * Hooktail makes a cameo in the Nintendo Monopoly.
 * Hooktail is the youngest in the "tail" family.
 * Hooktail is female, but Goombella, Koopley, and the Petalburg residents claimed she was male.
 * Hooktail looks similar in appearance to Valoo from Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker. Her name might even be a reference to his tail looking like a hook.