Sphinx Zō

The Sphinx (スフィンクス, Sufinkusu) is an enemy that exclusively appeared in chapter 2 of Super Mario-kun volume 6.

After defeating Lemmy in the previous volume, Mario, Luigi and Yoshi's path is blocked by a strange monster: face of a Thwomp, body and shell of a Dry Bones, paws of a Mega Mole, wings of a Koopa Paratroopa and a Spinner for a tail. As the near sign states ("Beware of the Sphynx cat"), it's a Sphinx. Like any other Sphinx, the monster challenges the trio with an enigma: if they can solve it, they will proceed on their way, otherwise there will be a nasty punishment. The enigma is, apparently, a simple "find the intruder" and four images are presented: a Lion, a Panda, an Octopus and a Granny. The three heroes of course points at the Granny, since she's a human, but they fail: since the Granny is called Suzuki Kuma ("Kuma" means "Bear"), that makes her a land animal, so the intruder is the Octopus by being a sea animal.

The heroes protest, but the punishment awaits them: Luigi is turned into stone, but Mario takes immediately a Tanooki Suit and, in statue form, manages to survive the transformation, but now he can't revert to the Tanooki form (Yoshi survives since the curse doesn't work on "stupid kids"). Feeling generous, the Sphinx accept to give Mario and Yoshi a chance to break the spell, by walking through a hall full of Bowser Statues. Being made of stone, Mario Statue and Yoshi pass easily through the hall, but the Sphinx doesn't keep its promise.

Furious, Mario and Luigi protest once again and the Sphinx attacks them. Mario Statue tries to use his staff as a spear, but the Sphinx blocks it, then squash Mario Statue's body, leaving only his head intact. With its tail, then, the Sphinx hurts Luigi. Yoshi tries to attack by trowing Mario Statue's head, but the Sphinx parries the attack. Mario Statue, then, grabs with his mouth a Rotating Block and re-tries to attack the monster, but gets eaten by it. Seems to be the end for Mario, but from inside the monster's belly, Mario Statue activates the block, releasing the vine inside. The Sphinx explodes and the curse is broken: Mario and Luigi returns to normal. To add insult to injury, Yoshi builds with the Sphinx's pieces a silly elephant statue.