Octopus (boss)

The Octopus (known as Pako (パコ) in Japan) is the boss of the Turtle Zone in Super Mario Land 2: 6 Golden Coins, and in belly of a giant whale. The octopus will attack Mario by swimming around releasing it's offspring, known as Poko. The Poko will home in on Mario, while Pako swims left and right across the arena. In order to defeat the octopus, Mario had to hit its head three times, which can be difficult as the entire battle with the octopus takes place underwater. Alternatively, he can cook the octopus with six Fireballs. The smaller Poko cannot be harmed, and are the most dangerous threat in the battle.

The octopus also appears in the Mario vs. Wario comic, which is a (loose) adaptation of Super Mario Land 2: 6 Golden Coins. Pako attempts to attack Mario while he is crossing a lake, but is stopped when Mario asks what an octopus, a saltwater creature, is doing in a freshwater lake. Pako ponders this and then exclaims that must be why it hasn't been feeling good. Mario offers to pour some salt in the water for the Pako, but accidentally pours sugar instead. Pako is last seen lying face down in the water, unmoving.