Rip Van Fish

Rip Van Fish (also pluralized Rip Van Fishes and parsed as Rip van Fish) are fish enemies who spend most of their time sleeping. They make their first and main appearance in Super Mario World. Rip Van Fish are large blue fish with orange fins, tail, and lips as well as a pair of big eyes.

Rip Van Fish is named after the literary character, who fell asleep for twenty years.

Super Mario World
In Super Mario World, if Mario or Luigi swims too close to a Rip Van Fish, it wakes up and starts to chase after him. Like Cheep Cheeps, a Rip Van Fish can be defeated if Mario and Luigi either shoot a fireball at it while under the effects of a Fire Flower, swim into one while under the invincibility effect of a Super Star, or have Yoshi swallow one. If Mario or Luigi is invincible, the Rip Van Fish acts the opposite and tries to swim away from them. Once Mario or Luigi swim a far enough distance from the Rip Van Fish, it goes back to sleep.

In Forest of Illusion 2, all Rip Van Fish within range can be awakened by the whistle of a Chargin' Chuck.

Super Mario Advance 4: Super Mario Bros. 3
The Rip Van Fish reappear in the underwater portions of the World-e level Sea to Sky in Super Mario Advance 4: Super Mario Bros. 3. They act the same as in Super Mario World.

Super Mario World television series
Rip Van Fish also appeared in the Super Mario World television series episodes "King Scoopa Koopa" and "Mama Luigi".

In "King Scoopa Koopa", after leaping down a Warp Pipe in the Star Path to escape several cave people transformed into Chickadactyls, Mario and Princess Toadstool end-up in the ocean. Seeing several Rip Van Fish surrounding them, Mario and Princess Toadstool make a mad-dash to a nearby Warp Pipe, in the process, waking-up all the nearby Rip Van Fish. Fortunately, Mario and Princess Toadstool struck into the Warp Pipe before the Rip Van Fish can attack them.

In "Mama Luigi"; Luigi and Yoshi, after falling into the ocean, end-up waking a nearby Rip Van Fish, which proceeds to chase Luigi and Yoshi. Attempting to escape the Rip Van Fish, Luigi and Yoshi enter a nearby, underwater tunnel and begin swimming furiously, avoiding obstacles such as ? Blocks and Urchins. Eventually, the Rip Van Fish, having apparently grown bored of chasing Luigi and Yoshi, quickly stops and begins to nap once again, allowing Luigi and Yoshi to get away.

Mario's FUNdamentals
In Mario's FUNdamentals, Rip Van Fishes appear as a playing card when the player plays Go Fish with Mario.

Mario Family
A Rip Van Fish appears as a sewing design in Mario Family.

Nintendo Puzzle Collection
Rip Van Fish reappears in the Nintendo GameCube remake of Yoshi's Cookie in Nintendo Puzzle Collection, as the second opponent in the game's VS. Mode if the player plays on Hard mode.

Super Mario World / Super Mario World: Super Mario Advance 2

 * Super Mario World Instruction Booklet: This little fellow is always taking a nap, but when Mario comes along, he wakes up, and sets off in hot pursuit. Whatever you do, don't let Rip touch Mario.
 * Mario Mania: Talk about cranky! Asleep, Rip Van Fish is harmless. Wake him, though, and you'll have to high-tail it out of there before he can hunt you down.
 * Super Mario World: Super Mario Advance 2 "Denizens of Dinosaur Land" poster: Even though these little guys are always napping, they wake up whenever Mario or Luigi comes near and set off in hot pursuit. Whatever you do, don't let them catch you!
 * Prima Games: Rip Van Fishes sleep until you come near, then they wake up and chase you for having disturbed their rest. They are vulnerable to Capes and Fireballs.