Croco

"Hoo Boy! Looks like a dead end, here. But not to worry...Heh, heh...I've got a bomb...! Never leave home without 'em."

- Croco

Croco is a purple crocodile thief from Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars.

Mario first sees Croco being chased by Mallow. When Croco escapes, Mallow starts to cry, and a rainstorm begins. Mario talks to him and Mallow says that Croco stole his grandpa Frogfucius' Frog Coin that Mallow was supposed to trade for a Cricket Pie. Mario agrees to get the Frog Coin back for Mallow, and Mallow joins Mario.

After chasing Croco, Mario and Mallow battle him and defeat the crook. Croco gives back the Frog Coin, but tells Mario that this isn't the last time they'll see him.

And he's telling the truth - When Mario, Mallow and Geno jump on a spring in the Moleville Mines that is supposed to be an exit, Mario hits the ceiling of the mines and faints. Croco proceeds to steal all Mario's coins! After chasing Croco again, Mario, Mallow and Geno battle the purple thief. Half-way through the battle, Croco steals all of Mario's items, but the party of heroes gets the items back at the end of the fight.

Croco makes a small appearance in Nimbus Land where Mario catches him looting houses and scares him off, causing Croco to drop a Signal Ring.

Croco doesn't appear again until near the end of the game in Bowser's Keep. This time he doesn't battle Mario - instead, he sells him items and gives advice. He also happens to be near a treasure block that contains an infinite number of coins, made by Magikoopa, so Mario can buy anything he needs.

Trivia

 * According to an "invisible" NPC in Mushroom Kingdom, Croco shamelessly wears crocodile-skin shoes.