Koopa Paratroopa

Koopa Paratroopas (also known as Parakoopas, Sky Troopas in Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars, or simply Paratroopas) are Koopa Troopas with wings. They lose their wings when they are attacked in air, such as getting stomped or hurt by fireballs. They traditionally come in two varieties: Red Koopa Paratroopas usually fly up and down or side to side in a set path, while green Koopa Paratroopas often bounce in the player's general direction. Red Koopa Paratroopas first appear in World 1-3 of Super Mario Bros., while the green ones first appear in World 2-1 of the same game. However, some Paratroopas hover left and right. Their name comes from "paratrooper", a term used in the military to describe soldiers who parachute down to attack.

Super Mario Bros.
Paratroopas debut in Super Mario Bros., when Bowser decides to overrun the Mushroom Kingdom and steal Princess Peach. They lose their wings and turn into normal Koopa Troopas if Mario or Luigi jump on them. They keep their two different attack patterns: Green Paratroopas that fly back and forth, while the Red Paratroopas that can actually fly up and down. If Mario or Luigi jumps on them to clip their wings before they touch the ground, they turn around and go whichever way the player is.

Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels
Once again, Bowser decides to kidnap Princess Peach in the Japan-only game (until Super Mario All-Stars) called Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels. Here, Paratroopas are a very common enemy, and in some levels even more common than Koopas or Goombas. Their attack pattern is very different from any other game, since both colors can jump up and down and fly. They also appear in certain water levels, where they cannot be stomped.

Super Mario Bros. 3
While Paratroopas do appear in Super Mario Bros. 3, they are not very common, unlike in most other 2D sidescrolling games. They retain the same role they play in Super Mario Bros., including their red and green colouration. Additionally, a usable item called the P-Wing, meaning "Paratroopa Wing", allows Mario or Luigi to fly around an entire level without wearing out, although the effects end once they go to the next level.

Super Mario World
Koopa Paratroopas reappear in Super Mario World when Bowser interferes Mario, Luigi, and Princess Peach's trip to Yoshi's Island. In this game, many of them are capable of flight instead of simply hopping, including all red varieties and certain green Paratroopas. They still lose their wings when jumped on by Mario or Luigi. If Mario or Luigi jumps on them while riding Yoshi, they are defeated in a single stomp. In some situations, it is necessary to bounce off of flying Paratroopas to cross gaps.

Green-shelled Paratroopas either jump in one direction, some jumping higher than others, or fly in one direction, while the red-shelled Paratroopas fly back and forth horizontally or vertically. Even though blue-shelled Koopas and yellow-shelled Koopas are introduced in this game, only the yellow-shelled Koopas have a Paratroopa variant. Yellow-shelled Paratroopas act like regular Koopas, but they chase after Mario and jump over any shells that are in their way. Jumping on them gets rid of their wings and turn them into regular yellow-shelled Koopas. Yellow-shelled Paratroopas only appear in the Special World levels Awesome and Funky, making them very rare enemies.

New Super Mario Bros.
Paratroopas make an appearance as a common enemy in the 2D platformer, New Super Mario Bros. In this game, they act the same as they did in Super Mario Bros. Only red and green Paratroopas appear in this game. Unlike Koopa Troopas, they do not move to the music; they just simply fly in their set direction, or up and down like Paragoombas.

New Super Mario Bros. Wii
Paratroopas reappear in the successor of New Super Mario Bros., New Super Mario Bros. Wii. Here, they have the same attack pattern as the previous games. Unlike its predecessor, the Paratroopas move to the music while flying. Like the predecessor, only green and red Paratroopas appear. However, unlike in Super Mario World, whenever Yoshi jumps on a Koopa Paratroopa, it simply loses its wings, instead of being defeated instantly, but a ground pound still takes one out with a single blow.

New Super Mario Bros. 2
Paratroopas reappear in New Super Mario Bros. 2, acting the same as in previous games. Green Paratroopas are more common in this game, as they can now travel in circles and not just horizontal or vertical lines, as red ones only appear in a few levels.

New Super Mario Bros. U
Both Red and Green Paratroopas reappear in New Super Mario Bros. U, acting as in previous games.

Super Mario 3D World
While Paratroopas themselves don't appear in Super Mario 3D World, a dry version is introduced. They are the only flying sub-species of Koopa Troopa to appear in a 3D platformer, even before the standard Paratroopa. Parabones fly a small distance above the ground and attack the player if they notice. Like normal Dry Bones, if a Parabones is attacked without the use of a Star, Lucky Bell, or Invincibility Leaf, it will collapse temporarily, but reassemble itself after a short time. During its reassembly, it is vulnerable to getting attacked. A Parabones can also be permanently destroyed if it collapses over lava or a pit. Unlike Paratroopas, their wings also reassemble after they get hit, like their other counterparts, the Dry Bones.

Super Mario Maker
Koopa Paratroopas reappear in Super Mario Maker as variants of Koopa Troopas. They function the same as before. They can be made in the Course Maker by dragging wings on a Koopa Troopa.

Super Mario Bros.: Peach-hime Kyushutsu Dai Sakusen!
A Paratroopa appears when Mario, Luigi, and Kibidango get captured by her so she can feed her babies. However, the Paratroopa's intention was to feed the chick instead of being an enemy to the hostages.

The Super Mario Bros. Super Show!
In The Super Mario Bros. Super Show!, Koopa Paratroopas make only two appearances, in the episodes "King Mario of Cramalot" and "Princess, I Shrunk the Mario Brothers". In "King Mario of Cramalot", they drop a net on top of Mario, Luigi, Toad, Princess Toadstool and Mervin the Magician. The Koopa Paratroopas are based off the show's Koopa Troopa design, except that they are depicted in shades of red while having wings similar to a bee's, rather than their usual feathered ones. Much like the Koopa Troopas that appeared in that same episode, the Koopa Paratroopas are dressed up as knights to fit the medieval setting of Cramalot. In "Princess, I Shrunk the Mario Brothers", when the Koopa Troopas are shrunk, one that is jumping has a pair of wings.

Additionally, in "Flatbush Koopa", after falling off a roller coaster and into Lower New York Bay, a Koopa Troopa mutters that he wishes that he had joined the Paratroopas, claiming that they have received parachutes.

The Adventures of Super Mario Bros. 3
Koopa Paratroopas have a very brief cameo in The Adventures of Super Mario Bros. 3 episode "Do the Koopa", where several of them can be seen dancing along with a few Paragoombas in the Doomship's cargo hold. Unlike the Koopa Paratroopas from The Super Mario Bros. Super Show!, these ones are redesigned to better resemble their in-game counterparts. Standard Koopa Troopas never appear on the show.

Super Mario World: Mario to Yoshi no Bōken Land
In the interactive OVA Super Mario World: Mario to Yoshi no Bōken Land, after Iggy's horde of Koopa Troopas, Rexes, and Chargin' Chucks is defeated by Mario, Luigi, and Yoshi, he summons a group of Koopa Paratroopas and Monty Moles. They are quickly disposed of when Yoshi swallows a Green Shell and breathes fire on them.

Club Nintendo
A Koopa Paratroopa also appear in the Club Nintendo comic "Marios Rückkehr" where it collides with Raccoon Mario, causing him to turn to normal Mario.

Nintendo Adventure Books
Luigi can fight some Koopa Paratroopas while ascending a flight of stairs (which lead to Wendy O. Koopa's secret camp) in the Magma Pits in Koopa Capers.

Super Mario Adventures
Koopa Paratroopas make a few appearances throughout Super Mario Adventures. A few green and red ones can be seen in the onslaught at the beginning of the story. Later, after recapturing Princess Peach, Bowser sends some Paratroopas, mostly red and green ones, to attack the Mario Bros. (Luigi curiously mistakes them for Mechakoopas.) Mario manages to fight off the Paratroopas while Yoshi eats them until he eats a blue Koopa Troopa and gains wings.

Yoshi's Safari
Koopa Paratroopas appear in Yoshi's Safari, and approach the player in groups, hovering up and down a bit as they move closer to the screen. Koopa Paratroopas can be taken down with one shot from the Super Scope and the player earns 150 points (300 in Hard Mode). Koopa Paratroopas come in four colors -- green, yellow, blue, and pink -- but their behavior is the same. Curiously, on the box art, they are depicted as barefooted, but have shoes in-game.

Hotel Mario
Flying Koopas make an appearance in Hotel Mario. They are introduced in Lemmy's High-ate Regency Hotel, and fly in a diagonal motion. Unlike Banzai Bills, they bounce off the edge of the screen, making them somewhat aggressive foes. They have a tougher variation called the Z Koopa.

Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island / Yoshi's Island: Super Mario Advance 3
Chronologically, Paratroopa's first appearance is in Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island, though they are called Para-Koopas. They are basic enemies in this game, alongside the Koopa Troopas. There are two varieties: red and green-shelled. As in Super Mario World, the red variety flies back and forth on a set path, while the green ones can only hop towards the player. As in other games, stomping on them causes their wings to fall off and turns them into regular Koopa Troopas. Yoshi cannot swallow Parakoopas, but like regular Koopas, he can spit them back out to make them slide across the ground in their shells, defeating enemies in their path. Licking them up also makes them lose their wings. Paratroopas are very common in this game, sometimes even more common than Koopa Troopas. Their appearance in this game resembles their official art much more than in previous games.

Yoshi's Island DS
The Yoshis encounter the Paratroopas in Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island's sequel, Yoshi's Island DS. Yet again, they act as a common enemy along with the Koopa Troopas. As in Yoshi's Island, they exist in two different colors and attack in the same way they did in that game. In the Island Museum, Paratroopas appear in the Ground Exhibit, the same area where the Koopas appear in. Their appearance is similar to that of Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island, but they possess a much lighter outline and they are slightly larger.

Yoshi's Woolly World
Koopa Paratroopas reappear in Yoshi's Woolly World. When they are hit by a yarn ball, they become Koopa Troopas just like in previous games. Knot-Wing the Koopa is a boss which appears several times throughout Yoshi's Woolly World. Knot-Wing has the appearance of a large Koopa Paratroopa, however he has the ability to regain his wings after losing them.

Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars
They make yet another appearance in the game Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars, when Smithy takes over Mario World. However, in this game, they go under the name of Sky Troopas. They appeared in the levels Mushroom Way, Bandit's Way, and Booster Pass.

In this game, all Sky Troopas have red shells and do not lose their wings when hit. These shells give Sky Troopas a high defense rating compared to other enemies fought early in the game. Additionally, Sky Troopas use their shells for offense. To attack, they hide in their shells and then ram into their opponent with force.

In Mushroom Way, some Sky Troopas guard Treasure Boxes while others actively pursue Mario. One Sky Troopa even kidnaps Toad. In battle, Sky Troopas either fight alone or in pairs. At Mushroom Way and in Booster Pass, Sky Troopas also aid Spikeys in battle if the Spikeys are attacked. Four Sky Troopas can be fought in Bandit's Way while Mario chases Croco through the last area of the level. They fly high in the sky and do not actively pursue Mario, therefore he has to jump if he wants to fight them. After Croco is defeated, these Sky Troopas disappear and do not return for the rest of the game.

One prominent Sky Troopa featured in the game is Sergeant Flutter, a reformed Koopa who leads a large squad of friendly Sky Troopas. These Sky Troopas help out Mario in his quest for the Star Pieces at the behest of Monstermama, the leader of Monstro Town. These Sky Troopas assist Mario in ascending the steep cliff located at the end of Land's End, allowing him to reach Bean Valley and eventually Nimbus Land. Mario accomplishes this by jumping from Sky Troopa to Sky Troopa, each Troopa carrying Mario higher into the air and into closer proximity to the next Troopa. If Mario scales the cliff quickly by bypassing the normal sequence of Sky Troopa hops, he is rewarded with prizes.

The Sky Troopa has a bulky relative called a Heavy Troopa, which in turn are related to the Tub-O-Troopas. Sky Troopas also have stronger relatives called Malakoopas. These Paratroopas have a green shell instead of a red shell. Standard Koopa Troopas are absent from the game.

Mario Golf: Toadstool Tour
In Mario Golf: Toadstool Tour, a red Paratroopa waves the O.B. flag when players hit the ball out of bounds.

Mario Golf: World Tour
Paratroopa appears in Mario Golf: World Tour as an unlockable playable character, unlocked after 50 Star Coins are collected in Challenge Mode. Also, during Mario's and Gold Mario's post-hole animation that is used after he scores an Eagle, Hole-in-One, or Albatross, a green Paratroopa is one of the enemies that Mario/Gold Mario collides with after having grabbed a Super Star.

Mario Kart: Double Dash!!
A red Paratroopa is a playable racer in Mario Kart: Double Dash!!, where it is a light racer, along with its partner, a green Koopa Troopa. Like its partner, it has Triple Red Shells and Triple Green Shells as a special item. Its personal kart is the Para-Wing, which has very high acceleration, but low top speed and weight.

Mario Kart Wii
Paratroopa was originally going to reappear in Mario Kart Wii as a playable racer; as there is an image of it for the game's character select screen, along with Petey Piranha and Hammer Bro, but the character was scrapped for unknown reasons, possibly due to Dry Bones also being playable.

Mario Kart 8
In Mario Kart 8, Paratroopas of various colors (green, red and blue) appear as spectators in Cloudtop Cruise, GCN Dry Dry Desert,  3DS Piranha Plant Slide, and  3DS Neo Bowser City.

Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga
Koopa Paratroopas do not appear themselves in Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga, but have a very similar, beanish relative called Paratroopeas, who attack in a very similar way to Koopa Paratroopas, except that they have the ability to heal. Like Koopa Paratroopas, they lose their wings once they take enough damage and they become Troopeas. A stronger version of them exists are called Scaratroopeas, who attack in a faster manner and have the ability to even revive KO'd opponents.

Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time
Though Koopa Paratroopas do not appear, either themselves or have enemies based off of them, they are mentioned by a Toad in Peach's Castle about how he wished to have wings of a Paratroopa or Lakitu's Cloud to fly in a remote Time Hole. They are also referenced in the description for Paraslacks, a clothing that increases an adult Mario brother's speed and defense.

Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story
A group of Blue Paratroopas also appear in Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story. In this game, they teach the Mario Bros. the blue shell technique. Their appearance is similar to the Paper Mario series since they also wear the sunglasses. Another kind of Paratroopas appear in Bowser's Castle. Their shells are red and they do not wear glasses.

Mario & Luigi: Dream Team
Paratroopas make several small appearances in Mario & Luigi: Dream Team. During the battle against the Elite Trio in Dreamy Driftwood Shore, a pair of Paratroopas appear with a purple block each during Corporal Paraplonk's attack, placing a block in line with Mario, to both sides of him. In Dreamy Neo Bowser Castle (Bowser's Dream), two green Paratroopas appear as Bowser is demanding for meat to grow bigger. In Neo Bowser Castle, after Bowser betrays Antasma and takes the Dream Stone for his own, a Paratroopa is seen carrying Princess Peach. In the final battle, Dreamy Bowser creates golden, otherworldly Dreamy Paratroopas to send after Mario and Luigi. With the exception of Corporal Paraplonk, no other red-shelled Paratroopas appear in the game.

Mario & Luigi: Paper Jam
Although normal Koopa Paratroopas didn't appear in Mario & Luigi: Paper Jam, their paper versions appear in this game. If they are attempted to be hit by a Trio Hammer attack in the overworld, it will count as a miss since they are airborne. In battle, they'll always have copies, like some paper-only enemies.

Paper Mario
Paratroopas make their second RPG appearance in Paper Mario. The Paratroopas and Koopas of this game wear sunglasses, which separates them from the Koopas who help Mario. This feature is carried on into the later two installments. They only have red shells. They are found in Pleasant Path and usually just attempt to headbutt Mario when he approaches. In-battle, they are immune to Hammer attacks, but are weak to Jump attacks. Jumps turn them into normal Koopas. They are defenseless when tipped on their shell. A Paratroopa mail person named Parakarry is also one of Mario's partners in this game. He can carry Mario across small gaps and is a very powerful fighter. Additionally Paratroopas can headbutt Mario outside battle as the First Strike but this attack can be blocked to avoid taking damage.

Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door
Koopa Paratroopas appear in Paper Mario's sequel, Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door. They are first seen in Hooktail Castle, where they still attempt to headbutt Mario if he passes. Paratroopas retain the same battle style and statistics they have in Paper Mario, except that they now do two damage, instead of one. The Paratroopas of this game also wear sunglasses. Additionally, Parakarry makes a cameo in this game.

Super Paper Mario
Koopa Paratroopas appear in Super Paper Mario. They act as a common enemy and retained the same role they have had in all platformers, while looking the same as their Paper Mario relatives. Their movement pattern differs, depending on its color. Green ones hop around on the ground, while red ones fly in the air in straight lines, horizontally as well as vertically. They appear in Chapter 1-2, 2-1, and Rooms 11 and 46 in the Flipside Pit of 100 Trials.

Paper Mario: Sticker Star
Red Koopa Paratroopas appear in the 3DS game Paper Mario: Sticker Star as enemies. Koopa Paratroopas don't wear sunglasses and their appearance is different from the previous Paper Mario games. They appear in World 2 and retain the same attack pattern from previous Paper Mario titles. If Mario use a First Strike or jump type sticker, its wings will be removed, and its attack pattern becomes identical to that of Koopa Troopas. A Paratroopa Squad appears and ambushes Mario at the end of Yoshi Sphinx. They have four times HP than their other guards. Shiny Koopa Paratroopas also appear in the game. Paratroopas attack by going into their shells and diving at Mario. Unlike any other game, this attack can make Mario dizzy. Even if a Paratroopa uses a first strike it will still get Mario dizzy.

Super Smash Bros. Melee
Paratroopas appear in the first stage of the Adventure Mode of Super Smash Bros. Melee. One Paratroopa is red, the rest are green. When a character jumps on it, it loses its wings and falls to the ground. The player can defeat a Paratroopa without destroying its wings by simply grabbing it, carrying it, and throwing it or if the character uses a special move such as Kirby's swallow. A special effect the red Paratroopa has is that when its shell is thrown, fire can be seen on it, though there are no gameplay mechanics to it. Additionally, a trophy of a Paratroopa appears.

Super Smash Bros. Brawl
The Paratroopas reappear in the Subspace Emissary of Super Smash Bros. Brawl. They are tougher enemies than in the preceding game because they can also attack the players and defend themselves. The red Paratroopas follow players while the green one hops and flies in patterns and attacks players who approach them. Players can only acquire trophies of both Paratroopas by using a Trophy Stand on them.

Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS
Koopa Paratroopas reappear in Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS as Smash Run enemies.

Mario Party series
The character called Paratroopa usually makes an appearances in the Mario Party games, as a non-playable character, although its role changes each time.

Mario Party 5
In Mario Party 5, an item called the Paratroopa Capsule can be obtained. When used, a Paratroopa appears and takes away the opposing character's coins determined by a dice block roll of the user. Paratroopas also appear in backgrounds of some minigames, such as Merry Poppings and Wind Wavers.

Mario Party 6
In Mario Party 6, an item called the Paratroopa Orb swaps the player who passes the trap with the player who placed the trap. It does not work if the Metal Mushroom Orb is in effect. Koopa Paratroopas are also featured in the minigame What Goes Up..., where players either must fall down, avoiding Koopa Paratroopas, or use Koopa Paratroopas to get the highest altitude in order to win. Paratroopas appear in Odd Card Out where they can be one of the different cards the player must choose.

Mario Party Advance
In Mario Party Advance, Paratroopa is the owner of Junk, the item shop, and the cousin of Koopa, the bank manager, and is described as a Prankster. He is also affiliated with the Bob-omb Mafia.

He, Mr. I, and Goombob are the three suspects in the bank robbery. However, after interrogating the suspects, it is discovered that he was the one who stole the coins. He apologizes and says that he is just trying to mess with Koopa, and that it is just a joke. He then leaves to get the coins.

The end credits state that he rides bikes with Koopa Troopa, and made a fortune selling Toxic Toad Z action figures.

Mario Party 8
In Mario Party 8, in the minigame mode Test for the Best, green and red Paratroopas hold the 2000 and 3000 points signs, respectively.

Mario Party: Island Tour
A red Paratroopa can be seen in Mario Party: Island Tour on the Star-Crossed Skyway board alongside Flutter and a Paragoomba. It appears at the first, second, and last Star Stage and hands out seven Mini Stars. More can be seen in the background of the Hot-Air Hijinks mode. As well, various Paratroopas appear in minigames such as Sky'd and Seek.

Mario Tennis series
Paratroopa has been a playable character in many sports games as well. Its first playable role was in Mario Tennis (in the Nintendo 64 game's intro, Paratroopa participates in the tournament and loses to Luigi, allowing him to advance to a semi-finals match against Princess Peach), and it is an unlockable technique player in the sequel, Mario Power Tennis. Here, its Power Shots are Energy Ball, which creates a large lob and tornado around the opponent who hits it, and Sky Dive, where it flies up into the sky and crash lands towards where the ball is. Despite appearing in both Mario Tennis for the Nintendo 64 and Mario Power Tennis, its racket is not present in Mario Tennis Open.

Mario Baseball series
In both Mario Superstar Baseball and Mario Super Sluggers, Paratroopa appears as a playable character. In Mario Superstar Baseball, it is classified as a Technique player while Mario Super Sluggers describes it as an all-around character. In both games, Paratroopa has two colors: its regular red shell and the green-shelled version, which they slightly differ in stats. It has the ability, High Jump, to catch high flying balls in the air.

In Mario Super Sluggers, it is one of the few levitating characters that cannot feel the effects of a POW ball. Oddly, in that game, the Koopa Paratroopa is slightly slower than it was in the predecessor, being slower than the basic Koopa Troopa. Fortunately, its fielding skills are improved, along with its batting and pitching skills. The Green Koopa Paratroopa does sacrifice its pitching skills to boost its batting skills though. Both Koopa Paratroopas show good chemistry with Koopa Troopa, Paragoomba, and Bowser. Oddly, while the Koopa Troopa shows good chemistry with Bowser Jr. and Dry Bones, Koopa Paratroopa's chemistry with those two is neutral.

Mario Hoops 3-on-3
Paratroopa makes an appearance as an unlockable character in the game, Mario Hoops 3-on-3. Unlike the Mario Tennis series where it is playable in, it is a Tricky character. It can be unlocked by at least winning a bronze trophy in the regular Mushroom Tourney. Its special ability is the Wing Shot, which can be performed by tapping the screen in an 'N' pattern twice.

Super Princess Peach
Koopa Paratroopas also appear in Super Princess Peach, having the same roles from the Mario platformer games. They have the same appearance as in the Yoshi's Island games. Two types of Paratroopas under the effects of the Vibe Scepter also appear: the Mad Green Paratroopa and the Glad Red Paratroopa.

Super Mario Maker
Koopa Paratroopas are enemies in Super Mario Maker, just like in past 2D Mario games. They can be created by combining a Koopa Troopa with a pair of wings. Green Paratroopas continuously leap on the ground in a zig-zag pattern, while the Paratroopas of red variety fly up and down on a vertical route. The player can enlarge Koopa Paratroopas by dragging a Super Mushroom onto them, and the said enemies become Colossal Koopa Paratroopas.

Other appearances, cameos and references
Koopa Paratroopas appear in Skylanders: SuperChargers as part of Bowser's moveset; however, due to an agreement between Nintendo and Activision, they are featured exclusively on the Nintendo versions of the game.

Quotes

 * "Determine the amount of coins that everyone will lose." - Landing on the space with the effect of the Paratroopa Capsule or using that capsule in Mario Party 5.
 * "And so... [number rolled on Dice Block] coin(s) are gone!" After the Dice Block is rolled during the event of the Paratroopa Capsule in Mario Party 5.
 * "Some coins have been taken!" The end of the Paratroopa Capsule event in Mario Party 5.
 * "Ten-hut! Paratroopa here! I'll swap your place with [owner of the roadblock space] on the double!" When a player passes their opponent's roadblock space with an effect of the Paratroopa Orb in Mario Party 6.
 * "Best of luck out there!" The end of the Paratroopa Orb event in Mario Party 6.
 * "Welcome to Junk, the item superstore!" When a player enters Junk in Mario Party Advance.

Trophies
Note: The only Koopa Paratroopa featured in Mario Hoops 3-on-3 had a red shell.

Mario Kart: Double Dash!!

 * Kart: Parawing
 * Partner: Koopa Troopa
 * Special Item: Triple Shells
 * Bio: You might think Paratroopa is a cute little tortoise - right up until he blasts you off the course with a Triple Shell attack, that is!

Trivia

 * A scene in Super Mario Bros.: Peach-hime Kyushutsu Dai Sakusen! shows a mother Paratroopa feeding her shell-less babies in a nest that looks similar to a birds' nest, possibly implying that Paratroopas are raised in a similar fashion to birds.
 * Out of all the classic enemies from Super Mario Bros., Paratroopas and Buzzy Beetles are the only ones that have not appeared in a 3D Mario platformer.
 * In Paper Mario: Sticker Star, the Paratroopa's method of diving towards Mario from the sky to start a battle is similar to the Love Bubble's diving method to start the battle from Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time.