Zombone

Zombone is the skeletal counterpart and second form of the Czar Dragon. When Czar Dragon is damaged enough, it falls in the lava, loses its skin, and becomes its other form, Zombone. Zombone has plenty of dangerous attacks, such as sending out boulders to attack Mario, Mallow, Geno, Bowser, and Toadstool, or headbutting them. After the gang defeats Zombone, Zombone explodes and collapses into the lava, never to be seen again.

While Zombone has stronger attacks than the Czar Dragon, it has less defense and a weakness to Jump and Thunder, so regular attacks, as well Mario's Super Jump or Mallow's Shocker can do decent damage. It also loses the power to use fire attacks or summon Helios. Being an undead enemy, Zombone is also vulnerable to the Pure Water item. However, Pure Water only causes a fixed damage of 200 points to Zombone instead of defeating the enemy entirely, like other non-boss undead.

Trivia

 * In the Final Fantasy series by Square, "Dragon Zombie" is a recurring type of enemy. This enemy was localized as "Zombone" in the SNES release of Final Fantasy VI (renamed Final Fantasy III in the west), although it was retranslated as "Zombie Dragon" in Final Fantasy VI Advance. The name of its first form, Czar Dragon, is also derived from Final Fantasy VI.
 * Zombone shares, and may have inspired, the transformation underwent by Bowser in New Super Mario Bros., who becomes Dry Bowser after being dropped into a pool of lava.