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 Mallow and he says that Croco stole his grandpa Frogfucius's 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 through Bandit's Way, 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 then proceeds to steal all Mario's coins. After chasing Croco (who is here aided by a trio of Crooks) again, Mario, Mallow, and Geno battle the purple thief. Halfway 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 Box (made by Magikoopa) that contains an infinite number of coins, so Mario can buy anything he needs.

In the ending sequence of the game, Croco is seen racing the Mushroom Derby against Yoshi. Though he loses this race, he is consoled by the bystander Boshi, and the two walk off together (seemingly establishing a friendship).

Trivia

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