Pokey

A Pokey is a cactus-like creature that is commonly found in Mario Kart, Mario Kart DS and Mario Kart Wii as complications in the desert courses. These prickly creatures can also be found in Super Mario World and Super Mario 64 as enemies. Pokeys, like Shy Guys, and Bob-ombs originate from the non-Mario game Doki Doki Panic, which later became Super Mario Bros. 2.

Appearance
Pokeys are tall, yellow creatures with numerous spikes festooning their bodies. They are made up of several round balls combined together to form a wiggly structure. The spikes around its body act as defense against predators.

Method of Attack
Pokeys are very slow but nonetheless, they will chase you and try to kill you. If you touch one anywhere on its body, it will poke you with a spike and you will be hurt.

Super Mario Bros. 2
Pokeys first appeared in Super Mario Bros. 2. In this game, Pokeys were green and could be defeated by throwing objects at their body segments.

Super Mario World
Pokeys reappeared in Super Mario World. They were absent from Super Mario Bros. 3. This time, Pokeys were yellow and could not be defeated in the same way as in Super Mario Bros. 2. Throwing a Shell or Block at them would defeat them all at once. Mario and Luigi could also defeat a Pokey by sliding up or down a hill at the cactus. Another option was to defeat them with Yoshi, who could eat their body segments one at a time. The number of body segments present depends on if Mario has Yoshi or not. If he does, Pokeys have five body segments. Without Yoshi, Pokeys only have three segments so that Mario can Jump over them. They only appear in a special world level and Yoshi's Island 4 in a secret area.