Sandshrew is a tailed bipedal, ground-dwelling pholidote notable for its defensive capabilities. Its body is mostly covered in a dry, tough hide, which is coloured to blend in with the sands of the desert. It can curl into a tight ball about the same size as a basketball to protect its soft underbelly. Its primary weapons are the small but sharp claws on its paws, which are also useful for burrowing and can sometimes be poisonous.