Koopa Troopas, or just simply
Koopas, known in Japan as , are a fictional race of
turtle or
tortoise-like creatures from the
Mario series, as well as its sister
Yoshi series. Although the term 'Koopa' is a
blanket term for the entire species of anthropomorphic turtles in the series, to which creatures such as
Lakitu,
Hammer Bros. and even
Bowser belong, the term is often used to refer colloquially to this particular enemy. They are known for their black magic. First appearing in the
1983 arcade game,
Mario Bros., in which they were known as
Shellcreepers, they are among the oldest
recurring enemies in the series, and have appeared in some form in all of the main games, and most of the
spin-off games. When defeated, Koopas may flee from or retreat inside their
shells, which can then usually be used as weapons. Koopa shells are a recurring weapon in the series, particularly popularized in the
Mario Kart series, in which they can be fired as
projectiles against other racers. Despite making up the bulk of
Bowser's army, known as the "Koopa Troop", Koopas as a species are often shown to be peaceful, some even teaming up with
Mario such as
Kooper from
Paper Mario. An
undead Koopa Troopa becomes a
Dry Bones.