(IPA: /?j??.?i/) is a fictional dinosaur who appears in the Mario series of video games by Nintendo. Yoshi's debut was in Super Mario World on the Super Nintendo Entertainment System. Yoshi later became a protagonist of his own series with several platform and puzzle games, including Yoshi's Cookie. Yoshi plays an integral role in many of the games, aiding Mario in his quest to defeat Bowser. Allowing Mario to ride piggyback, Yoshi often swallows enemies, regurgitating or excreting them encased in eggs. Yoshi has also appeared in many of the spin-off Mario games, including the Mario Kart and Mario Party series as well as the various Mario sports titles. Species Yoshis are commonly depicted in games as having very long, sticky tongues, rather like a frog or chameleon, with which they capture enemies to swallow. They are omnivorous and seem to enjoy tropical fruits as depicted in the game Yoshi's Story. In Super Mario Sunshine Yoshi can onl