In Donkey Kong Country, what animal buddy is Enguarde?

In Donkey Kong Country, Enguarde is a swordfish.

Enguarde is one of the game’s animal buddies, companions that the Kongs can discover and ride during particular stages. He specializes in underwater sections, where his pointed bill lets him attack enemies and move effectively through aquatic areas. His role is similar to Rambi’s on land, although Enguarde is designed for swimming rather than charging across platforms.

The character first became associated with the Donkey Kong Country games developed by Rare for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System. Enguarde’s distinctive silhouette and thrust attack made him one of the franchise’s most recognizable animal helpers, alongside Rambi the Rhino, Squawks the Parrot, Expresso the Ostrich, and Winky the Frog.

A common mix-up is to treat Enguarde as a shark or dolphin because he appears in underwater levels. He is specifically depicted as a swordfish, and the sword-like bill is central to both his name and gameplay. The character also returned in later Donkey Kong titles.