Are Tap Taps related to clefts?

[cheat-master30]

In Paper Mario 2, there are enemies with high defence, covered with spikes and that are found in dangerous places, while in the Yoshi's Island series, there are also a certain type of enemies like the above. But the two mentioned are not the same species, nor the same enemies, but two very different types of creatures. However, is there a possibility that both species are somewhat descended from one, or related in some way? Now to examine why.

The first reason of course is appearance. This is a Tap Tap:

http://www.mariowiki.com/images/4/47/Tap.jpg

and this is a cleft:

http://www.mariowiki.com/images/e/ee/A_cleft.PNG

Note how both have spikes, both have brightly coloured shoes, and both are pretty small creatures in both height and width. Remind you of the other one by just a bit?

The other reason is how they are taken out, and their strength. Clefts have high defence stats, and there is a species called an Iron Cleft which have indestructible defence, and can only be defeated by throwing one into another one. Tap Taps also have high defence, and are generally not destroyable by normal means, but you can smash one backwards into another, just like with the Iron Clefts to destroy it. Plus, Tap Taps equal steel, and Iron Clefts equal iron, right? And steel is tougher than iron, right?

This makes me think that Tap Taps may be not only in some way related, but also a more powerful species, almost like an upgraded version of a Cleft, as they have the same statistics, if not better than the Moon Clefts and Iron Clefts.

Also note that Iron Clefts had to be eaten by and thrown at the other by guess what character? Yoshi. And what character is the main character of the Yoshi series? The exact same species, a Yoshi (in fact, multiple).

So do you think they may be related in some way?

Extra Notes: I personally think the Clefts may also have some relation, and maybe Tap Taps do as well, to the Bristle species of enemies. Not so much in apperance (although Tap Taps and Bristles do share some similarities, especially the rolling Tap Taps), but in how all three species have decent attack, are annoying and high defence, and even more so in how the Bristle types are some of the toughest monsters in Paper Mario. This is a bristle:

http://www.mariowiki.com/images/a/a1/Bristle.PNG

[Luis]

I never seen those enemies. I really need to play the Paper Mario series. I think they are a replacement of Tap Tap. Donkey Kong enemies had been doing that too. Some enemies were replaced by others.

[cheat-master30]

How they could have been in Paper Mario 2:

Well first, they would be in the last 10 floors in the Pit of 100 Trials, and would likely be found about floor 95 plus downwards, and would be some of the tougher enemies, have infinite defence and requiring Yoshi to spit them at another enemy or to be frozen solid to be affected by attacks.

HP- 15

Defence- Off the scale

Attack- 10

Tattle- [Not sure, will add one later]

Attacks: It's main attack would be to charge at Mario, like a Cleft, and would do around 8 damage if non guarded, 7 if guarded. Press B right as it hits Mario to super guard (but do no damage to either you or the Tap Tap)

Roll- It would roll at Mario, doing around 10 damage. This attack can also be charged to boost the attack power to 15, which is pretty dangerous.

Charge up- It would increase it's attack by 5 for whatever attack it will use next, and would do the typical glowing effect that happens when a Cleft charges.

Jump- Not an attack, but a defence move. Would jump if attack boosting was detected from Mario or partner to maybe dodge their next attack.

Possible holding items- Ultra Shroom, Earthquake, Shooting Star.

Appears at: possibly either 95, 97, 98 or 99 for floor.

[cheat-master30]

I never seen those enemies. I really need to play the Paper Mario series. I think they are a replacement of Tap Tap. Donkey Kong enemies had been doing that too. Some enemies were replaced by others.

Another possibility, although it has not really been replaced, as it has appeared in a quite a few modern games, namely Yoshi's Topsy Turvy, Yoshi's Touch and Go and Yoshi's Island DS. The Bristle species are quite new however, only found in Paper Mario The Thousand Year Door.

[Luis]

I meant the one from Paper Mario 2, Cleft was a new character to replace Tap Tap.

[cheat-master30]

Huh? What new one? Mario Wiki says they were in the original as well (Clefts).

[Luis]

He is? What Mario game was he in?

[cheat-master30]

Paper Mario 1(Nintendo 64).