Turtloids

Turtloids (ドースン) are a turtle-type Badniks created by Dr. Robotnik. Turtloids make their debut in Sonic the Hedgehog 2, where it functions as two separate Badniks: bigger one, that is able to hover in the air and shoot small projectiles from its mouth, and the smaller one, which is able to ride the bigger one above. They are always seen in a pair.

Sonic the Hedgehog 2
First appearing in Sonic the Hedgehog 2, Turtloids are sent to air strike at Sky Chase Zone. These larger Badniks move slowly forward in the air and shoot small sparkling projectiles once from their mouth that move little faster in the linear way. The smaller Badniks are seen doing nothing, but control the larger one above it.

The larger Badniks cannot be destroyed, but it becomes harmless once its small rider is gone. After the small one is destroyed, the player can hop onto the larger one's shell as a platform from the wings of Sonic's biplane, the Tornado.

Sonic Rivals
Turtloids make a small appearance as a collectible card in Sonic Rivals.

Sonic the Hedgehog 4
Turtloids make a return appearance in Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode II, where these Badniks are featured at at first and second acts of Sky Fortress Zone. Like in Sonic the Hedgehog 2, these Badniks have the same attack pattern but come in a new, upgraded design. They are guarding the Metal Carrier ridden by Metal Sonic in the first act, while in second act, these Badniks are seen floating by Sky Fortress Zone. The player can used Homing Attack to hit smaller Badniks easily and stepping above on the bigger one, making it wobble.

Sonic 4 Website info

 * A Turtle type Badnik last seen in "SKY CHASE ZONE" in "Sonic 2". It serves as a guardian of Metal Sonic's weapon unit "Metal Carrier."

Sonic Lost World
Turtloids appear in Sonic Lost World, where they are featured as regular floating enemies at Sky Road. During the game, it turns out that Badniks, including Turtloids, got hijacked by the Deadly Six. In the game, their appearance is closely similar to their original look from Sonic the Hedgehog 2.

Physical Appearance
Turtloids are in fact two robots, one large and one small. They are based on turtles, hence its name. The larger, tired-looking robot flies by means of a grey jet engines on its backside. It also has grey metallic head with turtle nose and front legs. It got large, green shell with two small arrow sticker in both sides, while the shell is colored yellow below. The smaller turtle robot stands on its back, apparently piloting it while hanging on the pole set upon the larger one's shell. These smaller variations have mostly similar characteristics as larger ones, with exception being able to stand on two back feet and having more enthusiastic expression on its face.

Turtloids' appearance in Sonic the Hedgehog 4 is more detailed and design differs by having more turtle-looking appearance and slightly larger jet engines. The above section of the larger Badniks have a straighter platform for smaller ones to hang on. In Sonic Lost World, smaller Badniks are seen having yellow pacifiers on their mouth.

Abilities
Turtloids will stay in place and wait for Sonic and Tails to approach. If the player is directly in front of it, the large robot will shoot fireballs at them from its mouth. This attack seems to be controlled by the small robot. If the small turtle is destroyed, the indestructible larger one floats helplessly in the air as the screen auto-scrolls, no longer posing any threat.

Sonic the Comic
Turtloids have made only appearance in the original run of Fleetway's Sonic the Comic issue 20' story "Hill Top Terror", where they are standard flying units in Dr. Robotnik's Badnik army and are being sent after Sonic and Tails above Hill Top Zone at the beginning of story. Despite the air strike, all Turtloid Badniks got easily destroyed. In the comic, larger Badniks are seen to shoot laser waves from their mouth rather than projectiles.

Archie Comics
Turtloids make small appearance in Archie's Sonic the Hedgehog #241 and #242. Instead of small Turtloid Badniks, Doctor Eggman sends bigger Turtloid Badniks to serve as flying mounts for Egg Swats for air strike against Team Fighters. Team Fighters destroyed easily Egg Swats and Turtloid Badniks by Tails's Tornado, while Amy Rose utilized one larger Turtloid Badnik to use it against Egg Swats as well.

Sonic the Hedgehog: The Movie
Similar looking, small turtle Badnik has be seen in Sonic the Hedgehog: The Movie, as one of two missiles of Robotnik's purple Egg Mobile. While the rabbit missile manages to be success to hit Tornado, while Robotnik thinks the turtle missile being design failure due being slow moving in the air. In the ending of movie, it is still seen hovering in the air, while Robotnik gloats about creatin a new, stronger Hyper Metal Sonic with his CD copy including Sonic's copied abilities. Suddenly the turtle robot appears and catches the CD, exploded with it right in front of Robotnik's face.

Trivia

 * In Tails' Skypatrol, there is turtle enemy called Dorigame, which bear a heavy resemblance to the smaller Badniks. However, they are not seen with their inseparable counterparts and have totally different behavior.
 * Sky Chase in Sonic the Hedgehog Pocket Adventure is similar to the Sonic the Hedgehog 2 zone of the same name, as Balkiry and Nebula make return appearances. Turtloids, however, are strangely absent.