Dolphin Rider Zombie

Dolphin Rider Zombies are essentially aquatic Pole Vaulting Zombies, except that they move faster while they have the Dolphin and can do more damage to the player's plants.

Suburban Almanac Entry
Dolphin Rider Zombies use dolphins to exploit weaknesses in your pool defense.

Toughness: medium

Speed: fast, then slow (after jump)

Special: jumps over the first plant he runs into

Only appears in the pool

The dolphin is also a zombie.

Strategy
Before this zombie appears on the screen, a dolphin-like sound can be heard. This will help alert you to set up defenses if you haven't already. The best strategy for this zombie is to use Tall-nuts to block them, just as you would do for the Pole Vaulting Zombie. If you don't have a Tall-nut available, plant a Lily Pad in front of them to make them lose their dolphin, slowing them down.


 * Note: If you see one coming and plant a Lily Pad in the first square, it will not jump, as the dolphin enters the water partway into the second column. You should plant one in the second or third column instead.

Trivia

 * The Dolphin Rider Zombie is the only zombie with an animal mount.
 * In fact, it is the only zombie with any sort of animal, except a prototype zombie not included in the game that walked a zombie dog (the dog was too small to be hit by peas so it was essentially invulnerable).
 * The Dolphin Rider Zombie will carry its Dolphin into your house with it if it hasn't encountered any plants when it reaches the other end of the pool.
 * The Dolphin Rider Zombie's sprite is only 2/3 the size of those of other zombies.
 * In addition to the Tall-nut, Dolphin Rider Zombies cannot jump over the Tangle Kelp, as it instantly tangles the zombie while it is still riding the dolphin.
 * As the Dolphin Rider Zombie enters the water it tosses its dolphin into the air and it flips before entering the water. This hints some athletic ability in the dolphin, uncommon in most zombies.
 * It is also unusual how a zombie with such thin arms can carry a heavy dolphin.
 * This Zombie is the fastest pool Zombie, but only with it's dolphin.
 * In some cases, Dolphin Rider Zombies can actually jump over a Tall-nut.
 * This Zombie has been somehow known to jump over Pool Cleaners when they jump at the first square nearest to Your House and another Zombie has activated it while it is jumping.