Lots of people from different parts of the world enjoy playing with Pokémon figures and monsters, amassing them to add to their collection, but most people do not know things about the characters they love so much. Yes, we know some Pokémon originated from animals, but some of those Pokémon are a lot more similar to animals than you would realize. There are some based on very precise species and have very precise traits and special features that are only some particular categories of animals have. Here a few examples that will make you re-examine everything you thought you believed about Pokémon, or at the very least, make you go ‘’Oh wow.”
1. Poliwag - Translucent Tadpole
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Image credit: The Pokemon Wiki | National Geographic[/caption]Many of you, even new players, may already know Poliwag. This cute little water Pokémon was created based on translucent tadpoles. Obviously Poliwags are supposed to be tadpoles, but the strange thing about Poliwag is a particular design choice that majority won’t think has any importance. The swirl on Poliwag’s body that can also be seen on two of its evolutions’ (Poliwhirl and Poliwrath) stomachs isn’t just a creative design; it was formulated based on some species of translucent tadpoles that have… wait for it… noticeable swirled intestines!
So, what we see as some cool black swirl in the body of Poliwag and its evolutions might even be their guts… Just kidding. Pretty sure they’re just part of the cool design, but keep the reference in mind.
2. Gorebyss - Long-Nosed Chimaera
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Image credit: cherubchan.deviantart.com/art/ | Cool Weirdo[/caption]Gorebyss, which is a pink water-type Pokémon evolved from Clamperl (both Pokémon from the third generation), is based on the Rhinochimaeridae, also known as the long-nosed chimaera; a cartilaginous fish that even has a poisonous needle on one of its fins. Gorebyss is very similar to the long-nosed chimaera, specifically because of its face. They both share the gentle, nice eyes and the long snout. The main difference they have is the fact that Gorebyss looks extremely cute with its eyelashes, its soft colors and has these Ariel-rescue shells conjoined to it permanently, and, well; on the other hand, the long-nosed chimaera is a creature that could have come from any of your nightmares and decided to come to real life…
Glad they live very deep under the sea.
3. Caterpie - Caterpillar
[caption id="attachment_1879" align="aligncenter" width="660"] Image credit: pokegofans.com[/caption]Who does not know Caterpie? A Pokémon so common that even your grandma, that decided to play Pokémon Go all of the sudden, knows. Caterpie, one of the two first generation worms, was created based on the eastern tiger swallowtail caterpillar. Obviously, as the name suggests, Caterpies are similar to caterpillars, but the particular design of Caterpie down to its strange antennae originated from that specific type of these animals. Eastern tiger swallowtails are butterflies very common in eastern North America. Actually it’s one of the most familiar butterflies there.
But there’s something that’s very curious about Caterpie’s eyes, since the eastern tiger swallowtail caterpillar has the same type of eyes, but… wait, no, those aren’t his eyes, those are just markings.
4. Luvdisc - Kissing Gourami
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Image credit: titcafe.com[/caption]Luvdisc, a pink little water-type Pokémon from the third generation was created based on the kissing gourami, also known as the kissing fish. Luvdisc, at first glance, might look to some people like a silly fish because of its pink colors, heart shape, and strangely shaped lips. Luvdisc actually has one of the most simple designs of all the Pokémons, but the resemblance is undeniable. The kissing gourami has the same kind of lips. Another curious thing about these fishes is the fact that whenever they spar with each other, they, kind of, lock their mouths together.
They can usually be seen in big aquarium tanks kissing each other, kissing other fishes, plants, and well, pretty much whatever comes their way.
5. Mudkip - Mexican Salamander
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Image credit: animaltheory.blogspot.hr[/caption]The water-type third generation starter Mudkip is similar to the axolotl or Mexican salamander. Many of you sure think that Mudkip seems like a strange animal with its numerous fins, crazy eyes, and various things springing out of its cheeks for no specific reason but well that's pretty much because Mudkip is looks like axolotl, and that is a very strange creature. The same pattern can be seen on Mudkip’s evolutions (Marshtomp and Swampert). They all share the same colours and very curious features, plus they are water and ground type Pokémons, and the axolotl, as many amphibians live in lakes.
Another very unusual fact axolotls have is that unlike many amphibians, they reach their adulthood without undergoing any metamorphosis.
6. Krookodile - Gharial
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Image credit: in.bookmyshow.com[/caption]Anyone that has seen the dark-ground-type Pokémon that was brought with the fifth generation, Krookodile, would think that, as its name suggest, we’re talking about a crocodile but that’s not entirely true. Krookodile was designed based on an animal named gharial or gavial, of course a crocodilian. But you should know Krookodile’s slim and long snout, that might seem to be an extreme exaggeration of what the majority of the crocodile snouts look like is a very particular feature that is not just a toon parody of one of the fiercest reptiles of the animal kingdom.
That’s exactly how a gharial snout looks. Gharials are a critically endangered species living in India and are one of the three crocodilians native to India.
7. Vileplume - Rafflesia Arnoldii
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Image credit: orzzzz.com[/caption]One Pokémon that doesn’t come from an animal, but from a very well known plant, is the first generation’s final form of Oddish; Vileplume, which was created based on the Rafflesia Arnoldi, also known as the stinking corpse lily, due to its terrible smell. The massive, amazing magenta, spotted petals of Vileplume are real, and they look pretty much like those of the Rafflesia Arnoldi; even the central pit of its head looks similar. This flower can be located in the rainforests of Sumatra and Borneo.
It’s also important to know that the stinking corpse lily is recognized as the biggest flower on Earth. Now you know that name isn’t just some curious coincidence, the vile plume is iconic.
8. Chatot - Masked Lovebird
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Image credit: via kratoo.in[/caption]A little flying Pokémon that appeared in the fourth generation that has a very curious ability to sing and repeat sounds called Chatot, as many of the flying Pokémons is based on a real birds like crows, pigeons, buzzards and falcons. The particular case of Chatot is very cool to tell because it is based on a little parrot native to northeast Tanzania, and also very common in some other African countries; the yellow-collared lovebirds, also known as the masked lovebirds. The very colorful Chatot seems similar to the yellow-collared love head if you exclude the musical note-shaped head.
The white coloring around the eyes of both creatures also provides a lot of resemblance in order to assume this origin for Chatot.
9. Victreebel - Pitcher Plant
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Image credit: willgoto.com[/caption]One of the Pokémons that used to be with Team Rocket’s James in the animé series was Victreebel. If you’re a millennial, you might remember this grass Pokémon trying to eat its owner whole and laugh about it as a kid. The design of this Pokémon is based on the pitcher plant… yes, we know that isn’t an animal, but it has some very curious features that got it into this list. So Victreebel, which we already think that is a really scary Pokemon, originates from pitcher plants that are also very scary as well. The leave over the Victreebel’s mouth is also similar to that of the pitcher plant.
Main difference between the two of them is the fact that the botanical pitcher plants don’t have fangs in real life, because even Mother Nature is not that mean.
10.Ditto - Blobfish
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Image credit: http://pokemongosugar.com[/caption]A lot of people who make use of the Internet would most likely have an idea about what is a blobfish. It is iconic for being on the ugly side of the animal kingdom once it is brought out of the ocean. The reason this fish has a jelly like an appearance is that it has a density lower than that of water which lets it sail above the ocean floor at a depth of up to 3900ft. When the blobfish is taken out of the ocean floor, it looks similar to a sad ditto.
Yes, Ditto, our very curious Pokémon friend from the first generation which could transform not only into Ash’s Pikachu, but also into Ash himself.
11. Sandslash - Pangolin
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Image credit: nerdist.com[/caption]Sandslash, which is a classic Pokémon many millenials will remember from the series, was part of the first 151 Pokémons that we had on our Game Boy Color® versions. Sandslash bears a very noticeable resemblance to a pangolin, a mammal usually found throughout Africa and Asia. Sandslash not only has some very similar claws and scales, it also has the eyes of pangolins. Though some of them live in trees, just like we would expect of a ground Pokémon, many pangolins can be found dwelling in underground.
It has a very tough exterior and a remarkably long tongue; it is recognized for feeding on ants and termites. Its large claws are very often utilized like shovels for, as you might guess, digging!
12.Shellos - Chromodoris Lochi
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Image credit: orzzzz.com[/caption]Shellos, a, sometimes considered cute, Pokémon brought by Nintendo and Game Freak for the fourth generation, originated from the Chromodoris lochi; also known as the Loch's chromodoris, which just like this Pokémon, has no shell. Some may say that Shellos is actually very similar to a sea slug but its wavy body, the way the antennae are shaped and more importantly the stripes and shapes it has on its back make it very similar to the Chromodoris lochi.
After all, both sea slugs and Shellos are deeply related to the latin name for the species “Gastropods”, which are a large taxonomic class within the phylum Mollusca. The greatest hint of this is in the name of Shellos’ evolution “Gastrodon”.
13. Scyther - Devil’s Flower Mantis
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Image credit: sciblogs.co.nz[/caption]Every Pokémon fan know Scyther for sure. This green bug is very popular because it can get to be a very strong option for players. And as many of you could have guessed already from its design Scyther’s based on the Idolomantis diabolica; the idolomantis diabolica, which is also known as the devil’s flower mantis makes use of a special type of camouflage to enable it to blend in with the surrounding bushes. The mantis has a vision of 180 degrees.
This gives it great perception in every environment it ends up in. Mantises are also known for being one of the most powerful and vicious insects in the whole animal kingdom, so, yes; the resemblance is not just a coincidence.
14.Kingdra - Seadragon
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Image credit: bogleech.com[/caption]The Pokémon Kingdra is based on the common seadragon; this particular Pokémon from the second generation, which, some people that only played during first generation could think, is just a huge Horsea is similar to the sea dragon. Because of its appearance, very similar to the seaweed, this fish has the capability of camouflaging itself between floating kelp to stay out of site from any predators. Obviously, this animal does not have the strength of fighting for itself; it has an appearance that singles it out from all other creatures of the sea.
Some people who have played the most recent generations could think maybe Dragalge is a better example of this and they may be right, because this particular Pokémon looks quite a lot like the leafy seadragon.
15. Treecko - Crested Gecko
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Image credit: reptiles.guru[/caption]There’s actually a starter Pokémon that might be based on a little reptile known as the crested gecko. And if you thought of the third generation grass Pokémon, Treecko, and its evolutions you’re absolutely right. The most interesting fact about this creature is that everyone believed they had gone extinct until scientists stumbled on it in 1994 (just a couple of years before Pokémon started designing these fascinating creatures), after a huge tropical storm in New Caledonia, an overseas French-administrated territory located in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. This animal has also managed to become a well-known pet after resurfacing, a very curious particularity this animal has is the fact that it can be found in many different natural colors.
There are still a lot of animals that look like Pokémon creatures, but the following are just some of the creatures on Earth, which share the most similar traits with some of our favorite Pokémon characters.
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