It is no secret that Pokémon are inspired by creatures in real life. There are a lot of obvious ones, like Seel is based on a seal and Ekans is based on a snake. However, there are some Pokémon that are inspired by lesser known animals.
With nearly one thousand Pokémon currently in existence, there are a ton of designs (with some better than others). The designs are based on inanimate objects, mythical creatures, and even people! Most of all though, they are inspired by real-life animals. After all, animals are the closest thing in our world to Pokémon. They live in unique environments, have unusual abilities, and can form relationships with humans.
We live in a time when some people might even see a certain animal and say “That looks like a Pokémon!” In some cases, they may be actually looking at an animal that inspired one of the many Pokémon from the games.
10 Poliwag Is A Transparent Glass-Frog Tadpole
Poliwag is a unique design from the first generation, and is associated with a tadpole. However, its design is a little more specific than just your run-of-the-mill tadpole that you can find in any puddle. It is designed based off of the glass-frog tadpole. These guys get their names from their see-through bodies that allows people to see their intestines.
So that swirl on a Poliwag is actually based on the intestines these tadpoles have! It is both a little gross but also pretty amazing.
9 Caterpie Is An Eastern Tiger Swallowtail Caterpillar
Another early generation (and a generation best known for its story) Pokémon is Caterpie. As its design and name describes, it is obviously based on a caterpillar. However, there is a particular caterpillar in real life that has a very similar design to the Pokémon. That is the Eastern Tiger Swallowtail Caterpillar.
Does that mean its butterfly form looks like a Butterfree? Unfortunately, the similarity doesn’t go that far. Butterfree is more similar to black-veined white butterflies.
8 Shellos Is A Chromodoris Lochi
This Water-type Pokémon was introduced in the Diamond and Pearl generation and came in two different forms: one blue and one pink. They are based on sea slugs, but the similar is most specific to the Chromodoris lochi. They are alike in their bright colors. The creature doesn’t just come in blue, but all sorts of colors!
As for its evolution, it changes in type of sea slug. Gastrodon more closely resembles a Opisthobranchia.
7 Sandshrew Is A Sunda Pangolin
What Sandshrew is inspired by is actually debated between fans. Some say it was inspired by an armadillo while others say it is like a shrew due to its name as well as their poisonous claws.
In terms of how they look and walk though, the similarity between them and a Sunda Pangolin are most relevant. These adorable animals are known as scaly anteaters. They are not often seen due to being nocturnal and can be found in various regions in Asia.
6 Magikarp Is A Yelloweye Rockfish
While the Bulbapedia may tell you that Magikarp is based off of Asian carp due to their jumping ability, that commonality is more in the lore of Magikarp rather than its design. On the design end, it looks just like a Yelloweye Rockfish.
What is known about the Yelloweye Rockfish is they were prized for their meat and have been in a population decline since the 1980s. Honestly, that tracks. If Magikarp was real in our world, it would also be over-fished.
5 Drowzee Is An Asian Tapir
Drowzee was not partly inspired by an elephant, but a tapir! Like Drowzee, they have a short nose trunk. They can be found in the jungles of Central and South America as well as Southeast Asia. Also like Drowzee, they are similar to a pig in shape.
Its terms of its abilities though, Drowzee are similar to Baku from Japanese folklore. Artistinc depictions of Baku also share a lot of physical traits with tapir. Its evolved form, Hypno, also has tapir-like qualities. However, Hypno and Drowzee are often overlooked by fans since their powers are a little unsettling.
4 Krookodile Is A Gharial
The design and name make is obvious that Krookodile was inspired by a crocodile. It’s not the first to be either, as Totodile and Feraligatr share that similarity. However, it is inspired by a specific crocodile known as the Gharial. They are actually critically endangered, so seeing one in the wild would be quite rare.
Like Krookodile, its snout is much more narrow than your average crocodile. Unlike Krookodile, Gharial never stand up. That would be terrifying.
3 Wooper Is An Axolotl
Many fans say it is Mudkip who is inspired by Axolotl, and they may be partly right. However, Wooper is in the same boat. In fact, its name is based on the Japanese term used for the marketing of Axolotl as pets: Wooper Looper. It is one of the more creatively named Pokémon.
In terms of physical similarities, Wooper and the animal both have far apart eyes, frills/pointy parts on the sides of their head, and are Water-type.
2 Gorebyss Is A Long-Nosed Chimaera
Gorebyss is pretty but becomes a little scary the more and more you learn about it. Introduced in generation three, Gorebyss is based on a type of fish that is known for its long protruding snout. Luckily, the Long-Nosed Chimaera merely uses its snout to find prey. Its nose has sensitive nerve endings to help it search.
Gorebyss’ dex entry is more horrifying, describing that is sucks the in the body fluids of its prey.
1 Stunfisk Is A Stargazer
Introduced in the revolutionary Black and White generation, Stunfisk isn’t known for having an elegant design. That is because it was inspired by a weird looking fish called a Stargazer. Many thinks Stunfisk is based on a flounder due to its flat body, but the Stargazer has more in common due to its eye and mouth placement.
Despite having a romantic name like “Stargazer,” the fish looks just as wacky as its Pokémon counterpart.
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