For 20 years Pokémon fans have been collecting and evolving their cute and powerful pocket monsters. But did you know that many adorable Pokémon were based on real life animals (and plants!) that are equally exciting and special?
Here are 20 interesting creatures from the real world that have inspired Pokémon for two decades:
Under The Sea
Magikarp - Rougheye Rockfish and Koi
The Rougheye Rockfish is a mostly solitary swimmer from deep marine waters. It is one of the longest living fishes in the sea - with some reportedly living up to 205 years! Magikarp definitely gets its orange hue from the Rougheye Rockfish but its whiskers are inspired by the ornamental lucky Koi fish of Japan.
Manaphy and Phione - Sea Angels
These extremely small sea slugs have wing-like appendages which enable them to swim through the sea like angels — hence the name Sea Angels. Manaphy and Phione are blue water based Pokémons who get their look from the translucent creatures.
Shellos - Chromodoris lochi
Another sea slug turned Pokémon is the Chromodoris lochi with its bright blue coloration and yellow gills. Shellos the Pokémon comes in two different color patterns - blue and green from the East Sea and pink and white Shellos from the West Sea on either side of the Sinnoh Mountain Range.
Luvdisc - Kissing Gourami
The heart-shaped lip-locking Luvdisc is based on the Kissing Gourami whose perpetually puckered lips might look like they are beckoning for some smooches. But watch out — their teeth are sharp and they're not afraid to use them!
Stunfisk - Stargazer
The Stargazer fish has a face that only mother could love. It spends most of its time buried just beneath the surface as it watches out for its prey with its eyes that grow out from the tops of its head. Some species even have modified eye muscles that can produce an electric shock to kill their prey. Similarly, Stunfisk also buries itself in the mud and causes electric shock to whomever steps on it.
Gorebyss - Long Nose Chimaera
Often mistaken for a shark, the Chimaera is a cartilaginous fish with a venomous spine located in front of its dorsal fin. Gorebyss also has a long nose and is one of the possible final evolution forms of Clamperl.
Still In The Water
Poliwag - Translucent Tadpoles
Poliwag's cutest distinctive feature is the spiral on its belly which is taken directly from the same structure that can be seen on the animal that inspired it: the tadpole. The tadpole's spiral is actually the folds of its intestines which can be seen through its translucent body. That's also exactly what the spiral is on Poliwag according to the official Pokémon Manual.
Mudkip - Axolotl
The Mexican walking fish (which is not actually a fish, but an amphibian) is a salamander that developed to never walk out of water. Both Mudkip and Axolotl have frilly structures protruding from their cheeks where a fish's gills would normally be — these are their lungs which developed to process oxygen outside the body.
Charmander - Salamander
One of the three starter Pokémons, Charmander is based on the humble salamander. Although Charmander can expel fire from his tail, the salamander doesn't quite have such fiery abilities. However, throughout human history, it was thought to be invulnerable to flames and clothes made from its skin were thought to make the wearer incombustible.
Kabuto - Woodlouse
Kabuto may look like a little tick but it's actually based on Isopods of the crustacean family. Specifically, it is based on the Woodlouse which can roll up into a perfect sphere as a defense mechanism.
Krookodile - Northern Indian Gharial Crocodile
Krookodile, the final evolved form of Krokorok, is based on the Gharial. This protected and critically endangered crocodile is found in Northern India and has a distinctive long and thin snout.
Landlubbers
Sandshrew / Sandslash - Pangolin
Sandshrew (or Sandslash in some versions) has an armor-like hide that protects and allows it to blend into its environment. The hide of a Pangolin is made of keratin which protects it from its favorite snack item - ants!
Kangaskhan - Kangaroo
Kangaskhan is based on kangaroos. Like the Australian bipedal marsupial, Kangaskhan keeps its young in a pouch and both mother and kid combine their abilities for some powerful Pokémon attacks.
Sneasel - Weasel and Kamaitachi
Sneasel's appearance is based on a weasel, but did you know that it's also heavily influenced by a creature from Japanese folklore? The Kamaitachi are creatures that ride on "dust devils" and cut people with their sickle-like nails.
Drowzee - Malayan Tapir
Drowzee's bi-colored body makes it look like it's wearing brown pants. An adult Malayan Tapir, also called Asian Tapir, is also two-toned with white fur but as juveniles they actually have a dappled pattern.
Up In The Trees
Zigzagoon - Raccoon
One of the most obvious Pokémon to be based on real life animals is Zigzagoon. The only difference from a real raccoon is its distinctive zigzag fur pattern and shape.
Mankey - Japanese Macaque
The monkeys often depicted in Japanese anime and manga hanging around hot tubs are the Japanese Macaque. Mankeys would rather snack on their favorite food: chestnuts - but often go into a rage since they lack the dexterity to peel them.
Emolga - Sugar Bear
Emolga is said to resemble a flying squirrel, but we think this adorable, electrifying Pokémon looks more like a Sugar Glider, also known as a Sugar Bear. Like a flying squirrel, the Sugar Glider also has a gliding membrane. The marsupial also has dark ears and a tail just like Emolga.
Chatots - Lovebird
Chatots looks exactly like a Masked Yellow-Collared Lovebird. Although the Pokémon's head was made to resemble an eighth note and its tail was made to look like a metronome.
Caterpie - Eastern Tiger Swallowtail Caterpillar
Another Pokémon which looks exactly like a real life animal is Caterpie, which was inspired by the Eastern Tiger Swallowtail Caterpillar. Caterpie's eyes are actually just markings on the real caterpillar's body which resemble large eyes to deceive would-be predators.
BONUS
We've already reached 20, but here are other Pokémon based on real life things, and one mythical being!
Mawile
Futakuchi-onna is a Japanese monster which grows on the back of the heads of women who diet too much - the mouth is a punishment as it needs to consume double the amount of food a normal person needs.
Exeggutor
Instead of coconuts, this tree-like Pokémon has different heads, each with its own mind and personalities.
Mr. Mime
Winner of the most uninventive Pokémon name, Mr. Mime is based on mimes.
Vileplume
Rafflesia arnoldii is the world's largest carnivorous plant. It is also called a corpse flower because it smells like rotting flesh to attract flies.
Victreebel
Also inspired by another kind of carnivorous plant, the Pitcher Plant.
Trubbish
Literally it is an overflowing black bag of trash.
