Tin can you remember when there were only 151 Pokémon? Certain, some of them were definitely on the weird side, but they were all individual and creative. Most importantly, it was non actually incommunicable, or at least really difficult to "Catch'em All!". These days, there are hundreds of Pokémon, and some of them are suspiciously close to animals that exist in the real world. To be fair, some of the animals that actually exist are strange enough to be Pokémon already.

It might not exist possible to live in the Pokémon globe and go a Pokémon master similar we always dreamed of when we were kids, but it is possble to observe some real-life Pokémon if yous pay attention. These animals might not accept special abilities or be able to fit in a Pokéball, but they are close enough to the real thing to fulfil some Pokémon dreams.

With and then many Pokémon to design, in that location are some Pokémon that aren't based on animals at all. Some resemble plants, which is great for creating Grass Pokémon, and others are based on insects. A few Pokémon are based on legendary monster and dinosaurs, which is awesome. When things get questionable is when Pokémon are based on inanimate objects...how do Pokémon that expect similar trash and motorcar keys evolve in the wild?

For those who have always dreamed of finding a real life Pokémon, check out this list to see which real animals inspired the Pocket Monster we all know and love.

24 This Picayune Pokémon Has Guts...Literally.

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Poliwag is one of the most adorable Pokémon of all. Well, until yous know the truth of where it came from, at least. Poliwag is a play on the word "tadpole", a North American term for a tadpole, or the larval state of frogs and toads. Tadpoles accept a round body with a long tail, fins, and external gills before they metamorphose into adult frogs and toads. The less cute fact is that y'all can see correct through them! Their insides are totally visible through their diaphanous skin, including their intestines. Why is this important? That swirl of entrails is what inspired Poliwag'south cute belly swirl. It'south not so adorable when y'all know what intestines are full of! At least tadpoles outgrow their visible intestines, only Poliwhirl, Poliwrath, and Politoad keep their swirl through all their evolutions.

23 Oh, What Weird, Tiny Eyes You Take...

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Mudkip is one of the virtually dear Pokémon in history. Pokémon fans are in love with this weird little water-dweller. What is Mudkip exactly, though? It has tiny little beady optics, a bunch of fins that brand no sense, and foreign footling orange starfish cheeks. Information technology's hard to believe Mudkip is based on whatever real animal. A Pokémon this beautiful and weird must be pulled from pure imagination. Nope! Mudkip is actually based on the Axolotl, a neonetic salamander. The Axolotl is unremarkably known as the "walking fish" which explains Mudkip's disruptive mashup of fins and legs. The Axolotl can also suck food right into its stomach with vacuum force. If that'southward not a real-life Pokémon move, I don't know what is. The Axolotl is an endangered amphibian that definitely looks like a made-upwardly creature, making it the perfect basis for this beautiful little Pokémon.

22 This Pokémon Isn't So Legendary Later on All

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Kyogre is the mascot Pokémon of Pokémon Sapphire and Pokémon Alpha Sapphire. Information technology is a huge, ancient water-blazon Pokémon that has the power to control the oceans. With all that ability, it must be based on some ancient, powerful monster, right? Wrong. Kyogre appears to be a giant version of a whale or shark. That's considering it's both! Well, sort of. Kyogre is based on the Whale Shark, which is one of the to the lowest degree threatening sharks, so don't go your hopes up for some gruesome JAWS-type thriller. Whale Sharks are slow-moving, filter-feeding sharks. They can become really big, and can live upwards to 70 years, only they are boring, calm animals that have been known to let humans take hold of a ride or hang out in shallow water. Maybe the Whale Shark is the perfect animate being to inspire Kyogre, who helps bring peace and calm to the seas.

21 An Animal Made Of Sludge?

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Our oceans are full of grime, pollution, and general crap. Humans have a tendency to create all types of sludge and slime, which gets dumped unceremoniously into the body of water. Deep in the ocean prevarication untold mysteries, including some seriously weird animals. The Blobfish is ane gross pile of strange that looks similar a ppile of waste material runoff that grew gross little eyes. Of grade, there is an animal to friction match in the Pokémon globe. See Muk, a nasty pile of sludge that definitely should not exist. I have never personally smelled a Blobfish, but I can't imagine information technology would smell much amend than Muk, a Pokémon notorious for its hideous stench. The only matter that makes Muk creepier is the new Alolan development, which is just the same pile of sludge...but rainbow. Hopefully, nosotros don't detect a technicolor Blobfish floating around someday soon.

20 Not Just Any Mouse!

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Even people who have never played a "Pokermanz" game in their life (I'grand lookin' at you, Grandma) can recognize Pikachu. Pikachu is not just a beloved starter Pokémon and the mascot of the entire Pokémon franchise, but besides an adorable, powerful Electric type Pokémon. Pikachu might seem cute and cuddly, but his stubby little cheeks pack a mighty powerful punch. Virtually people call up Pikachu is simply based on a mouse, which makes sense because "pika" is the Japanese sound for electrivity, and "Chu" is the noise Japanese people use to draw the sound a mouse makes. So Pikachu = Electric Mouse. If you look closely, though, Pikachu doesn't resemble just any rodent. It looks exactly similar a Pika, a specific type of mouse that non many people know about. Paint some red cheeks on that rascal and you can have a real life Pikachu of your ain.

19 Wearisome And Steady Is The Sloth Pokémon

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Slowpoke might seem like it has a vibrant personality, merely it is a slow, lazy Pokémon. It makes sense, and then, that Slowpoke is modeled after a sloth. Certain there are not nay bright pink sloths in the wild, only the shape, sound, and motility of Slowpoke is a dead ringer for its sloth brethren in the real world. Sloths move slowly because of their environment and evolution. Sloths live in the copse and have a low-energy diet of leaves, and so every movement counts. No wasted calories in that location! Well-nigh sloths also need sunlight and warmth to digest their food (even their digestive system is too lazy to cease its task!) That might explain why Slowpokes are always sunning themselves on rocks instead of doing annihilation useful. Different Slowpoke though, sloths are actually pretty smart animals.

xviii Buzz Off!

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For people who don't similar bugs, bug Pokémon are a living nightmare. They are just regular bugs, but bigger, grosser, and so much scarier. The worst possible scenario is that they are modeled afterward some of the well-nigh awful real-life insects...but that is exactly what happened to Nincada. Nincada is not a cute Pokémon, but it is definitely more than attractive than its inspiration. Nincada is modeled after a Cicada, a terrible insect that makes a creepy, incredibly loud racket at night to ward off predators. Cicadas are historically a sign of evil and ruin, and they are known to destroy crops in mere minutes. They spend virtually of their lives as grubs living underground, and only sally ever 13-17 years. Just imagine a buzzing deject of Nincada bursting from the ground and flight right at you. That'southward a side of the Pokémon globe we promise to never see.

17 Are Dragons Real?

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Charmander, Char! Charmander is a Burn Pokémon, and one of the starter choices in Pokémon Red and Pokémon Blue. He is an orange Pokémon with a flaming tail, a tail that needs to stay lit for Charmander to stay alive. The baby dragon-like appearance and the mysterious fire element of Charmander makes it seem similar information technology is based purely in myth, only Charmander actually resembles a real life animal. The Chinese Behemothic Salamander is a large, orange salamander that bears a hit resemblance to Charmander. Salamanders, in mythology, have an analogousness for and a connection to elemental fire. Luckily, real salamanders don't grow into behemothic dragons like Charmander does when information technology evolves into Charizard. That would be truly terrifying!

16 This Pokémon Really Stinks

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Vileplume doesn't hide its grossness— "vile" is definitely non an adjective most people would choose to include in their names. Vileplume is a Poisonous substance Type Pokémon. Information technology'southward large flower, which is most to large and heavy for its small body to support, releases a cloud of pollen that is toxic to humans and other Pokémon. Vileplume is based on a flower that, though rare, does exist in the real world. It is modeled after the bloom Rafflesia Anoldii, which is known as the "corpse flower". It is the largest flower on world, and has the stench of decaying flesh. Even Gloom, the pre-evolved form of Vileplume, resembles the corpse flower in its budding form. Thankfully, you won't find this stinky flower or a Vileplume in your own lawn.

15 This Pokémon Makes NO Sense

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No ane in their correct listen likes Psyduck. It's a weird-shaped, duck-billed Pokémon that is famous for beingness really, really incompitent. In the Pokémon anime, Psyduck is constantly causing problem and annoying Misty, no matter how difficult she works to train him. Psyduck is just a mess. That might exist because Psyduck was inspired past a real-life animal that besides makes no sense. Whoever made the platypus was definitely joking. The platypus is a disruptive mix of mammal and bird, with a beaver-like tail, a duck bill, and the ability lay eggs and produce milk for its immature. The platypus would probably brand a meliorate Pokémon than Psyduck—at least it has a threatening stinger under its tail. Then once again, the platypus doesn't have any psychic powers...that we know of.

14 Have You lot Heard Of This Caterpillar?

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Caterpie is ane of the cuter bug Pokémon. Information technology's minor, just its String Shot packs a powerful punch. In the Pokémon games, you will find plenty of them in the forest, and the problems-communicable trainers beloved them. Of course, Caterpie is modeled later on a caterpillar, that much is obvious. Did you know, though, that there is a specific blazon of caterpillar that looks almost exactly like Caterpie? The Pokémon designers barely had to make any changes at all. The Eastern Tiger Swallowtail Caterpillar, which lives in Eastern Northward America, is ane of the about popular species of butterfly in the USA. More importantly, it is a perfect twin for Caterpie. The bodily butterfly, though, doesn't look much like Caterpie's evolutionary forms.

13 What'south With That Nose?

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If you're looking for a strange Pokémon, Drowzee has all the bases covered. It looks similar a humaniod pig, with foreign coloring and an elongated, snout-like nose. Overall, non a pretty sight. Drowzee makes up for its looks past existence a powerful Psychic type Pokémon, but it nevertheless looks incredibly weird. Would you lot believe that this strange Pokémon is actually based on a real animal? Well, it certainly is, and the Malayan Tapir looks almost as airheaded equally the drawing Pokémon Drowzee. The Malaysian Tapir has the same body shape and nose, and is native to Asia.  The Malayan Tapir is a solitary animal that is currently endangered. It is usually black and white, as opposed to Drowzee, which sports a vivid, nauseating yellow.

12 Animal Or Vegetable?

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Skrelp is a Water type Pokémon that vaguely resembles a seahorse. It besides kind of looks like kelp. What it looks exactly similar, though, is a Leafy Sea Dragon, an animal that certainly looks like it would inspire a Pokémon. Leafy Sea Dragons are marine fish that life primarily in the waters surrounding Australia. If you lot are not paying attention, you might mistake a Leafy Sea Dragon for kelp— which is why it is the perfect match for Skrelp. Skrelp starts out with simply a few "leaves", simply when it evolves into Dragalge, it resembles a Leafy Body of water Dragon even more than. Leafy Ocean Dragons are fairly rare, and more often than not seen in aquariums. It nigh seems like a mythical brute, which is great for being turned into a Pokémon! Luckily, existent Leafy Sea Dragons are not poisonous similar Skrelp.

11 Is That A Pokémon Or A Dinosaur?

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Lapras is a huge, shelled Water type Pokémon with powerful moves. Information technology takes accuse in the ocean. In the anime and the Pokémon games, Lapras is used to sail the seas, with trainers riding on its back through the inclement seas. These things make Lapras cool plenty, but when you know what Lapras's origins are, information technology is even cooler. Lapras is not based on whatever modern animal, like a giant turtle or some sort of eel, only on something much more ancient and impressive. Lapras is the Pokémon version of a Plesisiosaur, a type of marine reptile from the latest Triassic Flow. If you take never heard of the Plesioisaurs, they expect a lot like the Loch Ness Monster would if it were real. Perhaps Nessie is a Pokémon likewise!

10 This Weird Fish Makes A Big Splash

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Anybody knows Magikarp, only not necessarily in a skillful style. Magikarp is a joke Pokémon, and hands downwardly one of the most annoying Pokémon ever created. It is a giant goldfish with saucer-similar eyes and basically useless powers. If y'all are hoping to Splash your enemy until they faint, Magikarp might be helpful. Information technology needs water to Splash though, so if you try the move on dry state it generally results in a deplorable, flopping, embarrassing Magikarp moment. The only benefit of Magikarp is that eventually, after you lot embarrass yourself past sending information technology into battle about a million times, has the power to evolve into Gyrados. What a corking reward for nurturing a crappy goldfish! Magikarp is based on a real giant orange fish, the Yellow Rockfish. Hopefully, those won't evolve into giant sea monsters anytime soon!

9 What'south With The Bra?

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Gorebyss is a H2o Pokémon that is a little more agonizing than its cuteness leads you to expect. It is a long, eel-similar Pokémon with a lite pink hue. It has a long nose, which is used to eat. That's not so bad, right? well, Gorebyss literally gores its enemies with its long nose and sucks out their bodily fluids. It also eats kelp, which is much more kid-friendly.  Gorebyss also has a actually confusing addition of a seashell bra, just like Ariel in The Trivial Mermaid. The Long-Nosed Chimeara, the real life animal on which Gorebyss is based, thankfully doesn't share that trait. I does have a long nose that is very similar to Gorebyss's nose, though the Long-Nosed Chimaera merely uses their nervus-catastrophe filled olfactory organ to find prey.

8 Don't Call Me A Crocodile!

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Krookodile'southward origins seem pretty clear. It is evidently based on a crocodile, right? It all makes sense, until you really pay attention to the details. Krookodile is not just based on whatsoever one-time crocodile, only a specific animal called a Gharial. Never heard of it? Probably considering it'due south rare and extremely endangered. The Gharial is native to the Northern area of the Indian Subcontinent, and less than 250 individual Gharial are alive. Krokorok, the pre-evolved form of Krookodile, looks even more than like a Gharial because of its more neutral coloring. There is no doubtfulness, though, that Gharial is the real-world version of this weird-looking crocodile Pokémon.There seem to be enough of Krookodile in the Pokémon Universe, hopefully the Gharian are able to repopulate to match their animated pals.

7 Bullpen This!

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If you accept seen a Victreebell in Pokémon, you might exist confused as to how it could maybe exist based on annihilation real. It is obviously some sort of found, simply what kind of plant looks like a big yellowish saucepan? See the Pitcher Plant, a carnivorous bloom from the existent word that just happens to look like a very foreign Pokémon. Pitcher plants take a modified leaf called a pitfall trap, which is basically a constitute-based bucket filled with digestive fluids. The establish traps casualty in its pitcher and slowly digests the food in its open-air constitute tummy. Victreebell is non merely a Grass Type Pokémon, but a Poisonous Pokémon also. This connects it even more than closely to the Pitcher Plant. Try not to get stuck inside— you might go dissolved before you get out!

6 Mew? More Like MEOW

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Mew is ane of the well-nigh popular Pokémon, largely because if its fascinating origin. Mew is a small, pink, Psychic Type Pokémon that was first introduced in Pokémon Ruby and Pokémon Dark-green every bit a secret grapheme for GameFreak developers, merely regular players were able to grab it due to a glitch in the game.  It is a Mythical Pokémon that is surrounded past rumor and mystery. Mew's fossilized eyelash was used to create MewTwo, one of the most powerful Pokémon in existence. Mew, though extremely powerful, is also pretty cute. In fact, it looks just similar a hairless infant kitten. Sphinx cats naturally don't take the regular thick fur of a cat, which makes it a perfect doppelganger for this feline Pokémon. Does your cat take psychic powers?

five This Pokémon Definitely Doesn't Detest Sand

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Sandslash seems like the perfect desert Pokémon. Its neutral tones provide camoflage in the sand, and its sleek pattern and plated back are a perfect buffer for both enemies and sandstorms. These traits are all borrowed from a real world beast that is too perfectly designed for sandy living, which is user-friendly when designing Pokémon for unlike climates and settings. The Pangolin prefers sandy soils, but likes to live in the woodlands and savannas, wher eit tin can burrow in trees. Pangolins take large kratin scales all over their torso, which makes the unline whatever other animal in the world. Luckily they have a closse cousin in the Pokémon world instead! Sandslash looks only like a Pangolin, and has many of the same concrete features, including curling up in a defensive ball.

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