Phione is probably based on sea angels, specifically clione. Clione are remarkably popular in Japanese documentaries, especially in Hokkaido, on […]

Palkia, along with Dialga, may be based on the Shinto legend of Izanami and Izanagi, who are said to have […]

Mantyke is based on a baby manta ray. Mantyke is a combination of manta and tyke (slang for child). Tamanta […]

Lumineon seems to be based on a freshwater butterflyfish, but it also possesses wings based on actual butterflies, something the […]

Finneon’s large tail fins are similar to the freshwater butterflyfish, and they also resemble wings of actual butterflies. It also […]

It seems to be based on a species of goldfish known as Azuma Nishiki (東錦), bearing a similar coloration to […]

Goldeen is based on a goldfish. Its horn may be based on Matsya, an avatar that the Hindu god Vishnu […]

Seadra is based on a seahorse, though its ability to shoot ink resembles that of a squid. Its category might […]

Horsea is based on a seahorse, though its ability to shoot ink resembles that of a squid. Its species name […]

Kingler is very similar to a fiddler crab or a terrestrial crab of the genus Cardisoma, which usually have one […]

It is based on a crab. Krabby is a corruption of crabby (grouchy or ill-tempered) and a pun on crab. […]

It appears to be based on a bivalve of the genus Spondylus with a black pearl as its head. Cloyster […]

Shellder is similar to the clam, with its tongue representing a clam’s “foot.” The fact that it latches onto Slowpoke […]

Dewgong is based on the aquatic dwelling tropical mammal, the dugong. Its is of the same order as the manatee, […]

Seel is based on seal pups, bearing resemblance to a newborn harp seal. The horn on the top of Seel’s […]