"Pokémon" YOU'VE Seen IRL!

Have you ever encountered the real-world inspiration behind a Pokémon, or at least something that reminded you greatly of one? Please share your stories and/or photos with us! (Your photos must not exceed 500 pixels wide or tall (whichever is smaller) to be included in this list.)

Also, feel free to share photos you've taken of things that you feel could/should get Pokémon based on them in the future.


Also, just for fun, what would your Pokémon team look like based on things you've encountered IRL?

Quite the list! Seems well researched too.

Focusing just on those based on animals? Some of the inanimate ones might be rather straightforward, but then there's stuff like me seeing the bell Bronzong is based on in a museum years back, which was pretty neat.

this is really cool

Added Scolipede.

Scolipede is believed to be based on the Scolopendra genus of centipedes, such as the Amazonian Giant Centipede. However, given the absence of this genus in New York and Scolipede's presence in Unova (a region based on New York), Scolipede could be interpreted as a general representation of Scolopendromorphs (bark centipedes, which includes Scolopendra). It may also represent centipedes as a whole.

Scolipede's Japanese name, Pendror, is also believed to come from Scolopendra. However, this spelling is closer to Scolopendromorph, further supporting that Scolipede may be a general representation of bark centipedes.

bobandbill said:

Quite the list! Seems well researched too.

Focusing just on those based on animals? Some of the inanimate ones might be rather straightforward, but then there's stuff like me seeing the bell Bronzong is based on in a museum years back, which was pretty neat.

Click to expand...

I've also got some plants up there. I'm only focusing on things I've found in the wild, so I probably won't be adding any Pokémon based on man-made objects like Chimecho. However, come snowy weather I might take some pictures of snow-capped icicles for the Vanillite line.

How cool!

Sheep said:

this is really cool

Click to expand...

I'm glad you enjoy it!

Have you seen any "Pokémon" IRL?

I assume I haven't seen any exciting ones other than obvious connections like Pidove/pigeon, but your thread makes me wonder just how many I may have missed. Dustox's inspiration is especially pretty, I had no idea its basis is such a beautiful-looking bug!

Found Whirlipede, too!



Despite its classification as a Centipede Pokémon, Whirlipede draws more inspiration from millipedes which, unlike centipedes, curl up when resting or if threatened.

Sheep said:

I assume I haven't seen any exciting ones other than obvious connections like Pidove/pigeon, but your thread makes me wonder just how many I may have missed. Dustox's inspiration is especially pretty, I had no idea its basis is such a beautiful-looking bug!

Click to expand...

I hope this thread encourages more people to get out and make some discoveries!

I'm still disappointed that they didn't give Dustox those beautiful tails, despite its counterpart having them. My guess is that they wanted its wings to be more crescent-shaped, nodding to the "moon" in Moon Moth. It's a real shame that it didn't get a Mega in ORAS, which could've included the tails.

I was going to come in here and joke that I've seen a Kadabra (my cat) but man this is actually really amazing that you actually take your time to research and do all of this! Impressive!

Ash said:

I was going to come in here and joke that I've seen a Kadabra (my cat) but man this is actually really amazing that you actually take your time to research and do all of this! Impressive!

Click to expand...

Thanks!

Just out of curiosity, which cat (or cat-like) Pokémon does your cat remind you of the most? Mine's a grey longhair with tabby markings on his face (faint elsewhere), but I can't quite pin one down for him. I'm hoping that Meowth's rumored "spiky ball of grey fur" alt. evo for Sword/Shield will be a close match.

Gotta really commend you for your effort here, Icy! If I conjure up any Pokémon comparable to irl animals I'll be sure to contribute! :)

Superb, Icy! The Volcarona, Dustox, Starly and Flygon ones were excellent! Whirlipede, too! You really put a lot of time and effort into this, it seems. Thanks for sharing this.

Since I seem to be running out of IRL Pokémon to share, would you guys be interested in me sharing photos of things I think should be made into Pokémon? I could post maybe one per week to help keep the thread alive until the release of Sword & Shield. Off the top of my head, I can only think of six or so more current Pokémon whose real life counterparts I should be able to find around here.

Fairy said:

Gotta really commend you for your effort here, Icy! If I conjure up any Pokémon comparable to irl animals I'll be sure to contribute! :)

Click to expand...

Thanks, and please do!

SidTheRiser07 said:

Superb, Icy! The Volcarona, Dustox, Starly and Flygon ones were excellent! Whirlipede, too! You really put a lot of time and effort into this, it seems. Thanks for sharing this.

Click to expand...

Glad you enjoyed them! Flygon's one of my favorite entries here too. :D

Wow these are all so cool and well researched! So much diversity as well. One of us needs to find a hedgehog soon so Shaymin can get added to the list.

You could always add the ancient Coelacanth to represent Relicanth! In fact, most, if not all marine Pokemon have a basis in irl animals. Octillery, Mantine, Gorebyss, Remoraid, Alomomola.. the list goes on and on.

Sandslash and Pangolins are very similar as well! :)

Added a better representation for Corphish/Crawdaunt, a red crayfish!

Noblejanobii said:

Wow these are all so cool and well researched! So much diversity as well. One of us needs to find a hedgehog soon so Shaymin can get added to the list.

Click to expand...

That would be sweet! One I won't likely be getting since there are sadly no native hedgehogs in the US.

Fairy said:

You could always add the ancient Coelacanth to represent Relicanth! In fact, most, if not all marine Pokemon have a basis in irl animals. Octillery, Mantine, Gorebyss, Remoraid, Alomomola.. the list goes on and on.

Sandslash and Pangolins are very similar as well! :)

Click to expand...

I'm only adding things I've personally seen in the wild IRL. However, if you've seen these any of these (even in an aquarium, zoo, etc.) and have pics, please share!

How I wish we had pangolins here! Sandshrew and Sandslash were among my very first Pokémon toys, so it'd be really cool if I could find those IRL.

Added Lileep! I actually found this one a few years ago, but I was reluctant to add it since the fossil was missing the iconic crown (head). However, given that Mewtwo was created from a fossilized eyebrow and Aerodactyl from a preserved blood sample, I imagine that even just the stalk of a crinoid could be revived as Lileep.

Crinoids, aka sea lilies, are plant-like relatives of starfish.

icycatelf said:

That would be sweet! One I won't likely be getting since there are sadly no native hedgehogs in the US.

Click to expand...

Oh boo that's true for me too. Maybe someone's pet hedgehog will do. XD

Legendary Pokémon spotted! Well, the cells of a Legendary Pokémon. :P



Zygarde cells seem to be based on planarians, flatworms known for their amazing regenerative abilities.

It seems nobody brought Poliwag up.


Also the tentacool family.

Spinarak?



Though popularly believed to be based on the Hawaiian happy-face spider, Spinarak could be based on any number of spiders with face-like markings on their abdomen. This may include some jumping spiders, such as the bold jumper above, which share a similar body shape with Spinarak. Jumping spiders don't make webs like Spinarak, suggesting that Spinarak may draw inspiration from multiple spiders, but they still spin silk threads to help them get around.

I also added another contender for Ariados, a spotted orb-weaver.

Hestia said:

It seems nobody brought Poliwag up.

Also the tentacool family.

Click to expand...

I've definitely seen "Poliwag." I've been meaning to get a pic of one's belly.

I've only seen one jelly in my whole life. It was washed up on the beach when we went on vacation YEARS ago. I wasn't a big fan of the beach so I haven't been to one since...

Added Murkrow and Morelull. I also swapped Spearow for Pidgey added a tick to Joltik's entry.