#722: Rowlet
Rowlet is likely based on the
pueo, a type of short-eared owl native to Hawaii. In Hawaiian culture it is considered to be one of the physical forms assumed by ancestor spirits. It is also an endangered species.
Image: https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/originals/83/5d/29/835d295c9832b16820989501c3aa5709.jpg
#723: Dartrix
Dartrix resembles a butler and shares traits with them, such as being tidy, and about appearance. Another element it shares is his sharp precision and senses when throwing quills or darts - somewhat like a ninja. Its name is a combination of 'dart' and the genus 'strix' (which describes the owl family of birds).
#724: Decidueye
Decidueye's name may have an array of meanings. A combination of "deciduous" (describes trees/shrubs that achieve maturity and lose leaves during autumn) and "deadeye" (a chiefly North American term for an expert marksman) seems the best fit. The use of deciduous fits well, as Rowlet looks somewhat like a small shrub, while Decideueye is the final grown-up form – a very symbolic name. It also uses its (falling off) feathers as ammunition.
Owls have a mythological basis in Hawaiian culture, and are said to
rescue souls from the underworld and safely guide armies. This fits pretty well with the Ghost typing – a tire to spirits and souls matches.
Decidueye has rather long legs – a striking resemblance to the
Stilt-owl (Grallistrix). The Stilt-owl is also extinct. Furthermore, they may have stalked sleeping birds on foot, which also matches the loss of the Flying type. While there are other non-Hawaiian owls such as the
Ornimegalonyx, another extinct species of owl of Cuba, it's a possible bit of additional inspiration.
Image: https://daily.pokecommunity.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/stilt-owl.jpg
#725: Litten
Litten is likely based on the
Iriomote cat, a type of leopard cat that lives in the island of Iriomote in Japan. Apart from the striking physical resemblance, the Iriomote cat is also known by locals as meepisukaryaa ("that which has flashing eyes"), pointing towards Litten's bright yellow eyes, and yamapikaryaa ("that which shines on the mountain"). With the Iriomote cat's strong relationship to mountains, perhaps this will be reflected in its evolutions gaining the Ground- or Rock-type. The Iriomote cat is critically endangered.
Image: https://bigcatrescue.org/images/000BigCatPhotos/NotBCRcats/iriomotecat/iriomotecat3.jpg
#726: Torracat
Torracat - a combination of tora (Japanese for tiger) and cat - remains based on a tiger-cat or Iriomote cat. It gains a bell-like flame sack on its neck, much like how house cats wear bells.
#727: Incineroar
Incineroar is based on a
heel fighter. A heel fighter is a wrestler that plays dirty. They are usually made to be the villains for wrestling on TV and don't follow rules. They used as many dirty tactics as they can to win, and show off in doing so. Incineroar loves to show off.
Meanwhile, its tiger design could have been chosen due to the perceived strength of tigers. In fact, the basis for the tiger could even come from the popular
Japanese heel Wrestler, Tiger Mask. Tiger Mask is very similar to Incineroar due to the tiger persona and the fact that both fight dirty.
#728: Popplio
Popplio's name may come from the
Hawaiian monk seal, an animal known to natives as 'Ilio-holo-i-ka-uaua', or 'dog that runs in rough water'. It also has a clown/circus motif, which fits in with its playful nature, red/pink nose and neck frill. Much like the pueo and Iriomote cat that the other starters are based on, the Hawaiian monk seal is also an endangered species.
Image: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipe...inslandi.jpg/800px-Monachus_schauinslandi.jpg
#729: Brionne
Brionne moves from the clown inspiration towards a performer. Its pigtails and frilly dress contributes to this appearance.
#730: Primarina
Primarina seems to heavily based on the
siren, a mythological creature. These were creatures said to appear on rocks at night on the ocean. Using their songs and charm, they would lure sailors ships to the doom by causing them to crash. They also lived in colonies, and as we see on the site, each Primarina colony has a different song for their colony.
Such mythical creatures explains the acquisition of the Fairy type. While some are based on cute designs, others are based off creatures of such fairy tales or myths – faries or faeries included. Mawile for instance has a basis on a Japanese tale. Primarina's basis and ability to use the power of music to overcome foes therefore justifies its Typing.
Image: https://daily.pokecommunity.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/170px-The_Siren.jpg
#731: Pikipek
Pikipek is based on a woodpecker; possibly the
pileated woodpeaker. Its name is a play on 'Picidae' or 'Piciformes' (which describes the group or order of birds to which the woodpecker belongs to) and 'peck'.
#732: Trumbeak
Trumbeak is also based on a woodpecker. Its name is likely a combination of 'trumpet' and beak'. The former plays into the Pokédex entries which describes it using its beak to 'produce a variety of calls and brand itself a noisy nuisance'.
#733: Toucannon
Toucannon jumps to a different sort of bird, and is likely based on the
Toco Toucan. Toucans also belong o the Piciformes order of birds, which explains the jump from the woodpecker. The name plays on the ability for Toucannon to 'explosively' fire seeds from its beak which have 'enough power to pulverise boulders' - rather like a canon.
#734: Yungoos
Yungoos is base on the mongoose. Its name may be a combination of 'young' and 'goose', with young referring to this Pokémon being a first stage.
Yungoos is likely based on the
Small Asian Mongoose. This partiuclar breed was introduced to Hawaii in the 1800s to help with a rat infestation. This parallels the backstory of Yungoos, who was introduced to Alola to deal with a Rattata problem experience in the past!
#735: Gumshoos
Gumshoos, like its pre-evolved form, appears to be based on a type of weasel, possibly the mongoose. The name Gumshoos comes from the word "gum shoes", an old type of shoe developed in the late 1800s that was made out of gum rubber. The shoes are considered the predecessor to the modern day sneaker, and usually did not produce any sound when walking. A gum shoe, when referring to a person, meant someone who sneaked around a lot, most often a thief or a detective. Gumshoos and Yungoos's Ability, Stakeout, is a reference to this, as thieves and detectives will often stake out a place of interest to them.
The Pokémon also bears a bizarre resemblance to the US president-elect, Donald J. Trump. Masuda has confirmed the resemblance is coincidental, but admits there are clear similarities.
#736: Grubbin
#737: Charjabug
#738: Vikavolt
#739: Crabrawler
#740: Crabominable
#741: Oricorio
#742: Cutiefly
#743: Ribombee
#744: Rockruff
#745: Lycanroc
#746: Wishiwashi
It seems Wishiwashi 'shoals' more than 'schools', as shoaling is a form of defense from predators and makes it easier for them to find food as well. When shoaling, they touch or keep a more packed system compared to schooling. Technically, Wishiwashi may also move like a school. wherein they avoid collisions with members of the school.
Wishiwashi's Solo Form may be based on the
South American Pilchard. Its School Form meanwhile bears resemblance to a submarine. Its vastly improved stats fit this, down to the exception in loss of speed, as submarines are unable to move quickly due to energy expenditure.
#747: Mareanie
#748: Toxapex
#749: Mudbray
#750: Mudsdale
#751: Dewpider
A combination of 'dew' meaning tiny drops of water, and 'spider' which is an eight-legged arachnid. This Pokémon is based off the
Diving bell spider and has the Water/Bug type combination. It crawls onto the land in search of food. Its water bubble allows it to breathe and protects its soft head.
#752: Araquanid
The name seems to be a combination of 'aqua' which is Latin for water, and 'arachnid' which are joint-legged invertebrate animals such as spiders or scorpions. Araquanid also appears to be based off the Diving bell spider which explains the Water/Bug typing. It delivers headbutts with the water bubble on its head. Small Pokémon get sucked into the bubble, where they drown.
Dewpider and Araquanid both have a brand new ability called Water Bubble which lowers the power of Fire-type moves done to the Pokémon and prevents the Pokémon from getting burned.
#753: Fomantis
#754: Lurantis
#755: Morelull
#756: Shiinotic
#757: Salandit
#758: Salazzle
#759: Stufful
#760: Bewear
#761: Bounsweet
#762: Steenee
#763: Tsareena
#764: Comfey
#765: Oranguru
#766: Passimian
#767: Wimpod
#768: Golisopod
#769: Sandygast
#770: Palossand
#771: Pyukumuku
#772: Type: Null
#773: Silvally
#774: Minior
#775: Komala
#776: Turtonator
#777: Togedemaru
#778: Mimikyu
#779: Bruxish
#780: Drampa
#781: Anchor
#782: Jangmo-o
#783: Hakamo-o
#784: Kommo-o
#785: Tapu Koko
#786: Tapu Lele
#787: Tapu Bulu
#788: Tapu Fini
#789: Cosmog
#790: Cosmoem
#791: Solgaleo
The 'leo' is Latin for lion, and 'sol' is Latin for sun, giving the Pokémon a clear relation to the solar object. It's clear from the shape of its head as well having a rather obvious sun motif behind it.
The Psychic/Steel typing is surprising, but it fits its inspiration! Solgaleo is described as 'the beast that devours the sun, which draws from the fabled art of alchemy (the act of 'purifying' and transforming certain objects – think of the elixir of immortality also known as the Philosopher's Stone, or the art of changing base metals into gold). The sun features heavily into this practise, including in a famous written work titled
The Rosary of the Philosophers. And coupled with the sun is the alchemical symbol of the green lion devouring the sun, relating to the notion of purifying metals.
In short, Solgaleo represents a notion or process in alchemy that concerns itself with metals, and hence it has found itself with the Steel typing. Its ability of 'Full Metal Body' further reinforces the relationship.
Read more here.
Images: https://daily.pokecommunity.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Green_lion_consuming_the_sun.jpg
#792: Lunala
The basis for Lunala is not quite clear. The name is simple - Luna means moon, and 'Lunula' means 'little moon'. It's a skelatal bat in form with extra moon motifs thrown into its design. It could be simply a fancy version of the
ghost bat, an endangered and tiny (11 cm/4.3 inches) animal in Australia with a similarly thin membrane to its wings. The name would also fit the Typing of Ghost/Psychic.
Alternatively, it may have some (loose) links to mythology.
An African myth of the Kono tells that the sun and moon lit up the day and night respectively, in a time before darkness. A god called Yataa placed darkness into a basket and told a bat to deliver it to the moon. A mishap resulted in other animals opening the basket and releasing darkness, and so the bat sleeps in the day and flies at night to try and recapture the darkness. However, this is merely speculation.
Read more here.
Image: https://daily.pokecommunity.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/ghost_bat.jpg
#793: UB-01 (Nihilego)
#794: UB-02 Absorption (Buzzwole)
#795: UB-02 Beauty (Pheromosa)
#796: Xurkitree (Ultra Beast)
#797: Celesteela (Ultra Beast)
#798: Kartana (Ultra Beast)
#799: Guzzlord (Ultra Beast)
#800: Necrozma
Necrozma's body is mainly made up of prismatic black crystals, and prisms are used to refract white light into the visible spectrum, producing a rainbow. This, along with it being stated to have some connection to Solgaleo and Lunala, who in part represent sunlight and moonlight, suggests that Necrozma represents the absence of light, the abyss, the void, similar to how Kyurem represents wuji, the absence of Yin and Yang, which its other trio members (Zekrom and Reshiram) represent.
The "necro" in Necrozma may also be a reference to the magic art of necromancy, which involved communicating with and raising the dead. This also relates to Solgaleo and Lunala, as those two possibly relate to alchemy, another ancient magical art.
#801: Magearna
#802: Marshadow
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Alolan Fomes
Raichu
Sandshrew/Sandslash
Vulpix/Ninetales
Diglett/Dugtrio
Meowth/Persian
Possibly based on the 'Russian Blue' breed of cat. These breeds are rare, which would fit in with the background of Meowth being adopted by Alolan royalty. Russian Blues had to be cross-bred with Siamese cats, which changed their appearance and boosted their numbers - just like with Meowth! Additionally, they aren't only blue, but can often have round heads.
Image: https://nextranks.com/data_images/cats/russian-blue/russian-blue-08.jpg
Geodude/Graveller/Golem
Grimer/Muk
Exeggutor
Marowak
OTHER:
Hat-Pikachu:
Pikachu comes with a variety of hats, all belonging to the Pokémon Trainer Ash Ketchum from the anime series. Although it's a small nod at other generations, it's like a collector's edition Pikachu! One wonders if wearing certain customized clothes affect the kind of hat the wild Pikachu wears (making it look like the Pikachu stole the hat from you - or Ash)?
