15 Pokémon That Actually Exist In Real Life

#1

Victreebel is the only member in its evolutionary family to have visible teeth. Two sharp teeth are located at its large mouth. Its eyes are located directly under the mouth. It has two vines, one with a large leaf, and the other with a bulb at the end. Victreebel is very reminiscent of the Pitcher Plant, which is the floral emblem of Newfoundland, Canada. The Pitcher Plant is quite frightening; it is a predatory plant that is visually similar to Victreebel. The Pitcher Plant has a leaf that hangs over its mouth, and this fools bugs and insects from resting on the leaf. Then the Pitcher Plant gobbles it up! Something the Victreebel has that a Pitcher Plant doesn't is a pair of sharp scary fangs. That was added by the Pokémon creators.

#2 Drowzee

Drowzee is a tapir-like Pokémon that is mostly yellow. The bottom half of its body is covered in mud, as if it was bathing in it. When Drowzee uses Hypnosis, its eyes glow a light blue. Drowzee is based on a tapir, a trunked, pig-like, South American animal. In ancient South American folklore, the tapir would eat dreams as people slept. The name tapir even means "dream eater". This may be where Drowzee's dream eating ability comes from.

#3 Poliwag

Poliwag is a Pokémon that appeared early on in the series. It nearly shares an identical name to a creature that exists in real life, if you can believe that. Poliwag was inspired by the Polliwog, which is basically a more complicated word for tadpole. Polliwogs exist in the larval stage of a tadpole's life, before it matures into a full-fledged amphibian. Most tadpoles live in the water (since they don't have legs), but there are some types of tadpoles that live on land. As for the Poliwag Pokémon, it is a water type that uses the Water Absorb or Damp ability on its enemies. The Poliwag is instantly recognizable by the swirly design on its tummy. There is actually a type of tadpole that has a swirled cut in its head. These translucent creatures just swim through the water living happily until they evolve into frogs or toads. Poliwags evolve into Poliwhirl, and from there they can evolve into Poliwrath or Politoed.

#4 Gorebyss

Gorebyss is a very attractive Pokémon, said to resemble a mix between both a dolphin and possibly even a mermaid. Its body is a peachy pink which is said to turn a much more vivid shade after eating and during springtime. Gorebyss' mouth is a thin tube which is used to sip on fluids out of its prey. This water type Pokémon is based off of the real life long-nosed chimaera. Never heard of it? It's a rare, deep-sea fish that is known for its long snout, which it uses to hunt down its prey. The similarities between the long-nosed chimaera and the Gorebyss abound. There is the long slender nose, of course, as well as the pale pink color and the large eyes. However, we must say that Gorebyss is much cuter than the scary-looking chimaera.

#5 Sandslash

Sandslash is a tall, yellow, mammalian creature with brown spikes/quills on its back. It has two very long claws on each "hand" used for digging and battling. Sandslash can curl up to a small size just like its pre-evolved form Sandshrew, but it is of a much larger stature, which enhances its defense. Sandslash is a close relative of the Pangolin, a real-life creature in the African savannah. Pangolins are actually anteaters that have scales on their backs for defense (very similar to Sandslash)! Another similarity is the group of long sharp claws that can be used for killing and climbing. The Pangolin's overlapping scales are made of keratin, which is the same substance that makes up the fingernails on humans! Both the Pangolin and the Sandslash can roll themselves into a ball for added protection.

#6 Krookodile

Krookodile is a large, bulky reptilian crocodile-like Pokémon. Its body is mainly brick-red in color, and covered in black stripes with pointed ends; it has a round gray belly. It has considerably large and razor-sharp teeth and claws. Around its eyes, there is a black patch resembling a bandit's mask, or a stylized pair of sunglasses. It somewhat resembles the dinosaur Baryonyx or Tyrannosaurus rex. Despite being named Krookodile, it is actually modeled after the Gavial, a species related to the crocodile. This is also reflected in its Japanese name, which is a combination of Waru, form the word warui, meaning bad, and Vial, from Gavial.

#7 Mudkip

Mudkip is a small quadrupedal amphibious Pokémon that resembles mudskippers and axolotls. It is cyan blue in color, with a light blue neck, underbelly and tail. It has a large upright segmented fin atop its head, and large orange cheeks with three pointed whisker-like feelers on each. It has short legs and small paws with three toes on each, and a very large fin-like tail. The concept of Mudkip was based on a breed of Axolotl. The Axolotl has thin limbs and lidless eyes, and it is a rare breed, and it's only found in 2 lakes in Mexico, so if you want to find one, good luck! Moreover, these creatures are endangered, so they need all the protection they can get!

#8 Emolga

Emolga is a mammalian flying squirrel-like Pokémon that resembles Pichu, Pikachu, Plusle, Minun and Pachirisu. It has white fur on its face and the front side of its body. The back of Emolga's head is black. Its two large ears are yellow with white centers. Emolga's stubby forearms have three fingers on each hand. Its membrane is used to glide and store energy produced in its cheeks. This membrane is black on the back of its body and yellow on the front. Emolga is an expert glider especially around trees or fleeing from danger. Its legs are very short and it has small oval-shaped feet without toes, similar to Plusle and Minun. Its tail is long and jagged; the base is yellow and the rest is black. Emolga is based on a flying squirrel.

#9 Trubbish

Trubbish is a bipedal Pokémon that resembles a small garbage bag overflowing with trash. Its body is dark green and lumpy. It has two long ear-like appendages atop its head that resemble the knot at the top of a filled garbage bag. It has two small stubby feet. On either side of its body it has a slimy grayish appendage that resembles garbage leaking out from inside. It has large round eyes and a frowning mouth with sharp teeth seen protruding from its upper jaw.

#10 Magikarp

Magikarp is the most common Pokémon in the waters of all the Pokémon regions. It can be found in every body of water in Kanto, Johto, Hoenn, and Sinnoh. It is considered to be the weakest Pokémon because it can only use three moves. Anyway, the Magikarp can be found in real life sort of. This Pokémon is based on the Yellow Rock Fish, which is almost a twin version of Magikarp. Also known as a Red Snapper, the Yellow Rock Fish has a similar body structure to Magikarp and can live to be over 100 years old! You can find these fish chilling out all around the East Pacific Ocean, although they are bottom feeders, so good luck spotting one.

#11 Vileplume

Vileplume appears to be based on the Rafflesia Arnoldii flower. Rafflesia Arnoldii, also known as The Corpse Flower, is one plant that you wouldn't want to see face-to-face. Its main characteristic is emitting a stench that smells just like rotting human flesh. That nasty scent helps to attract insects that land on the plant, which then noshes on the bugs. Now that's vile! Vileplume's Japanese name is a direct translation of "rafflesia". Vileplume comes from the words 'vile' meaning disgusting and 'plume' meaning a long or spreading cloud; this may be a reference to Vileplume's bad smell.

#12 Caterpie

You can probably guess that Caterpie is based on a caterpillar, but do you know which one? There is more than one type of caterpillar out there, you know. Caterpie is actually supposed to be inspired by the Swallowtail Caterpillar, which looks very similar to the Pokémon. Caterpie's name appears to be based on caterpillar while its species appears to be a caterpillar evolving into a butterfly.

#13 Leavanny

Leavanny shares its traits with many different insects, including a caterpillar, like its pre-evolutions, and a praying mantis. Unlike its pre-evolutions, Leavanny has a humanoid appearance and stands on two legs.

Leavanny's English name seems to be a combination of the words "leaf", "leaves", and "nanny" on account of its motherly, nurturing nature.

#14 Stunkfisk

Stunfisk resembles a dab or flounder with traits of an electric ray. It is possible that it is also based on the stargazer fish, which buries itself in the sea bottom and emits electricity when disturbed.

Stunfisk's name comes from the word "stun", and the word "Hundfisk" which is Swedish for "Mudminnow"

#15 Pikachu

Pikachu is the face of the Pokémon series, and he has been one of the most popular Pokémon throughout the twenty years that Pokémon has been on the air. Pikachu is Ash's trusty sidekick and is always there to help the gang get through thick and thin. Pikachu's signature is his lightning bolt attack, which is charged up in his big rosy cheeks. And of course, there is that iconic yell of "Pikachu!" This mouse Pokémon was inspired by a real-life mouse the pika mouse. There are actually 23 species of the pika mouse, which is tiny and cute and somewhat resembles Pikachu. You can find a pika mouse hidden in the mountains of Tibet and China, but these animals are super rare. In fact, there are only 1,000 worldwide in the wild. And just like Pikachu, pika mice also make a high pitched sound that's squeaky and sweet.