We've got 'em! Meet the Real-Life Amphibians and Reptiles of Pokémon

August 29, 2016

We’ve got ’em…in glass jars! The worldwide phenomenon of Pokémon was originally inspired by the practice of collecting insects, which is something we still do at the Museum today. In the midst of battling monsters and stopping criminal organizations, it’s easy to forget that, at the start of every Pokémon game, every player is sent out on a journey to complete the PokéDex, a digital encyclopedia of every Pokémon known to man. Real scientists go on expeditions into places like rainforests, deserts, and mountains to do the exact same thing: collect specimens and record data on them. Scientists constantly set out on their own journeys to collect, name, and categorize creatures of all types. Take a look at some of the amphibians and reptiles that may be the inspiration for a few of our favorite Pokémon “species.”

Shiny Serperior = Baron’s Racer

PokéDex description: “It only gives its all against strong opponents who are not fazed by the glare from Serperior’s noble eyes.”

Shiny Serperior, in real life, would be a Baron’s Racer! This is a non-aggressive arboreal snake that shares a very similar snout and coloring. When they’re scared, they’ll emit a foul scent from their cloaca (a common chamber and outlet into which the intestinal, urinary, and genital tracts open) to deter predators. Baron’s racers are considered “rear-fanged” snakes. This means that they have enlarged teeth (not actually fangs) located at the back of each side of the top jaw and are mildly venomous, as opposed to front-fanged venomous snakes.

New Guinea Crocodiles = Sandile

PokéDex description: “Sandile moves along below the sand's surface, except for its nose and eyes. A dark membrane shields its eyes from the sun.”

How do we fit things like crocodiles and alligators in our collections? Size does matter; we couldn’t bring out the big guys on the Museum floor, but Sandile’s stripy pattern resembles the baby New Guinea crocodile’s excellent camouflage. Like Sandile, real crocodilians move beneath the water with only their eyes and nostrils above the surface.

Cobra = Arbok

PokéDex description: “To intimidate foes, Arbok spreads its chest wide and makes eerie sounds by expelling air from its mouth.”

Arbok would be a cobra—perhaps the most recognizable snake in the entire world. The most distinctive trait of a cobra is its hood, which often has an eye-spotted pattern like Arbok’s scary “face.” Particularly in India and Egypt, cobras have been revered at least as much as feared. The decorative hood and ability to kill with one bite made cobras staples in the ancient mythological world. As elapids, cobras have short fangs, not the super-long fangs that artists usually like to draw them with. Pokémon got it right. And while most snakes make a distinctive hissing noise, the cobra’s hiss sounds more like a growl. Listen to the king cobra’s “growl!”

Hawksbill Turtle = Tirtouga

PokéDex description: “About 100 million years ago, these Pokemon swam in oceans. It is thought they also went on land to attack prey.”

Both Tirtouga and the hawksbill turtle have incredibly tough shells that protect them from predators. Unlike Tirtouga, which can dive down to depths as far as 1,000 meters, the hawksbill prefers shallow waters. These turtles live along coastlines throughout the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans, staying close to the sandy beaches where they nest. Much like Tirtouga, the hawksbill turtle has a sharp tapered head that resembles a bird’s beak. Their sharp beak allows them to hunt and eat prey, such as crustaceans, sea urchins, mollusks, and even fish.

Frilled Lizard = Heliolisk

PokéDex description: “They flare their frills and generate energy. A single Heliolisk can generate sufficient electricity to power a skyscraper.”

What brings the Shiny Heliolisk and the Frilled Lizard together are their unique frills! While the Shiny Heliolisk uses its frills to generate energy to ward off predators, the Frilled Lizard will “frill out” by projecting its colorful, circular membrane of skin upward and outward to intimidate its enemies. The frill gives the lizard a bigger and more intimidating appearance when threatened. If their rival isn’t fazed by their raised frill and hissing, they will turn and bolt in the other direction until they reach safety.

Have you spotted something that reminds you of a Pokémon in the Museum? Share it with us on social media by tagging either our Twitter or Instagram accounts (@fieldmuseum). We’d love to see what other connections you can make!

PokéStops around The Field Museum

Tips: Please mind your surroundings while searching for PokéStops at the Museum. These stops refresh often. If you pick one and spend about half an hour, it should reload at least once. Some stops may have limited reception.

Grainger Hall of Gems: a sign and the stained glass mermaid
Research sculpture in Stanley Field Hall
Aztec sun disc inside The Ancient Americasexhibition
Giant penny inside the Underground Adventureexhibition
The Brachiosaurus outside the Museum There are several more PokéStops outside the Museum and around Museum Campus. Happy searching!

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