Pokémon inspired the naming of these animals

POKÉMON are often based on real-life animals, but did you know that many real-life animals are named after Pokémon?

Scientists discover new species all the time, and sometimes they so closely resemble a pocket pal that they name them after a ‘mon.

Meet the real life Bulbasaur.

Sometimes this is because the researchers are Pokémon fans, or other times it’s just to get their discovery some attention.

Here are the eight creatures that were named after Pokémon.

Nocticola pheromosa

This is the most recent discovery of a new species of cockroach discovered in Singapore.

It was named after the Bug-type Ultra Beast Pheromosa, as the two researchers were big fans of the RPG.

Entomologist Foo Maosheng wrote: “There are some similarities between Pheromosa and the delicate cockroach that we found, such as having a long antenna, wings that mimic a hood and long slender legs.”

We can definitely see it in the roaches’ long whiskers.

Bulbasaurus phylloxyron

The official reason for this extinct reptile’s name is that it has a bulbous nose.

However, one author on the species also said: “If one wished to read between the lines concerning certain similarities, I wouldn’t stop them.” 

Even more striking is the quote: “similarities between this species and certain other squat, tusked quadrupeds may not be entirely coincidental.” 

Phylloxyron also means leaf razor, which could be a nod to one of Bulbasaur’s iconic moves Razor Leaf.

Binburrum articuno, Binburrum moltres, and Binburrum zapdos

Every fan knows the legendary birds, but the Binburrum trio is a little more elusive.

A species of beetle found in Australia, which has eight family members in total.

These three are so rare that the researchers decided to name them after the Kantonian legends.

Personally, I think they missed a trick by not naming them all after Eeveelutions.

Chilicola charizard

While you may expect a lizard of some sort to be named after Charizard, it is actually a type of bee.

A Canadian researcher discovered a new species of bee in Chile while working on his master’s degree.

He originally named it after Charizard simply for his love of Pokémon.

However, he also found the fake dragon fitting, as the bee also has orange fuzz and a dragonesque head shape.

Stentorceps weedlei

This is the one that looks the most like its Pokémon namesake, as Stentorceps weedlei is a wasp too.

This species was found in Botswana and Madgascar, and is notable for the spike on its head.

While Beedrill’s stinger is somewhere further south, it perfectly fits the baby Weedle.

The pair of researchers named the wasp after the ‘mon in 2011.

Aerodactylus scolopaciceps

This is another animal that truly fits the Pokémon, as this ancient dinosaur is named after the fossil Aerodactyl.

The species had firstly been mislabelled as a type of Ptereodactyl, but has now been reclassified as its own type.

On the topic researchers wrote: “The name derives from the Nintendo Pokémon Aerodactyl, a fantasy creature made up of a combination of different pterosaurian features. 

“It seemed a pertinent name for a genus which has been synonymous with Pterodactylus for so long due to a combination of features.”

Written by Marco Wutz and Georgina Young on behalf of GLHF.

 

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