Animals in the Pokémon world

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A real-world dog featured in a picture book

Real-world animals have been mentioned more than once to exist in the world of Pokémon. Most often, they are mentioned in relation to a Pokémon species. For example, Pikachu is known as the "Mouse Pokémon" and was directly referred to in the anime as an "electric mouse", hinting that real-world mice exist in the Pokémon world. Other than this, all other mentions of animals are rare.

In the games

• A few Pokédex entries have mentioned the existence of real-world animals.
  • In both Raichu's and Gastly's FireRed Pokédex entries, Indian Elephants are mentioned.
• In Red, Blue, and Yellow Versions, the player makes a comment about crabs while aboard the S.S. Anne.
• In Red, Blue, and Yellow Versions, a chef aboard the S.S. Anne says "Er-hem! Indeed I am le CHEF! Le main course is Eels au Barbecue!" He also speaks of a "Salad le salmon".

In the anime

A real-world cat on anime concept art

Animals have been seen in the anime. They were more common in the original series as there weren't as many Pokémon species introduced at the time. A picture book based on the Pokémon anime once featured a dog walking past Ash and his friends, and a piece of concept art of the residents of Pallet Town featured a cat. Birds can also occasionally be heard in the background.

Animal appearances have become less frequent as more Pokémon have been added to take their places.

• Ash Catches a Pokémon

Misty is scared when she sees a Caterpie, and Ash tries to calm her down by reminding her that it's a Template:Type2 Pokémon rather than a "real" bug.

Pidgeotto is seen eating a regular worm before being captured by Ash.

Ash in a cow costume

• Challenge of the Samurai

As a pun on Caterpie, Ash is seen in a cow costume.

• The Water Flowers of Cerulean City

Fish can be seen in the fish tanks inside the gym. They have made later appearances featuring the Cerulean Gym.

• Path to the Pokémon League

Misty mentions that A.J.'s ability to control Pokémon with a whip was similar to a lion tamer.

• Pokémon Shipwreck

More fish can be seen swimming in the ocean near the sunken St. Anne.

• Tentacool & Tentacruel

Fish can be seen in the aquarium in Nastina's vision of her completed luxury hotel.

The mongoose in The Ghost of Maiden's Peak

• The Ghost of Maiden's Peak

A Gastly created an illusion of a mongoose in order to scare Jessie's Ekans.

• Holiday Hi-Jynx

Santa Claus tells Ash and his friends that he has "no reindeer" to pull his sleigh, and uses a Rapidash instead.

• The Battling Eevee Brothers

In one scene, James is holding a lobster.

• Attack of the Prehistoric Pokémon

In the Japanese version, Gary finds an ammonite Fossil.

• Riddle Me This

While Ash and his friends are looking for a hotel to stay in, a picture of a tiger can be seen in one of the hotels.

• To Master the Onix-expected

While Ash and his friends are resting, their elderly female host mentions the disappearance of her "muskrat meatballs."

Meowth finds fish bones

• Go West, Young Meowth

While Meowth was looking for food, he came across some fish bones.

• Hook, Line, and Stinker

When one of Misty's catches escapes from her fishing line, Ash says that it was probably a catfish.

• The Stolen Stones!

Near the ending, Misty mentions a doghouse.

In the manga

Animals have also been seen in the manga.

• In How I Became a Pokémon Card, a cat appears in one chapter.
• In Pokémon Pocket Monsters, regular animals appear alongside Pokémon.
• In Pokémon Get da ze!, a snail appears in one chapter.

In books

At least three animals can be spotted in the Let's Find Pokémon! series.

• In Let's Find Pokémon!, a dragonfly can be seen near a pond, and a worm can be seen in the beak of a Pidgey.
• In Let's Find Pokémon! 3, a Kangaskhan is eating a fish with rice.

Related articles

• Pokémon world in relation to the real world