Animals in the Pokémon world
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Real-world animals have been mentioned a number of times to exist in the world of Pokémon. Most often, they are mentioned in relation to a Pokémon category. 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, mostly in Generation I.
- In both Raichu and Gastly's Pokédex entries in FireRed, Indian elephants are mentioned.
- In several of Bellsprout's Pokédex entries, Bellsprout is said to prey on insects.
- Victreebel is mentioned to use the Sweet Aroma of its honey to lure prey such as bugs, as well as large animals.
- Horsea is said to prey on bugs in several of its Pokédex entries. Some entries also mention that Horsea uses coral as an anchor to avoid being washed away, as well as for shade to build its nest in.
- Lickitung's Red, Blue, and LeafGreen Pokédex entries mention that it can extend its tongue like a chameleon.
- In Red, Blue, and Yellow Versions, the player makes a comment about crabs while aboard the S.S. Anne.
- In the first generation games and their remakes, a Sailor mentions that jellyfish sometimes drift aboard the S.S. Anne.
- In the first generation games and their remakes, 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" and a beef/veal dish.
- In the first generation games and their remakes, a Tamer in the Fuchsia Gym mentions having joined the Gym due to "ninjas' long history with animals."
- In Gold, Silver, and Crystal, a man in Celadon City wonders if his Poliwrath will ever evolve into a frog Pokémon, indicating he has knowledge of regular frogs and tadpoles.
- In Pokémon Ranger: Guardian Signs, barnacles can be seen in underwater areas.
- The bees shown in the battle animations for Vespiquen's signature moves Attack Order, Defend Order and Heal Order take the appearance of regular bees, that do not appear to resemble Combee.
- In Black and White, a Trainer in the Battle Subway says he is so obsessed with Pokémon that his wife is as mad as a hornet.
- In X and Y, fresh-caught fish is served at the restaurants in Lumiose City.
- In X and Y, real world butterflies appear in the background at some places during Pokémon battles.
- In Pokémon Colosseum, when Nascour asks Venus about the progress of her takeover of The Under, she comments that "a couple of mice appear to be running loose".
In the anime
Animals have been seen in the anime. They were more common in the original series as there weren't as many species of Pokémon 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. Foods that contain meat products, such as hamburgers and chicken, are often seen. In addition, the guidebook Pocket Monsters the Animation confirmed that there were indeed animals in the Pokémon world, and also revealed that Pokémon weren't related to animals at all.
In Pokémon: Adventures in the Orange Islands, the four gym badges are made up of seashells with a gem on the center of the shell. This implies that molluscs exist within the Pokémon world.
Animal appearances have become less frequent as more Pokémon have been added to take their places.
- Misty is scared when she sees a Caterpie, and Ash tries to calm her down by reminding her that it's a Bug-type Pokémon rather than a "real" bug.
- Pidgeotto is seen eating a regular worm before being captured by Ash.
- Fish can be seen in the fish tanks inside the Gym. They have made later appearances featuring the Cerulean Gym.
- After Ash, Misty, and Brock fall into the Squirtle Squad's pitfall trap, a dinosaur fossil can be seen.
- A cooked lobster can be seen as food served on the ship.
- More fish can be seen swimming in the ocean near the sunken St. Anne.
- Brock attempts to attract customers to a restaurant by advertising unusual animal-themed dishes, including french-fried flounder, seven-layered crab cakes, squid on a stick, and clam juice snowcones.
- Fish can be seen in the aquarium in Nastina's vision of her completed luxury hotel.
- The Tentacool are referred to as jellyfish in the episode.
The mongoose in The Ghost of Maiden's Peak
- A Gastly created an illusion of a mongoose in order to scare Jessie's Ekans.
- When Charmander lights up the room, a mounted deer head can be seen on the wall. Also one of the stuffed animals where the Ghost Pokemon show Ash and Pikachu later on appears to resemble a giraffe.
- One of the signs on Scissor Street features a crab.
- At the end of the episode, when Team Rocket comes out of the water, Jessie can be seen with a starfish on her head.
- Santa Claus tells Ash and his friends that he has "no reindeer" to pull his sleigh, and uses a Ponyta instead.
- In one scene, James is holding a lobster.
- In the Japanese version, Gary finds an Ammonite fossil. In the dub it is referred to as fossilized Pokémon dung.
- Meowth compares his voice to one of the chipmunks after inhaling a gas coming from a tank with a Psyduck on it.
- 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. Furthermore, during Gary's banquet, a fish is seen sliced up.
- While Ash and his friends are falling down the sewer pipes, several skeletons of unidentified prehistoric animals are seen. Also, when a chef gets his kettle back, he talks about cooking chicken.
- Miranda talks to seagulls to learn the conditions of the sea. In addition, when Meowth despises the idea of going into a sewer, Jessie tells him to "pretend he's a catfish."
- There is a swordfish on Victor's wall.
- When Ash's Bulbasaur smells Poké-nip and becomes dazed, Misty reads a sign that says Poké-nip's scent affects Pokémon like catnip affects cats.
- While Meowth was looking for food, he came across some fish bones. Meowth is also seen eating fried chicken.
- While Ash and his friends are resting, their elderly female host mentions the disappearance of her "muskrat meatballs." However, this was only in the English dub of the episode, and is actually an example of a dub edit very similar to Brock's "donuts" in another episode. The so-called meatballs are actually dango, a sweet Japanese dumpling made from rice flour.
- The host also refers to Team Rocket as "polecats", another name for skunks.
- The characters are eating shrimp tempura.
- Meowth mentions insects.
- A starfish is seen on the sandbar.
- Real fish can be seen in the moment before a young Joy falls into the water.
- Meowth is seen holding, and talking about eating clams.
Kabutops and its prey
- When Meowth mentions his "top of the line" food, it cuts to an image of a can of cat-food with a real-world cat on the label.
- A fried chicken stand can be seen, as well as a chicken thigh, at the Sunflora festival.
- Meowth mentions chicken feed.
- When one of Misty's catches escapes from her fishing line, Ash says that it was probably a catfish.
- Various corals are visible underwater.
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 Gotta Catch 'Em All, a snail appears in GDZ04. In GDZ13, Shu is shown capturing some beetles in the forest.
- In Pokémon Adventures, there were real-life mice, shrews and birds as Bellsprout, Weepinbell, and Victreebel's prey at the Kanto Safari Zone.
- In The Electric Tale of Pikachu, the Cerulean Gym Aquarium has real-life fish and whales.
- In Pokémon Adventures, Pika is seen chasing a butterfly or a moth.
- In Pokémon Adventures, Gyara is seen smiling at a butterfly.
- In Pokémon Adventures, a Roughneck's Vespiquen uses grubs for the moves:Attack Order,Defend Order and Heal Order.
In the TCG
Numerous early Pokémon cards featured animals.
- A bird perched on a Weepinbell.
- A bug near a Bulbasaur.
- A frog next to an Oddish.
- A wasp flying near a Venonat.
- A Butterfly flying near a Squirtle, and an Eevee.
- A worm for Magikarp and Spearow.
- A crab next to an Exeggutor.
- A fish near a Psyduck.
- Coral near Horsea, Quagsire, and Luvdisc.
- Sea anemones near Wooper.
- Butterflies and fish near a Slowpoke.
- The shadow of what appears to be a shark is on the original Super Rod card.
- Fish, or perhaps porpoises, near a Magikarp.
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.
