Summary
- Pokemon designs are inspired by animals, dinosaurs, and mythological creatures, creating a diverse range of species.
- Many fossil Pokemon are based on dinosaurs, such as Tyranitar resembling a T-Rex, and Lapras inspired by a Plesiosaur.
- Various Pokemon, like Aerodactyl and Sceptile, draw inspiration from prehistoric creatures like the Pterodactyl and Velociraptor.
Pokemon come in a variety of shapes and sizes, as well as from a plethora of inspirations. When Pokemon Red & Blue was released in February 1996, many of the original 151 Pokemon were based on animals such as turtles, mice, and cats. Over the years of expanding the franchise and creating new creatures, designers have been looking at various animal and mythological inspirations to create new Pokemon.
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One of these inspirations has been dinosaurs, which have had roots in the design of Pokemon even back in the first generation with the designs of Lapras and Aerodactyl. Generally, many of the fossil Pokemon have become more likely to be based on dinosaurs and other prehistoric creatures, but there have also been a variety of non-fossil Pokemon that are also based on dinosaurs.
Updated February 21, 2025 by Ben Painter: Pokemon come in all different shapes and sizes with their designs taking inspiration from pretty much everything found on Earth at this point. There are 'mons based on plants, objects, myths, and even dinosaurs, the creatures that once roamed our planet millions of years ago. Dinosaurs are a common theme in media, the Jurassic Park franchise, the ARK: Survival Evolved video game, and even the iconic animated series The Flinstones.
These are all examples of the influence that dinosaurs have had. This, of course, has bled into Pokemon also, with Pokemon directly just being dinosaurs, but others just being influenced by them. This update adds three more Pokemon that are based on dinosaurs.
1 Relicanth
Coelacanth
- Type: Water/Rock
- Game Introduced: Pokemon Ruby & Sapphire (Generation 3)
- Best Move: Head Smash
- Level It Evolves: N/A
- Location In Pokemon Scarlet & Violet: N/A
Although not based on a dinosaur, there is certainly an ancient vibe to Relicanth as it is based on the coelacanth fish, which has lived on Earth for many years and was thought to be long extinct. There is also an in-game explanation of the Pokemon that states that it has remained unchanged for 100 million years in the age of the dinosaur Pokemon.
There is a dinosaur-like jaw to Relicanth, and the fact it is a rock-type means it has an ancient quality to it, just like most of the Pokemon revived from fossils. Dinosaur may, however, be a stretch.
Relicanth's Base Stats:
|
HP: |
100 |
|
Attack: |
90 |
|
Defense: |
130 |
|
Sp. Atk: |
45 |
|
Sp. Def: |
65 |
|
Speed: |
55 |
|
Total: |
485 |
2 Armaldo
Anomalocaris
- Type: Rock/Bug
- Game Introduced: Pokemon Ruby & Sapphire (Generation 3)
- Best Move: X-Scissor
- Level It Evolves: level 40
- Location In Pokemon Scarlet & Violet: N/A
A Pokemon that evolves from Anorith, which is revived from the Claw Fossil in the Generation 3 games. The evolution line's main inspiration comes from the anomalocaris, which is an extinct species of arthropod. Anorith is essentially just one of these creatures.
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However, Armaldo's design is a little different as it expands on this concept and stands on two legs, much like a dinosaur, giving it a more advanced appearance. Armaldo's body shape is similar to that of Tyranitar, Aggron, and Groundon, all of which take heavy inspiration from therapod dinos.
Armaldo's Base Stats:
|
HP: |
75 |
|
Attack: |
125 |
|
Defense: |
100 |
|
Sp. Atk: |
70 |
|
Sp. Def: |
80 |
|
Speed: |
45 |
|
Total: |
495 |
3 Kabutops
Eurypterid
- Type: Rock/Water
- Game Introduced: Pokemon Red & Blue (Generation 1)
- Best Move: Stone Edge
- Level It Evolves: level 40
- Location In Pokemon Scarlet & Violet: N/A
Kabutops and its pre-evolution Kabuto draw their designs from eurypterids, ancient arthropods who are related to the modern horseshoe crab. Although there is a clear inspiration here, the fact that Kabutops stands on two legs means that there is some dinosaur inspiration to this ancient Pokemon.
Its skinny body and scythe-like arms can be a nod toward the velociraptor, although a loose inspiration, there is clearly something here to Kabutops.
Kabutops' Base Stats:
|
HP: |
65 |
|
Attack: |
115 |
|
Defense: |
105 |
|
Sp. Atk: |
65 |
|
Sp. Def: |
70 |
|
Speed: |
80 |
|
Total: |
495 |
4 Haxorus
Heterodontosaurus
- Type: Dragon
- Game Introduced: Pokemon Black & White (Generation 5)
- Best Move: Giga Impact
- Level It Evolves: level 38, then 48
- Location In Pokemon Scarlet & Violet: Tera Raid Battles, Evolve From Fraxure
The Dragon-type Haxorus is the Ace Pokemon of the anime protagonist and Unova Gym Leader/Champion Iris. But the Pokemon is directly based on dinosaurs, specifically heterodontosaurus, which means "different toothed lizard." The Pokemon Company took this one further and gave the Axe Jaw Pokemon, well, an axe jaw.
In the game, Haxorus is an awesome Pokemon with good all-around stats but a massive emphasis on Attack. This refers to its origin and the heterodontosaurus, which would use its teeth as weapons, much like the blades on Haxorus' face.
Haxorus' Base Stats:
|
HP: |
76 |
|
Attack: |
147 |
|
Defense: |
90 |
|
Sp. Atk: |
60 |
|
Sp. Def: |
70 |
|
Speed: |
97 |
|
Total: |
540 |
5 Nidoqueen
Therapod Dinosaur
- Type: Poison/Ground
- Game Introduced: Pokemon Red & Blue (Generation 1)
- Best Move: Superpower
- Level It Evolves: level 16, then when exposed to a Moon Stone
- Location In Pokemon Scarlet & Violet: N/A
Nidoqueen is a bit of an almagation Pokemon, based mainly on a Kaiju of Japanese science fiction. But it has traits of rhinoceroses, gorillas, rabbits, porcupines, and also of therapod dinosaurs. Looking at Nidoqueen, there is a clear T. Rex appearance to it, something that it shares with its counterpart.
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The Drill Pokemon can learn a wide variety of moves, such as Fighting, Fire, Electric, and Ice types, which is a factor in its amalgamation design. It also includes the Dragon moves Outrage and Dragon Pulse in its movepool, which further explores the Dinosaur element in its design.
Nidoqueen's Base Stats:
|
HP: |
90 |
|
Attack: |
92 |
|
Defense: |
87 |
|
Sp. Atk: |
75 |
|
Sp. Def: |
85 |
|
Speed: |
76 |
|
Total: |
505 |
6 Nidoking
Therapod Dinosaur
- Type: Poison/Ground
- Game Introduced: Pokemon Red & Blue (Generation 1)
- Best Move: Megahorn
- Level It Evolves: level 16, then when exposed to a Moon Stone
- Location In Pokemon Scarlet & Violet: N/A
Just like its female counterpart, Nidoqueen, Nidoking shares a similar origin, based on a Kaiju, but has traits of rhinoceroses, gorillas, rabbits, porcupines, and theropod dinosaurs. But Nidoking looks a bit more like a dino with its larger tail, bigger horn, and overall more menacing appearance.
Removing its porcupine-like ears, Nidoking would basically be a standard-looking dinosaur. One of the signature Pokemon of Team Rocket Boss Giovanni, Nidoking has left a lasting imprint on the franchise, and it is a real wonder why it was left out from the roster of Pokemon Scarlet & Violet.
Nidoking's Base Stats:
|
HP: |
81 |
|
Attack: |
102 |
|
Defense: |
77 |
|
Sp. Atk: |
85 |
|
Sp. Def: |
75 |
|
Speed: |
85 |
|
Total: |
505 |
7 Feraligatr
Deinosuchus
- Type: Water
- Game Introduced: Pokemon Gold & Silver (Generation 2)
- Best Move: Thrash or Superpower
- Level It Evolves: level 18, then 30
- Location In Pokemon Scarlet & Violet: Evolve from Totodile, via Croconaw, Totodile can be found in the Savanna Biome (after boosting biodiversity)
The Starter Pokemon of Generation 2 is certainly based on a crocodile or alligator, one that can stand on its hind legs. Its menacing appearance can be matched with its high attack stat, making use of a powerful Thrash move.
Crocodiles and alligators are some of the oldest creatures to walk the earth and there was a large species of croc, which walked on the ancient lands known as the 'deinosuchus'. Feraligatr's appearance certainly suggests that this is no regular crocodile and GameFreak may have taken inspiration from its ancestors from a previous time. The Water-type is certainly a trait of the deinosuchus who roamed the waters of what is now the United States.
Feraligatr's Base Stats:
|
HP: |
85 |
|
Attack: |
105 |
|
Defense: |
100 |
|
Sp. Atk: |
79 |
|
Sp. Def: |
83 |
|
Speed: |
78 |
|
Total: |
530 |
8 Groudon
Ankylosaurus
- Type: Ground (Regular Form), Ground/Fire (Primal Form)
- Game Introduced: Pokemon Ruby (Generation 3), Pokemon Omega Ruby (Generation 6) (Primal Form)
- Best Move: Eruption
- Level It Evolves: N/A
- Location In Pokemon Scarlet & Violet: Alfornada Cavern after receiving the Groudon Treat from Snacksworth (Only one)
Groudon's in-game lore is very similar to a dinosaur one as it is an ancient creature that has been resurrected in the modern day. The idea of Groudon of the land and Kyogre of the sea battling it out for domination is tied to the Hebrew legend of the Behemoth and Leviathan. However, Groudon is depicted a lot differently, resembling that of a therapod dinosaur with spikes and armor plating of an Ankylosaurus.
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In Omega Ruby, Groudon received a new form known as Primal Groudon. This further emphasizes the dinosaur inspiration as the word primal is commonly associated with the dinosaur world.
Groudon's Base Stats:
|
Normal Form |
Primal Form |
|
|
HP: |
100 |
100 |
|
Attack: |
150 |
180 |
|
Defense: |
140 |
160 |
|
Sp. Atk: |
100 |
150 |
|
Sp. Def: |
90 |
90 |
|
Speed: |
90 |
90 |
|
Total: |
670 |
770 |
9 Aggron
Triceratops
- Type: Steel/Rock (Normal), Steel (Mega)
- Game Introduced: Pokemon Ruby & Sapphire (Generation 3)
- Best Move: Double-Edge
- Level It Evolves: level 32, then 42
- Location In Pokemon Scarlet & Violet: N/A
Like most powerful Pokemon, Aggron's origin is tied to a legend. This time, the Korean myth of the Pulgasari, a creature that eats iron.
However, Aggron also looks like a therapod dinosaur and some may interpret its three-horn structure on its head to be that of the iconic dinosaur, the triceratops. Some dinos were known to have armor plating, something that Aggron has in its design, and also a reference to its high defensive stats in-game. Aggron's Mega form certainly takes this plating to the next level. Now covered in steel, it even loses its Rock typing in its more powerful state.
Aggron's Base Stats:
|
Normal |
Mega |
|
|
HP: |
70 |
70 |
|
Attack: |
110 |
140 |
|
Defense: |
180 |
230 |
|
Sp. Atk: |
60 |
60 |
|
Sp. Def: |
60 |
80 |
|
Speed: |
50 |
50 |
|
Total: |
530 |
630 |
10 Dracovish
Stegosaurus
- Type: Water/Dragon
- Game Introduced: Pokemon Sword & Shield (Generation 8)
- Best Move: Dragon Rush
- Level It Evolves: N/A
- Location In Pokemon Scarlet & Violet: N/A
Dracovish is an interesting Pokemon as it is a hybrid of two different types of fossils, the Fossilized Drake and Fossilized Fish. It is the Drake element that is dinosaur-related.
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The bottom half of this strange-looking Pokemon appears to be based on a Stegosaurus with its iconic spines reversed to appear on the belly of Dracovish. Along with the other Fossil Pokemon of Generation 8, the true ancient Pokemon are never revealed, so somewhere out there in the world of Pokemon is a true version of the Fossilized Drake, but this isn't in any of the games.
Dracovish's Base Stats:
|
HP: |
90 |
|
Attack: |
90 |
|
Defense: |
100 |
|
Sp. Atk: |
70 |
|
Sp. Def: |
80 |
|
Speed: |
75 |
|
Total: |
505 |