Animals in the Pokémon world

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, is known as the "Mouse Pokémon" and was directly referred to in Pokémon the Series as an "electric mouse", hinting that real-world mice exist in the Pokémon world. Other than this, all other mentions of animals are rare.
==Pokémon categories==
Some Pokémon category names are animals, such as the Poodle Pokémon ('s category), which implies that there are not only dogs, but different breeds of dogs.
The Pokédex routinely mentions the category of each Pokémon in various media. For example, in the Pokémon the Series episode Here Comes the Squirtle Squad, 's Pokédex tells him the category of , a Tiny Pokémon, and in the Pokémon Adventures manga round Boogying with Buneary, 's Pokédex displays the category of , a Pokémon. Additionally, Pokémon categories can be found on cards.
==In the core series games==
* In the Generation I games, the class has a sprite that depicts them holding a generic bird on their arm.
* In Generation I artwork of Old Amber, there is a mosquito or similar insect visible within the item.
* In the Generation I games and their remakes:
** A mentions that sometimes drift aboard the S.S. Anne.
** A chef aboard the S.S. Anne mentions several meat dishes: "s au Barbecue", " du Salad", and "Prime ".
** A in the Rocket Hideout insults the player by calling them a little rat.
** A in the Fuchsia Gym mentions having joined the Gym due to "ninjas' long history with animals".
* In , the non-player character at the Summer Beach House mentions these meat products: "Dogs and burgers on special today!"
** In the French, German, and Spanish version, he mentions hot dogs and burgers as well. However, in the Japanese version, this is yakisoba ramen (Japanese: ラーメン やきソバ) and in the Italian version this is "panini caldi".
* In , Katherine on Sinnoh Route 211 says "I go everywhere with my . We’re gonna show you owl best! Ha!" This is a pun on "" and "our".
* In , a Trainer in the Battle Subway says he is so obsessed with Pokémon that his wife is as mad as a .
* In the Generation V games, Burgh's is named Beetle Badge (ビートルバッジ) in Japanese.
* In :
** Fresh-caught is served at the restaurants in Lumiose City.
** Real world appear in the background at some places during Pokémon battles.
* In : 
** The Insect Plate is described as being imbued with the essence of bugs.
** The English name of Horseshoe Plains implies the existence of horseshoes, and by extension, real horses. However, the Japanese name for Horseshoe Plains, Horseshoe Meadow, includes the Japanese word for horseshoe, 蹄鉄, which contains the Japanese words for hoof and iron, not horse.
** The names of Deertrack Heights and Deertrack Path mention deer.
* In :
** The restaurant food item, Paella de Paldea, has what appears to be s in the dish. 
** Katy, when defeated, exclaims that all of her Pokémon dropped like .
** Ortega refers to the current state of the Naranja Academy/Uva Academy as "all rainbows and butterflies".
** In Pokémon Scarlet, according to an article from a September issue of magazine, leading theories hold that is "a living relic of the dinosaur era".
** A coral reef can be seen growing inside the Terarium's Coastal Biome.
===Moves===
* The name and description of the move mention bulls.
* The name of the move mentions crabs.
===Items===
* The Shoal Shell resembles no known Pokémon, but does resemble the shells of .
===Battle animations===
Some in-battle animations depict real-world animals.
* In several games, yellow birds can be seen circling around a Pokémon. Yellow birds also appear in 's battle animations.
* s appear in the battle animations for 's signature moves , , and .
===Pokédex entries===
Several Pokédex entries imply the existence of real-world animals.
* s are mentioned in entries for and . However, in Pokémon Legends: Arceus, Raichu's entry instead mentions .
* preys on .
* uses the sweet aroma of its honey to lure prey such as s, as well as large animals.
* preys on s. It also uses as an anchor to avoid being washed away, as well as for shade to build its nest in.
* can extend its tongue like a .
* lived in the "age of dinosaurs", also referred to as the "dinosaur era", and was resurrected from a dinosaur’s genes.
* Coral branches grow from 's head, and are a food source for .
* congregate and make their homes in coral reefs.
* and eat microscopic .
* has similar features to a ghostly that was covered in a paranormal magazine, but the two have little else in common.
* is said to be a cross between a dinosaur and a mushroom.
==In the side series games==
* In , when Nascour asks Venus about the progress of her takeover of The Under, she comments that "a couple appear to be running loose".
==In the spin-off games==
===Pokémon Snap===
In , reefs can be seen.
===Pokémon Mystery Dungeon series===
In , Weezing and Zubat call the player's partner a chicken.
===Pokémon Ranger series===
In , one of the foes says that goat milk cheese is his favorite.
In , s can be seen in underwater areas.
===Detective Pikachu===
In , a boat is described as having 400 .
===Pokémon Masters EX===
In Pokémon Masters EX, during a morning log-in conversation, Adaman says that "[...]the early bird catches the worm!"
===e-Reader games===
In the e-Reader game Machop at Work, birds appears circling the fainted if it loses the game from being hit by a falling rock.
==In animation==
===Pokémon the Series===
Real-life animals have been seen and mentioned in . They were more common in , as there weren't as many species of Pokémon introduced at the time. A picture book based on the series once featured a walking past and , and a piece of concept art of the residents of Pallet Town featured a . Birds can also occasionally be heard in the background. Foods that contain meat products, such as and , are often seen.https://www.kinokuniya.co.jp/f/dsg-01-9784091145772 - Shogakukan's TV Picture Book "Pocket Monsters (7) Ghost Pokémon and the Summer Festival" In addition, the guidebook Pocket Monsters: The Animation confirmed that there were indeed animals in the , and also revealed that weren't related to animals at all. 
Despite Pokémon themselves being unrelated to animals, it appears that behavioral and predator-prey dynamics still apply to Pokémon based on the animals they resemble. still considers himself a cat and displays cat-like behaviour frequently while in the episode The Ghost of Maiden's Peak, was afraid of a real-life mongoose, a predator of snakes and cobras. Pokémon occasionally display traits of other animals, Ash's being seen scratching its neck with its leg like a dog would.
In Pokémon: Adventures in the Orange Islands, the four Gym Badges are made up of s with a gem on the center of the shell. This implies that s exist within the Pokémon world.
However, animal appearances in the series become less frequent as more Pokémon have been added to take their places.
========
* Pokémon - I Choose You!
:When Ash overslept and didn't get a Pokémon, says in the English dub, "The early bird catches a worm, or... in this case... A Pokémon...".
:A wild can be seen eating a right before tries to catch it.
* Pokémon Emergency!
:Various animals were mentioned by . Mostly, they referred to as a cat, and as a mouse.
:Professor Oak leaves a call with Ash to accept a delivery of an anchovies, spinach, and pineapple pizza.
* Ash Catches a Pokémon
: is scared when she sees a , and Ash tries to calm her down by reminding her that it's a Pokémon rather than a "real" .
: is seen eating a regular worm before being captured by Ash.
* Challenge of the Samurai
:As a pun on (mushi, "insect") and (ushi, "cow"), Ash is seen in a costume because Misty is scared of bugs. In the dub, he makes a pun saying, "".
* The Water Flowers of Cerulean City
: 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 is similar to a .
* Here Comes the Squirtle Squad
:After Ash, Misty, and fall into the Squirtle Squad's pitfall trap, a can be seen.
* Battle Aboard the St. Anne
:A cooked can be seen as food served on the ship.
:A fish is seen on the counter while James is running after his in the sinking ship.
:In the Japanese version, the Magikarp salesman tells James that is the king of . This is a reference to "Koiking", the Japanese name of Magikarp. In the dub, he says, "The king of all ! A Magikarp!"
* Pokémon Shipwreck
:More fish can be seen swimming in the ocean near the sunken St. Anne.
* Island of the Giant Pokémon
:In the episode's Dare da?, a fish is biting 's tail.
* Beauty and the Beach
:Brock attempts to attract customers to a restaurant by advertising unusual animal-themed dishes, including french-fried , seven-layered , on a stick, and clam juice snowcones.
:Team Rocket sends a missile that is shaped like a 's head to ruin the Beach Beauty and Pokémon Costume Contest.
* Tentacool & Tentacruel
:Fish can be seen in the aquarium in Nastina's vision of her completed luxury hotel.
:The are referred to as in the episode.
* The Ghost of Maiden's Peak
:There is a drawing of an octopus on the front board of a stand (this drawing is airbrushed out in the dub).
:A created an illusion of a in order to scare . It later defeated by stomping on it.
* The Tower of Terror
:When lights up the room, a mounted deer head can be seen on the wall. 
:Some of the toys in the Pokémon's playroom appear to resemble s and s, and there is a merry-go-round with s. 
* Hypno's Naptime
:Two different species of real world fish are seen in Meowth's fantasy.
* Pokémon Fashion Flash
:One of the signs on Scissor Street features a .
* The Punchy Pokémon
:Fish tails are seen in one plate when James and Meowth were dreaming about food. Meowth also mentions roast leg of .
* Sparks Fly for Magnemite
:After witnessing a wild Magnemite "falling in love" with Pikachu, Brock comments that he can understand a romantic based relationship between animal-based Pokémon, but not an inorganic-based Pokémon like Magnemite.
* The Flame Pokémon-athon!
:Some real world animal plushes are seen on some of the shelves of the festival.
* The Bridge Bike Gang
:At the end of the episode, when Team Rocket comes out of the water, Jessie can be seen with a starfish, an and a seashell on her head.
* Holiday Hi-Jynx
:Santa Claus tells Ash and that he has "no " to pull his sleigh, and uses a instead.
* The Battling Eevee Brothers
:In one scene, James is seen holding a lobster.
:In the last scene, Team Rocket are eating canned squid, and brown fish.
* Princess vs. Princess
:Lots of real world animal plushes are seen in the stores in the Princess Festival.
* The Purr-fect Hero
:There are banners depicting multiple random fish on some houses.
:Drawn and s appear on some of the walls of the school.
: ears are seen in the top hat drawn on Team Rocket's van.
* Case of the K-9 Capers
:Meowth compares his voice to one of after inhaling gas coming from a tank with a on it.
* Riddle Me This
:While Ash and his friends are looking for a hotel to stay in, a picture of a can be seen in one of the hotels.
:During 's banquet, some fish are seen sliced up.
: are seen on a painting when Ash and his friends are at Blaine's hotel.
:A green mouse is seen on a cup in one of the many tourist stands of Cinnabar Island.
* The Misty Mermaid
:Real world fish are seen in an aquarium inside the Cerulean Gym.
:James and Meowth wear -inspired costumes.
:In addition, and are compared to s.
:Various coral is visible underwater.
:A is seen underwater.
:Misty goes inside a giant clam underwater.
* Clefairy Tales
: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.
* Mewtwo Strikes Back
: talks to to learn the conditions of the sea.
:When Meowth despises the idea of going into a sewer, in the dub, Jessie tells him, "Pretend you're a !" In the Japanese version, Meowth says, "I'm not a !" (Japanese: ドブネズミじゃにゃ!)
* The Pi-Kahuna
:There is a on 's wall.
:Some kind of yellow shark/seal is seen in a picture frame when she talks.
* Make Room for Gloom
:When Ash's Bulbasaur smells Poké-nip and becomes dazed, Misty reads a sign that says Poké-nip's scent affects Pokémon like affects cats.
* Go West, Young Meowth
:While Meowth was looking for food, he came across some fish bones. Meowth is also seen eating fried chicken.
* To Master the Onix-expected
:While and his friends are resting, their elderly female host mentions the disappearance of her " ." 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 wild s.
* A Friend Indeed
:One of the foods the characters eat is shrimp tempura.
* Meowth's Song
:In one scene, Meowth mentions .
* The Crystal Onix
:A starfish is seen on the sandbar.
* The Joy of Pokémon
:Real fish can be seen in the moment before a young Nurse Joy falls into the water. 
* Meowth Rules!
:Meowth is seen holding and talking about eating clams.
* Pokémon Food Fight!
:Misty mentions fish when describing her plan to use a lure to get over the mountain. Shortly after, it cuts to an image of a lure designed after a .
========
* Tanks a Lot!
: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.
* Grin to Win!
:A fried chicken stand can be seen along with a chicken thigh in the Sunflora Festival.
* Foul Weather Friends
:Meowth mentions .
* Pikachu & Pichu
:A horse statue can be seen in the background.
* Spell of the Unown: Entei
:At one point in development, this movie was going to feature a Tyrannosaurus Rex. This idea was scrapped as more Generation II Pokémon designs were revealed.
* The Bug Stops Here
:Jessie is seen holding a .
* Fossil Fools
:A fish can be seen in statue form, being attacked by .
* Hook, Line, and Stinker
:When one of Misty's catches escapes from her fishing line, Ash says that it was probably a catfish.
* From Ghost to Ghost
:Meowth's food illusion created by the Gastly includes a fish.
* The Light Fantastic
:After licking the icicle, Meowth comments that it is not fish-flavored.
* Mantine Overboard!
:Various corals are visible underwater.
====Pokémon the Series: Ruby and Sapphire====
* Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snorunt!
:During the Team Rocket , James mentions he's wearing .
* Pokémon Ranger and the Temple of the Sea
:Various corals are visible underwater.
====Pokémon the Series: Diamond and Pearl====
*Keeping in Top Forme!
:In the Norwegian dub, after Brock comments on the Team Rocket trio's endurance, James replies that they "are stubborn like s."
====Pokémon the Series: Black & White====
*Expedition to Onix Island!
:Various corals are visible underwater.
====Pokémon the Series: XY====
*Going for the Gold!
:Various corals are visible underwater.
*Day Three Blockbusters!
:In the video of Team Charmander on the , real mollusk shells are seen.
*Unlocking Some Respect!
:During the Poké TV segment, can be seen on rocks above the sea.
*A Gaggle of Gadget Greatness!
:-like toys can be seen in the Gadget Festival.
====Pokémon the Series: Sun & Moon====
*Due to the tropical theming of the Alola region, a significant number of episodes contain depictions of various corals. This includes:
**Alola to New Adventure!
**Yo, Ho, Ho! Go, Popplio!
**The Sun, the Scare, the Secret Lair!
**Partner Promises!
**A Shivering Shovel Search!
**The Island Whisperer!
**Balloons, Brionne, and Belligerence!
**Let Sleeping Pokémon Lie!
**Dewpider Ascending!
*Mimikyu Unmasked!
:One of 's disguises shows a starfish and a shell that appear on a beach bucket.
*Balloons, Brionne, and Belligerence! and Evolving Research!
:The shape of Ida's clasp is a real shell.
==In the manga==
Animals have also been seen in the .
===Pokémon Adventures===
========
* A Hollow Victreebel
** There are real-life mice, shrews, and birds as , , and 's prey at the Kanto Safari Zone.
* You Know...Articuno!
** Gyara is seen smiling at a butterfly.
========
* Do Wrong, Dewgong!
** Pika is seen chasing a butterfly or a moth.
========
* With a Spoink in Your Step I
** In the Chuang Yi version, Ruby states that Fofo has the strength of a and the heart of a .
* The Final Showdown VII
** In the Chuang Yi version, Archie or Maxie says that Winona has been "buzzing around [their] ears like an annoying ".
* The Final Showdown VIII
** In the Chuang Yi version, Archie and Maxie say "we can get rid of you flies anytime we want", referring to Ruby and Sapphire.
========
* Boogying with Buneary
** In the Chuang Yi version, Keira calls her Buneary a "snugglebunny".
* Vexing Vespiquen & Unmanageable Mothim I
** A 's uses grubs for the moves , , and .
========
*Legendary Tornadus
** On page 11, after Whitney wakes up screaming, her schoolmates ask if a spider was bothering her.
===How I Became a Pokémon Card===
In How I Became a Pokémon Card, a cat appears in one chapter.
===Pokémon Pocket Monsters===
In Pokémon Pocket Monsters, regular animals appear alongside Pokémon.
===Pokémon: Yeah! I Got Pokémon!===
In Pokémon: Yeah! I Got Pokémon!, a snail appears in GDZ04. In GDZ13, Shu is shown capturing some s in the forest.
===The Electric Tale of Pikachu===
In The Electric Tale of Pikachu, the Cerulean Gym Aquarium has real-life fish and whales.
===Magical Pokémon Journey===
In Magical Pokémon Journey, real-life animals such as fish, butterflies, and horses have occasionally been seen.
===Pokémon Newspaper Strip===
* In , there is a short narration: "...not a creature was stirring... not even an electric mouse..." (a reference to the 1823 poem "").
** Additionally, Santa Claus is heard saying "Now Dasher! Now Dancer! Now—" This may indicate that he has , but Santa Claus and the reindeer are not seen.
* In , also called Pikachu an "electric mouse".
* In , says that Ash's Snorlax ate a frozen .
==In the TCG==
Numerous early Pokémon cards featured animals.
* A perched on .
* A near .
* A next to .
* A flying near .
* A flying near and .
* A for , , and .
* A next to .
* A near .
* , or perhaps , near .
* Multiple next to .
* and near .
* near .
* near , , , , , , , , and .
* The shadow of what appears to be a is on the original card.
* Shadows of what appear to be a school of fish next to .
===Attacks===
Attack 	Card
Cat Fleas 	Giovanni's Meowth (Gym Challenge 74)
Cat Kick 	Meowth (EX FireRed & LeafGreen 69)Meowth (Next Destinies 80)Giovanni's Meowth (Gym Challenge 74)Glameow (Battle Styles 115)
Cat Punch 	Meowth (Wizards Promo 10)
Caturday 	Glameow (Unbroken Bonds 159)
Dogpile 	Chansey (Expedition 72)
Pod 	Misty's Tentacool (Gym Heroes 32)
Jellyfish Poison	Misty's Tentacruel (Gym Heroes 10)
Jellyfish Sting 	Tentacruel (Fossil 44)
Tiger Swing 	Incineroar-GX (Sun & Moon 27)
==In books==
Animals are occasionally referenced in Pokémon books.
===Let's Find Pokémon!===
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 .
* In Let's Find Pokémon! 3, a is eating a fish with rice.
===Pokémon Tales===
In Pokémon Tales, there are several instances of animals in the Pokémon world.
* In Bulbasaur's Trouble, a boy wanted to catch a frog in the forest. He believed that Bulbasaur was a frog and tried to feed it a fly, but Bulbasaur does not like flies. Bulbasaur eventually found a real frog for the boy. This is one of the only Pokémon stories where a real animal is directly relevant to the plot. 
* In Pikachu's Day, Pikachu takes a bath with a rubber duck.
* In Diglett's Birthday Party, a brown dog buries a bone and later a white dog steals the buried bone.
* In Snorlax's Snack, eats a fish from the refrigerator. At some point, Snorlax also believes that is a sausage.
==Trivia==
* Takeshi Shudō's original idea for the third Pokémon movie was about a real-world fossil being discovered. It would have come to life and gone on a rampage through the Kanto region.http://dogasu.bulbagarden.net/movies/pm_lord_unknown_tower_entei/lord_unknown_tower_entei_mythical_third_movie.html
** Also according to Shudō, real animals went extinct in the Pokémon world years ago and no longer exist. He claimed that instances of real-world animals appearing in earlier episodes of Pokémon the Series were due to the animation staff not paying enough attention.
==References==
==Related articles==
* Pokémon world in relation to the real world
Category:Pokémon world
Category:Non-Pokémon creatures
it:Animali nel mondo dei Pokémon
zh:寶可夢世界裡的動物