Has there been a Pokemon you 100% thought was something before you got a lesson and realized what you thought this particular Pokemon was based on turned out to be something completely different? Yeah, my childhood self thought a lot of Pokemon were a lot of things when in reality they aren't. Heck, even after doing this update, I learned the hard way that Pokemon are based on things I never thought of and now I'm kind of shook😅

So sit back and relax while we go over some commonly mistaken Pokemon and what their true origin/design is based on.

1. Gloom & Vileplume

I FOREVER thought they were mushrooms hence their poison typings and oddly bulbous 'flower' petals. Also, Gloom & Vileplume's head foliage reminded me heavily of two other Gen 1 Pokemon: Paras & Parasect. Paras & Parasect sport parasitic mushrooms on their backs and one again, they look similar to Gloom & Vileplume. In reality these two are based on a Poisonous flower called the Rafflesia which now makes sense... The Rafflesia, also known as the Corpse Flower, is the largest flower on the planet of which it smells like rotting flesh. They're also poisonous to the touch. This would explain why Vileplume is a Poison type as well as why Vileplume has a large assortment of status inflicting moves like Sweet Scent, Poison Powder & Sleep Powder.

2. Xurkitree

I don't know what I thought it was, but I didn't think it was electrical circuitry as it's name suggests.

3. Mightyena

I thought it was a wolf, not a hyena DESPITE hyena being in its name. Mightyena is often seen with a behavior more similar to dogs and wolves in the Pokemon series given its often seen in packs, has moves like Roar, Snarl, Growl, etc, it's cry is a snarling growl, it's often seen in winter and forest environments further delving into how Pokemon treated Mightyena drastically wrong despite it being a hyena. Hyenas aren't even in the canine family either. Hyenas ALSO don't growl and roar as Mightyena is often depicted to do. The reason why Hyenas make unsettling 'laughing' noises is actually how they growl. It's the only noise they CAN make. Also an African animal debuting in a Pokemon Region set in Japan makes so little sense. All of the signs point towards Mightyena being a Wolf even though it is a hyena.

4. Zigzagoon

It took me 20+ years to realize Zigzagoon ISNT a dog. Yes, I forever thought Zigzagoon was a dog because logically it has the body of a small dog, runs around like a small dog, has a bunch of sound related moves much like Mightyena such as Roar, Snarl, etc. It's face and head in general is that of a small dog. It's body patterns don't match anything in real life besides wild cats. Turns out, Zigzagoon is actually a Raccoon. Nothing about this Pokemon says Raccoon besides the bandit mask. I forever thought Zigzagoon was a dog until Sword & Shield came out where Galarian Zigzagoon is dubbed the 'Raccoon Pokemon'. Let me tell ya, this shook my world at the time and when I went to other people about the issue, everyone was at an agreement. Zigzagoon shouldn't be a Raccoon BUT it is... There's debate that Zigzagoon is based on a Raccoon Dog aka a Tanuki, probably explaining why Zigzagoon acts and looks more like a dog than a Raccoon, but we don't know that.

5. Grafaiai

I always knew what Grafaiai was, but the fanbase does not. Everyone thinks Grafaiai is a ring tailed Lemur because of its striped tail, facial markings & hands. Nope! Grafaiai is based on a species of Monkey called the Aiai. I've always known what an Aiai was, so as soon as I heard the name Grafaiai, I knew it was a monkey but the fanbase is STILL labeling it a Lemur. I mean yeah, it has surprising similarities to a ring tailed lemur. Whatever floats your boat I guess?

6. Darumaka & Darmanitan

When I was younger, I never truly knew what Darumaka was being it was a weirdly smiley round boy with chicken feet. Darmanitan was also an oddball! I forever thought Darmanitan was bare minimum some sort of primate like a gorilla or ape but it turns out I didn't know what these guys actually were until I played Persona 5 in the midst of the Covid 19 Pandemic😅 Shido's Palace in Persona 5 is littered with countless amount of Darumas and that's when I finally made the connection that Daruma Dolls look strangely similar to Darumaka & Darmanitan, heck, even their names have 'Darum' in them much like a Daruma. Daruma Dolls are a symbol of zen and good luck in Japanese culture further explaining why Darmanitan has a 'Zen Mode'.

7. Absol

As a kid, I never truly knew what Absol was. I always thought Absol was some sort of wolf related creature and I finally took it upon myself to look up what Absol is based on and I feel better knowing it's actually inspired by a mythological creature. Absol is based on the Bai Ze, a Chinese Mythological creature characterized by having the head of a human or dragon, body of an Ox and white in coloration. They are capable of understanding human language and only show themselves to ward off evil spirits. This creature would explain why Absol has a ghostly white body and an unusually human face. Absols Pokedex entry also entails how the presence of an Absol is a warning of badluck and natural disasters approaching. You learn something new everyday!

8. Sandslash

A VERY common Misconception in the fanbase, I always thought Sandslash was a Porcupine due to its spiky back when it's actually a Pangolin. A Pangolin in an Asian animal nicknamed the Spiky Anteater. Pangolins are covered in protective spiky armor, have an elongated face and claws on their front paws made for scooping dirt. This would explain why Sandslash's face is long and anteater like as well as it's clawed front paws. Also would explain why Sandslash is a Kanto/Japanese Pokemon and Pangolins are Asian mammals.

9. Burmy & Wormadam

When I was younger, I thought Burmy & Wormadam were WEIRD Pokemon as I wasn't sure at all what they were. I always sort of just accepted that they were cocoon Pokemon. Turns out, that's far from the truth. Burmy & Wormadam are actually not based on Cocoons but rather Bag Worms. Bag Worms are Caterpillars that build themselves protective shells from the environment out of leaves, sticks, rocks, etc. They're very invasive and later they become Moths. This would explain why Burmy is known to have multiple different 'cloak' forms such as Leaf, Sand & Trash based on the environment. Further explains why Burmy has a branched evolution between Mothim & Wormadam.

10. The Eeveelutions

Maybe it's just me, but for the longest time I thought the Eevee family were dogs. Yet a great portion of the fanbase thinks they're cats. I'm sorry, I've never seen any feline characteristics in the Eeveelutions! Espeon, maybe? But the other Eeveelutions scream something along the lines of something in the Canine Family. Well, the Eeveelutions are actually Foxes or 'Vulpines' if you wanna use their class name. Vulpines are a weird classification of species as they're their own species with shared characteristics across many others hence why many debate whether a fox is a dog or a cat when in reality Vulpines are neither.

We're you mistaking any of these Pokemon?