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A couple of decades ago, precisely two, Pokémon began with plenty of designs that have been reminiscent of real-life creatures.
The world of Pokémon is home to such a large and varied collection of creatures that were created and inspired by many of the animals that currently or once called the Earth home. And quite a number of these Pokémon resemble the old and extinct reptiles that wandered the earth. Therefore, they range from obscure invertebrates from more than 500 million years ago to the iconic Cretaceous dinosaurs.
While there are about 900 types of Pokémons in the franchise, dinosaurs haven’t been included, but many designs are inspired by these ancient reptiles. Here are the 12 most popular fossil and dinosaur Pokémons in the entire franchise.
1. Tyrantrum: T-Rex
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Tyrantrum is a rock and dragon Pokémon inspired by Tyrannosaurus Rex. The designers put elements of the “dinosaur king” into the design concept. The golden spikes on its head look like a crown, right? In addition, it is one of the fossil Pokémons, which is very similar to dinosaurs.
2. Meganium: Sauropod
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Meganium is based on a sauropod such as Brontosaurus or Brachiosaurus. As a grass-type Pokémon, the plants on its neck also show the herbivorous traits of sauropod dinosaur.
3. Shieldon and Bastiodon: Chasmosaurus
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Impressively, the fourth generation of the Pokémon, the dinosaur fossil Pokémon, availed players the opportunity to choose from two dinosaur headgear; the marginocephalians: Cranidos the Pachycephalosaurus or Shieldon the ceratopsian.
Cranidos and its evolution Rampardos are known for their extremely high attack and head-butting tendencies, a direct reference to Pachycephalosaurus’ thickened bony head.
While their designs are similar to ornamental elements from Stygimoloch or Dracorex, which seem to be the juvenile forms of Pachycephalosaurus to some researchers today, Shieldon and its evolved form Bastiodon lean toward the defensive playstyle.
4. Amaura and Aurorus: Amargasaurus
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The sixth generation of the game, in the year 2013, came with the tyrant king dinosaur introduced as Tyrunt and Tyrantrum.
Tyrunt and Tyrantrum both have big heads, heavy bodies, and feathers, quite to the delight of paleontology lovers. The other fossil Pokémon line offered in this generation is inspired by another well-known dinosaur group breaking the trend of picking obscure extinct animals.
While some Game Freak did deter the most well-known members of the giants by choosing Amargasaurus as the backbone of their design, both Amaura and its evolution Aurorus are without doubts sauropods.
This Cretaceous dinosaur, Amaura, is famous for its two rows of extended spines on the back of its neck. Aurorus, on the contrary, is taken to the extreme. The solid structures are removed from their back and replaced by a pair of wavy, aurora-like leathery sails to solidify the ice theme.
5. Archeops: Archaeopteryx
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The iconic fossil Archaeopteryx forms the basis for the last dinosaurian creature. Archeops are dinosaurs with long tails, fully grown feathers, and visible teeth. They are sometimes known as the first bird Pokémon. Both Archen and Archeops are not the typical battle dinosaurs. Archen seems incapable of flight, and Archeops constantly wobble as it hovers on the battlefield.
And even its in-game description clearly states that Archeops is more suited to terrestrial life, akin to the real Archaeopteryx.
6. Aerodactyl: Pterosaurs
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Aerodactyl is believed to be similar to a pterosaur and it’s one of the first generations of fossil Pokémon to be introduced.
Its anatomical features are mixed with various dragon features, making it impossible to pin down to a specific genus. Its Japanese name, Ptera, pretty much gives away its pterosaurian influence.
7. Dracozolt: T-Rex
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Pokémon Sword and Shield Crown Tundra DLC as a new legendary in the franchise, the eighth generation, came with the introduction of Dracozolt.
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Dracozolt is a dual-type of electric and dragon. And clearly, dinosaurs did inspire this Pokémon, as it has the signature tiny T-Rex hands, large feet, and long tail to prove it. And considering that it’s a “fossil” Pokémon puts it beyond doubt.
8. Feraligatr: Mosasaurus
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The movie, Jurassic World, featured Mosasaurus, which was the giant alligator-like creature that leaped out of the water during the movie’s climactic third act. Feraligatr, with legs that could walk on land as a water-type Pokémon, is like a distant cousin of Mosasaurus. It has a primal design and intimidatingly enormous stature.
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And thanks to its weight, Feraligatr has trouble supporting its weight out of water according to the PokéDex which makes it sound like this big guy belongs in the water.
9. Tropius: Brachiosaurus
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Picture a flying brachiosaurus, that’s exactly how a Tropius looks like. Although Tropius is often forgotten about in the world of Pokémon, this long-neck herbivore features a dual-typing of grass and flying. Thanks to the giant leaves protruding from its back, Tropius is capable of flight. However, the leaves are just that, they’re not wings at all. Tropius glides and flaps the leaves with such force that they can lift them in the air and act as wings. This thing looks like a cross between a Brachiosaurus and a banana tree as the fruit grows out from its neck twice a year.
10. Haxorus: Theropod
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Arguably the most unlike dinosaur, Haxorus displays so much strength and ancient reptilian energy. Haxorus is kind, very passive but will go to any length to defend its territory.
It has mandibles bulging from its face, which serve as tusks, and a rigid armor surrounding its body. Haxorus has two previous forms which are much more dinosaur-like and, fortunately, it happens to be the one that makes it feel more like a pokémon and less like an actual creature.
11. Rampardos: Pachycephalosaurus
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Rampardos’ design and personality are not too different than the notable thick-skulled dinosaur species which go by the very long name of Pachycephalosaurus. And for the record, Rampardos is a hard-headed pokémon by every form of the definition and uses its head with reckless unrestrained. Rampardos are characterized by thick skulls that impede their brain growth which results in their adolescent behaviors into adulthood.
12. Lapras: Plesiosaurus
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Kudos to the animal legend known as the Loch Ness Monster, Lapras, one of the Kanto region’s most lovable and cherished pokémon.
Mythically, some believe the Lapras to be the last living Plesiosaurus, a water-dwelling dinosaur that resembled the Brachiosaurus in many ways.
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Talk of remaining loyal and true, Lapras is on that list; Lapras stayed authentic to what a Plesiosaurus is. However, it did add a neat turtle shell that acts as a natural saddle for the trainers and/or passengers it carts across the lakes, oceans, and rivers.
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That’s it on our top 12 dinosaur Pokémons. They are powerful, famous and will thrill the fandom of Pokémon.
To make the thrill more enduring, check out our dinosaur puppets if any of them can satisfy your dinosaur Pokémon desires. They can blink their eyes, open and close their mouths, and even move their legs. A true fan of dinosaur Pokémon will undoubtedly like to have one.
