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, creating new creatures has had designers looking at a variety of 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 May 16, 2024 by Ben Painter:Dinosaurs are a very common element in media; the Jurassic Park franchise, the Ark: Survival Evolved video game and The Flinstones TV show are various examples of dino media. The ancient creatures have also bled their way into Pokemon, with many 'mons taking their design inspiration from dinosaurs such as the T-Rex and the Brachiosaurus.

This update adds five new dinosaur Pokemon and gives more context to previous entries, including whether these Pokemon can be found in the latest game in the series, Pokemon Scarlet & Violet, and where they can be found.

1 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:

2 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:

3 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:

4 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:

5 Arctozolt

Dromaeosauridae & Plesiosaur

• Type: Electric/Ice
• Game Introduced:Pokemon Sword & Shield (Generation 8)
• Best Move: Blizzard
• Level It Evolves: N/A
• Location In Pokemon Scarlet & Violet: N/A

Just like with Dracovish, Acrtozolt is an amalgamation Pokemon of the Fossilized Bird and the Fossilized Dino. Both of these are references to a dinosaur.

Its top half appears to be based on a Dromaeosauridae, specifically a velociraptor, as it is commonly theorized that velociraptors are feathery creatures and are related to modern-day birds. However, this weird Pokemon is also based on a completely different species in its bottom half, looking like some form of marine dinosaur such as a plesiosaur, mosasaur, or ichthyosaur. This combination certainly makes for an interesting creature. It's a shame that gamers may never see the original creatures of these fossils in a Pokemon game.

Arctozolt's Base Stats:

6 Dracozolt

Dromaeosaurid & Stegosauria

• Type: Electric/Dragon
• Game Introduced:Pokemon Sword & Shield (Generation 8)
• Best Move: Dragon Rush
• Level It Evolves: N/A
• Location In Pokemon Scarlet & Violet: N/A

Dracozolt is one of Gen 8's Fossil Pokemon, a dual-type Electric/Dragon-type resurrected from combining the Fossilized Bird and the Fossilized Drake.

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Like the other Fossil Pokemon in Pokemon Sword & Shield, Dracozolt appears to be based on the Crystal Palace Dinosaurs, the first dinosaur sculpture in the world. These sculptures, commissioned in 1852, are based on fossils now known to be incorrectly assembled. This is why Dracozolt looks so mismatched - its top half is based on the Dromaeosaurid, and the bottom half is based on Stegosauria.

Dracozolt's Base Stats:

7 Arctovish

Dunkleosteus & Plesiosaur

• Type: Water/Ice
• Game Introduced:Pokemon Sword & Shield (Generation 8)
• Best Move: Blizzard
• Level It Evolves: N/A
• Location In Pokemon Scarlet & Violet: N/A

The last of the Sword & Shield fossils here, Arctovish is a Pokemon based on an ancient fish and an ancient marine reptile. Its head is reminiscent of a dunkleosteus, a large fish that swam in the waters of the ancient Earth. However, its fins appear to be based on those of a coelacanth, another type of ancient fish.

Just like Arctozolt, its bottom half is a marine dinosaur like a plesiosaur, mosasaur, or ichthyosaur. This 'mon makes much more use of this as it is a Pokemon that swims instead of using its back fins as legs. Arctovish and its counterparts may also reference the Crystal Palace Dinosaurs, which are scientifically inaccurate dinos, combinations of various creatures, just like these Pokemon are.

Arctovish's Base Stats:

8 Garchomp

Dromaeosauridae

• Type: Dragon/Ground
• Game Introduced:Pokemon Diamond & Pearl (Generation 4)
• Best Move: Dragon Rush
• Level It Evolves: level 24, then 48
• Location In Pokemon Scarlet & Violet: West Province: Area Two (Water Tera Type), Great Crater of Paldea, Area Zero, Tera Raid Battles (5★, 6★)

Cynthia's terrifying ace and the pseudo-legendary of generation 4, Garchomp, is without a doubt one of the best-designed Pokemon of the franchise.

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Its design takes inspiration from a few things. There is a large shark element to it but also of a Dromaeosauridae, a dinosaur that has a similar stature to this Pokemon, and it has similar fins/wings on its arms like the Dragon/Ground Pokemon has. Dragon-types are the most like dinosaurs and Garchomp is no exception.

Garchomp's Base Stats:

9 Tyranitar

Therapod Dinosaur

• Type: Rock/Dark
• Game Introduced:Pokemon Gold & Silver (Generation 2)
• Best Move: Hyper Beam or Giga Impact
• Level It Evolves: level 30, then 55
• Location In Pokemon Scarlet & Violet: Tera Raid Battles (5★, 6★)

Large inspirations for Tyranitar's design are based on the Japanese kaiju genre of movies featuring giant monsters and in this case Godzilla, largely. This Rock/Dark type just looks like a dinosaur and no one can say otherwise, specifically a therapod dinosaur, one that can stand on its hind likes such as T-Rex.

Tyranitar is the pseudo-legendary of Generation 2 and is the largest and most fearsome creature to live on Earth. It is fitting that some of the strongest Pokemon in the games are based on dinosaurs.

Tyranitar's Base Stats:

10 Tropius

Brachiosaurus

• Type: Grass/Flying
• Game Introduced:Pokemon Ruby & Sapphire (Generation 3)
• Best Move: Solar Beam or Outrage
• Level It Evolves: N/A
• Location In Pokemon Scarlet & Violet: West Province: Area Two, Area Three, North Province: Casseroya Lake, Tera Raid Battles (4★)

Tropius is a third generation Pokemon based on a banana tree and a generic sauropod, a class of gentle, herbivorous dinosaurs. Its long, curved neck resembles a Brachiosaurus, though it's very unlikely that the Brachiosaurus was ever able to fly.

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Tropius' gentle nature is emphasized in Pokedex entries from Pokemon Ruby & Sapphire, which states that it is popular with children and that it loves to eat fruit whenever it can.

Tropius' Base Stats:

11 Baxcalibur

Theropod Dinosaur

• Type: Dragon/Ice
• Game Introduced:Pokemon Scarlet & Violet (Generation 9)
• Best Move: Glaive Rush
• Level It Evolves: level 35, then 54
• Location In Pokemon Scarlet & Violet: Tera Raid Battles (5★, 6★)

The origins of Baxcalibur, a ninth generation Pokemon introduced in Pokemon Scarlet & Violet, are cool. While Baxcalibur is likely inspired by kaiju, it also has traits of many types of dinosaurs due to the sails on its back.

Most interestingly, it has traits of the Concavenator, a theropod dinosaur with a crest on its back and quills on its forelimbs very similar to Baxcalibur. Fossils of this dinosaur were first discovered in Spain, which links thematically to the game, as Paldea is a region inspired by Spain and Latin America.

Baxcalibur's Base Stats:

12 Aurorus

Sauropod

• Type: Rock/Ice
• Game Introduced:Pokemon X & Y (Generation 6)
• Best Move: Hyper Beam
• Level It Evolves: level 39 at night
• Location In Pokemon Scarlet & Violet: N/A

Aurorus is one of many Fossil Pokemon based on dinosaurs. In Pokemon X & Y, Aurorus is the evolution of Amaura, which is a resurrection of the Sail Fossil. Designed Hitoshi Anga designed Aurorus to be based on a sauropod, in contrast with Tyrantum, Gen 6's other Fossil Pokemon.

Aurorus' color-changing scales and name are based on the Aurora Borealis: bright, colorful lights in the sky visible across parts of the Northern Hemisphere.

Aurorus' Base Stats:

13 Meganium

Sauropod

• Type: Grass
• Game Introduced:Pokemon Gold & Silver (Generation 2)
• Best Move: Petal Dance or Solar Beam
• Level It Evolves: level 16, then 32
• Location In Pokemon Scarlet & Violet: Evolve from Chikorita, via Bayleef, Chikorita can be found in Coastal Biome, Torchlit Labyrinth (after boosting biodiversity)

Meganium was one of the first starter Pokemon to have been based on a dinosaur. Meganium was based on Sauropods such as the Brachiosaurus, which exhibit many similar physical features to the Generation 2 starter. These features include the creature being quadrupedal and having a long neck.

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Funny enough, it seems that the personality of many Sauropods was taken into consideration when designing Meganium. Sauropods are predominantly herbivores, which makes sense considering that Meganium is a grass-type Pokemon.

Meganium's Base Stats:

14 Lapras

Plesiosaur

• Type: Water/Ice
• Game Introduced:Pokemon Red & Blue (Generation 1)
• Best Move: Hydro Pump
• Level It Evolves: N/A
• Location In Pokemon Scarlet & Violet: Polar Biome, Tera Raid Battles (5★, 6★)

Lapras is certainly one of the most beloved Generation 1 Pokemon of all time, mainly due to its unique, lovable design and power in battle. That said, however, as beloved as this Pokemon might be, not many fans consider the origin of its design.

Lapras was designed after the prehistoric Plesiosaur, which was a monstrous dinosaur that roamed the oceans long before any of the animals we know and love today did. Both creatures have long necks, fins, short tails, and a blue-colored appearance.

Lapras' Base Stats:

15 Archeops

Archaeopteryx

• Type: Rock/Flying
• Game Introduced:Pokemon Black & White (Generation 5)
• Best Move: Trash
• Level It Evolves: level 37
• Location In Pokemon Scarlet & Violet: N/A

Archeops is one of the two fossil Pokemon available in Pokemon Black & White. That said, it is the only one of the two to be based on an actual prehistoric creature. Archeops is based on the similarly named Archaeopteryx, which is a prehistoric bird-like creature that is widely renowned for being the very first bird.

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Both creatures are similar in design, as both have wings, feathers, and teeth, as well as the ability to fly. Archeops' pre-evolution, Archen, is also based on this prehistoric creature, exhibiting many of the same physical similarities.

Archeops' Base Stats:

16 Tyrantrum

Tyrannosaurus-Rex

• Type: Rock/Dragon
• Game Introduced:Pokemon X & Y (Generation 6)
• Best Move: Giga Impact or Head Smash
• Level It Evolves: level 39 during the day
• Location In Pokemon Scarlet & Violet: N/A

Tyrantrum is one of the two fossil Pokemon available in Pokemon X & Y, alongside another prehistorically designed creature, Aurorus. It's very clear from Tyrantrum's name and design that this Pokemon was based on the mighty Tyrannosaurus-Rex (T-Rex).

Both creatures exhibit several physical similarities, including their body shape, sharp teeth, and short, claw-like arms. Those who aren't fans of the series could easily mistake Tyrantrum for an actual dinosaur due to the physical similarities between the two mighty beasts.

Tyrantrum's Base Stats:

17 Bastiodon

Triceratops or Zuncineratops

• Type: Rock/Steel
• Game Introduced:Pokemon Diamond & Pearl (Generation 4)
• Best Move: Heavy Slam
• Level It Evolves: level 30
• Location In Pokemon Scarlet & Violet: N/A

Introduced in Pokemon Diamond, Pearl & Platinum, Bastiodon doesn't appear to be based on a dinosaur at first glance but similar to its counterpart, Rampardos, its design comes from a very well-known herbivore hailing from the late Cretaceous period. Bastiodon is based on the traits and body shape of the Triceratops or Zuncineratops.

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Both creatures are quadrupedal and have horns, similar to the Triceratops. They both even have a shield/plate-like face, which becomes more prominent in Bastiodon's design.

Bastiodon's Base Stats:

18 Aerodactyl

Pterodactyl

• Type: Rock/Flying
• Game Introduced:Pokemon Red & Blue (Generation 1)
• Best Move: Hyper Beam or Giga Impact
• Level It Evolves: N/A
• Location In Pokemon Scarlet & Violet: N/A

To even non-fans of the Pokemon franchise, the name Aerodactyl sounds similar to that of the Pterodactyl, a well-known flying creature that soared the skies of the late Jurassic period. Funny enough, that exact dinosaur was the direct inspiration for the design of Aerodactyl.

The physical similarities between the two are abundant, with both creatures having wings, short legs, and similar body shapes. A notable difference with Aerodactyl is that the Pokemon was designed to have a much more dragon-like appearance, contrary to the bird-like appearance of the Pterodactyl.

Aerodactyl's Base Stats:

19 Rampardos

Pachycephalosaurus

• Type: Rock
• Game Introduced:Pokemon Diamond & Pearl (Generation 4)
• Best Move: Head Smash
• Level It Evolves: level 30
• Location In Pokemon Scarlet & Violet: N/A

Introduced in Generation 4 as one of the two fossil Pokemon, Rampardos is certainly much more physically similar to its prehistoric inspiration than its counterpart, Bastiodon. Although it appears that Rampardos is also based on the T-Rex, that isn't the case in reality.

The thick skull at the top of Rampardos' head makes it far more similar to the Pachycephalosaurus. The hard-hitting skull at the top of both creatures' heads isn't the only similarity between the two, as their body shape and limb structure are almost identical.

Rampardos' Base Stats:

20 Sceptile

Velociraptor

• Type: Grass (Normal), Grass/Dragon (Mega)
• Game Introduced:Pokemon Ruby & Sapphire (Generation 3)
• Best Move: Leaf Storm
• Level It Evolves: level 16, then 36
• Location In Pokemon Scarlet & Violet: N/A

Introduced in Generation 3 as the grass-type starter in Pokemon Emerald, Ruby & Sapphire. At first glance, Sceptile seems to be based on a reptile of sorts, due to its name and lizard-like appearance. However, the beloved grass-type starter is based on the fast and carnivorous Velociraptor.

The two share a variety of similar features, including their long tails, claw-like hands, and fast speed.

Sceptile's Base Stats (Normal/Mega):

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