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On the Origin of Species: Treecko, Grovyle and Sceptile: Difference between revisions
On the Origin of Species: Treecko, Grovyle and Sceptile (view source)
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tagline=Investigating the inspirations behind Pokémon | | tagline=Investigating the inspirations behind Pokémon | | ||
blurb=In another column exploring the likely cultural and zoological origins of Pokémon species, we take a look at the Treecko family. }} | blurb=In another column exploring the likely cultural and zoological origins of Pokémon species, we take a look at the Treecko family. }} | ||
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Leaf-like ''Uroplatus'' hide in the undergrowth amongst dead leaves, while larger species, patterned like tree bark, cling to trees where they usually blend in seamlessly. This is made easier in many species by a flap of skin that extends from the sides of the body and is pressed flat against the tree's surface: this has the effect of reducing any shadows the gecko may otherwise have cast. In some other groups of geckos, however, this skin flap has an additional use. As I said earlier, the Treecko family is ''primarily'' based on leaf-tailed geckos, but there's another group of geckos with which the Pokémon share some notable features. | Leaf-like ''Uroplatus'' hide in the undergrowth amongst dead leaves, while larger species, patterned like tree bark, cling to trees where they usually blend in seamlessly. This is made easier in many species by a flap of skin that extends from the sides of the body and is pressed flat against the tree's surface: this has the effect of reducing any shadows the gecko may otherwise have cast. In some other groups of geckos, however, this skin flap has an additional use. As I said earlier, the Treecko family is ''primarily'' based on leaf-tailed geckos, but there's another group of geckos with which the Pokémon share some notable features. | ||
[[File:FlyingGecko. | [[File:FlyingGecko.jpg|200px|thumb|''Ptychozoon kuhli'']]''{{wp|Ptychozoon}}'' is a sister genus to ''Uroplatus'', and the geckos in this group are known as flying geckos, or parachute geckos. 'Flying' may be a bit of an exaggeration, but they can certainly glide: upon jumping into the air, the flaps of skin along the sides of the body allow them to glide through the air, and control the speed of their descent. Both Grovyle and Sceptile's Pokédex entries make note of its agility and ability to leap from branch to branch; Grovyle's even describes this as 'flying'. In addition, Sceptile's tail bears quite a resemblance to that of ''{{wp|Ptychozoon kuhli}}'', also known as Kuhl's flying gecko. | ||
On the subject of tails, geckos can use theirs as an emergency mechanism to escape from predators. Like many other creatures, they have the ability to abandon their tails if something catches them. Some of the tail's {{wp|Vertebra|vertebrae}} have built-in weaknesses, and can be snapped by contracting certain muscles. The tail, left behind, continues to wriggle, tricking the predator into thinking that it still has live prey in its grasp. Meanwhile, the gecko can scurry to safety, and the lost tail will grow back in time (although with cartilage instead of bone). | On the subject of tails, geckos can use theirs as an emergency mechanism to escape from predators. Like many other creatures, they have the ability to abandon their tails if something catches them. Some of the tail's {{wp|Vertebra|vertebrae}} have built-in weaknesses, and can be snapped by contracting certain muscles. The tail, left behind, continues to wriggle, tricking the predator into thinking that it still has live prey in its grasp. Meanwhile, the gecko can scurry to safety, and the lost tail will grow back in time (although with cartilage instead of bone). | ||