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On the Origin of Species: Venipede, Whirlipede and Scolipede: Difference between revisions
On the Origin of Species: Venipede, Whirlipede and Scolipede (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 Venipede, Whirlipede and Scolipede. }} | blurb=In another column exploring the likely cultural and zoological origins of Pokémon species, we take a look at Venipede, Whirlipede and Scolipede. }} | ||
{{CategorizeIn|Columns|3|11}} | {{CategorizeIn|Columns|3|11}} | ||
[[File:Venipede-Whirlipede-Scolipede.png|thumb|Venipede, Whirlipede and Scolipede]]It's been far too long since I bothered everybody with a creepy {{ | [[File:Venipede-Whirlipede-Scolipede.png|thumb|Venipede, Whirlipede and Scolipede]]It's been far too long since I bothered everybody with a creepy {{type|Bug}}. Today, I'm going to talk about {{bp|Generation V}}'s {{p|Venipede}}, {{p|Whirlipede}} and {{p|Scolipede}}, and hopefully set that right. | ||
{{wp|Centipede}}s and {{wp|millipede}}s are misunderstood creatures, and I think the first problem is right there in their names. They come from the Latin for "one hundred feet" and "one thousand feet" respectively, but as you may well be aware, this is misleading. The number of legs on a centipede can be anything between thirty and over three hundred, while for millipedes the number varies between thirty six and seven hundred and fifty. So while it’s true that, on average, millipede species have more legs than centipede species, we can see that this isn’t always the case. | {{wp|Centipede}}s and {{wp|millipede}}s are misunderstood creatures, and I think the first problem is right there in their names. They come from the Latin for "one hundred feet" and "one thousand feet" respectively, but as you may well be aware, this is misleading. The number of legs on a centipede can be anything between thirty and over three hundred, while for millipedes the number varies between thirty six and seven hundred and fifty. So while it’s true that, on average, millipede species have more legs than centipede species, we can see that this isn’t always the case. | ||
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A final feature that's only common to some species of centipede is that the back two legs will be angled backwards, pointing up in the air. This gives the appearance of a second pair of antennae at the animal's rear... and, in fact, that's exactly what these specialized legs function as. | A final feature that's only common to some species of centipede is that the back two legs will be angled backwards, pointing up in the air. This gives the appearance of a second pair of antennae at the animal's rear... and, in fact, that's exactly what these specialized legs function as. | ||
[[File:Glomeris-marginata.jpg|200px|thumb|left|''Glomeris marginata'', a common European species of pill millipede]]If we look at these descriptions and then compare them to Venipede, Whirlipede and Scolipede, it's apparent that these Pokémon have a lot more in common with centipedes than they do with millipedes. | [[File:Glomeris-marginata.jpg|200px|thumb|left|''Glomeris marginata'', a common European species of pill millipede]]If we look at these descriptions and then compare them to Venipede, Whirlipede and Scolipede, it's apparent that these Pokémon have a lot more in common with centipedes than they do with millipedes. They're all venomous and described as being aggressive. All three also have the rear antennae found on some centipedes (it’s hard to tell where Whirlipede begins and ends, but since it has two sets of antennae, we can assume that one is supposed to be at the front, and the other at the rear). Scolipede's Pokédex entry also mentions venom-injecting front claws: the forcipules mentioned earlier. Based on these features alone, we might conclude that this family of Pokémon is based exclusively on centipedes. | ||
There's a little more to it than that, though, and our first clue comes from Whirlipede's curious design. The ability to curl up into a ball isn't something that's seen amongst centipedes: perhaps not surprising, since it's a defensive action, and centipedes are much more adapted for attack than defense. It is something that we can observe in the meeker millipedes, though. Two orders of millipedes, {{wp|Glomerida}} and {{wp|Sphaerotheriida}}, have evolved this ability, and are collectively known as {{wp|pill millipede}}s due to their resemblance to the {{wp|Woodlouse|pill bug}} (also known as the woodlouse, a favorite creature of mine and one that sorely needs turning into a Pokémon). Glomerida are found mainly in the Northern Hemisphere and are quite small, making them easily mistaken for pill bugs. Spaerotheriida can get quite a bit larger, and are found in the Southern Hemisphere. | There's a little more to it than that, though, and our first clue comes from Whirlipede's curious design. The ability to curl up into a ball isn't something that's seen amongst centipedes: perhaps not surprising, since it's a defensive action, and centipedes are much more adapted for attack than defense. It is something that we can observe in the meeker millipedes, though. Two orders of millipedes, {{wp|Glomerida}} and {{wp|Sphaerotheriida}}, have evolved this ability, and are collectively known as {{wp|pill millipede}}s due to their resemblance to the {{wp|Woodlouse|pill bug}} (also known as the woodlouse, a favorite creature of mine and one that sorely needs turning into a Pokémon). Glomerida are found mainly in the Northern Hemisphere and are quite small, making them easily mistaken for pill bugs. Spaerotheriida can get quite a bit larger, and are found in the Southern Hemisphere. | ||