On the Origin of Species: Wooper: Difference between revisions

Many Pokémon are inspired by real-life creatures. Pokémon evolution, too, is based on real natural phenomena, although it has less in common with genuine evolution than it does with a process called metamorphosis.

We see metamorphosis when a caterpillar turns into a butterfly, and when a tadpole turns into a frog. It means a significant, usually quite rapid change in a creature's appearance that's a necessary part of its life cycle. There's a reason that among the first Pokémon players are likely to catch in the games are the likes of Caterpie and Wurmple: when they evolve, they change in ways familiar to us. They serve as an introduction to the concept of Pokémon evolution by behaving in quite a realistic manner. In contrast to the often fantastical evolutions displayed by species encountered later in the games, a Caterpie becoming a Metapod and then a Butterfree is no different from a caterpillar becoming a cocoon before turning into a butterfly.

There are a few significant differences between Pokémon evolution and metamorphosis, though. In nature, metamorphosis is a necessary part of a creature's life cycle, and until it has fully matured, it won't be able to breed. Tadpoles can't breed; nor can maggots or caterpillars. All of these creatures need to change in order to do this. Pokémon, on the other hand, can happily remain unevolved for as long as the player desires, and (with the exception of 'baby' Pokémon) are able to breed at any evolutionary stage. There are also many Pokémon, like Onix and Skitty, that will remain in their first stage forever unless prompted to evolve by some external factor. Wouldn't it be interesting if creatures like this really existed? Creatures that remained in an immature state for their whole lives, only changing in rare and very specific circumstances?

Wooper is based on the axolotl (''Ambystoma mexicanum''), a Mexican salamander with some very unusual traits. They're increasingly common pets in many parts of the world, and in Japan are known as ウーパールーパー, or ''wooper looper''. Most salamanders begin life as purely aquatic creatures, breathing through large, external gills. Then, after a while, they lose their gills and develop lungs. Their bodies become more robust, and they move from the water to the land as fully mature adults. Axolotls are a little different, however. They never lose their gills, or leave the water. They remain in their 'immature' state for their whole lives, though they do mature sexually, and so are fully able to breed. It's easy to see why they're popular as pets: both animals and Pokémon tend to get less cute as they grow, so there's something appealing about an animal that remains in its 'cute' phase for its whole life.