10 Pokémon Inspired By Real-World Mythological Creatures

Don't be fooled by the Whiscash's dopey demeanor. Sure, the monster does look like a giant, perpetually jovial catfish, but his back story is much darker. Aptly typed as a Water/Ground Pokemon, Whiscash is known for its strong territorial instincts—which is a considerable problem when those instincts turn into massive earthquakes. Each Pokédex entry describes Whiscash as a foreteller to quakes—primarily because they cause them.

Also known as the "Whiskers Pokémon," Whiscash debuted as "Nero," whom Ash battled after it ate up him Badge Case. A local fisherman had been trying to capture the big beast for 50 years, only to finally catch up to him with Ash's aide, to have Nero swallow up a Master Ball and swim off.

This Gen III Pokémon parallels the Japanese legend of the Onamazu. As one of the more prominent supernatural beings, the gigantic catfish, like Whiscash, is an earthquake-inducing monster with a similar penchant for muck and slime.

Due to its impact on Japanese folklore, the colossal fish Onamazu serves as the logo for the country's Earthquake Early Warning signs.