Galar Fossil Pokemon: Exploring origin, influences, lore, and more

Fossil Pokemon have long been a beloved feature of the Pokemon series, reviving ancient creatures from fragments of their past. Traditionally, players discover fossils, hand them to scientists, and a dinosaur-like Pokemon comes to life and is added to your party. However, Pokemon Sword and Shield took this concept in a bizarre new direction with the Galar region's Fossil Pokemon.

These creations are not just unique — they are outright odd. But beneath their mismatched appearances lies fascinating lore, a nod to historical events, and an exploration of paleontological misadventures.

Note: Parts of this article are subjective and reflect the writer's opinion.

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Galar Fossil Pokemon: A unique twist

Dracozolt as seen in the anime (Image via The Pokemon Company)

In Galar, fossil restoration works differently. Instead of reviving a single fossil, players combine two different fossil parts to create hybrid Pokemon. The result? Pokemon that look more like Frankenstein's prehistoric creations than naturally evolved creatures.

Their mismatched designs sparked debates — was this a subtle jab at paleontological errors or a test run for Pokemon fusion?

Regardless, these hybrids reflect the creative brilliance of Game Freak's design team, tying their origins to historical influences like the infamous "Bone Wars" of paleontology.

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The Bone Wars: A paleontological rivalry

Arctozolt as seen in the anime (Image via The Pokemon Company)

The Bone Wars were a fierce rivalry between 19th-century paleontologists Othniel Charles Marsh and Edward Drinker Cope. These two scientists contested to discover and name as many dinosaur species as possible, often resorting to unethical practices. They sabotaged each other’s digs, published flawed research to undermine each other, and even mislabeled fossils to create confusion.

The rush to find new species led to notable mistakes, like the reconstruction of Brontosaurus. Marsh couldn’t find a skull for the dinosaur, so he used a Brachiosaurus skull instead. This composite creation persisted in the public’s imagination for decades, even though scientists later corrected the error.

These chaotic methods resonate with Galar’s fossil Pokemon. Their mismatched parts echo the haphazard assemblies of dinosaurs during the Bone Wars, turning historical blunders into a playful mechanic.

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Galar Fossil Pokemon: Individual inspirations

Dracovish as seen in the anime (Image via The Pokemon Company)

1) Lower half of Dracozolt and Dracovish: The upper half resembles small, bipedal theropods like Velociraptor, Spinosaurus, or Compsognathus due to its clawed legs and upright posture.

2) Lower half of Arctozolt and Arctovish: The lower half could be inspired by ichthyosaurs, ancient marine reptiles that were streamlined for swimming, as the tail resembles their aquatic design. The Coelacanth could be another inspiration for this.

3) Upper half of Dracozolt and Arctozolt: The top half, particularly its feathery wings and beak-like head, might take inspiration from small feathered dinosaurs or early birds like Archaeopteryx.

4) Upper half of Dracovish and Arctovish: The upper half, especially the wide jaws and predatory look, might draw inspiration from prehistoric armored fish like Dunkleosteus or the awkward positioning of its fins could be drawn from Tiktaalik.

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Inspiration beyond history

Arctovish as seen in the anime (Image via The Pokemon Company)

The hybrid nature of Galar Fossil Pokemon also mirrors modern pop culture, particularly Jurassic World’s genetically engineered dinosaurs like the Indominus Rex.

These fictional creatures combine traits from multiple species to create “designer dinosaurs,” much like Dracovish or Arctozolt are pieced together from unrelated fossil parts.

The mismatched designs of the Galar Fossil Pokemon likely reference historical paleontological mistakes, including:

• Elasmosaurus (Marine reptile): Initially reconstructed with its head on the wrong end of its body.
• Iguanodon: Early reconstructions mistakenly gave it a horn on its nose, later identified as a thumb spike.

These errors arose from limited technology and pressure to deliver results. Fossil heads were often missing, leaving paleontologists to improvise. Galar’s Fossils cleverly nod to these struggles, blending humor with history.

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All four Galarian fossil parts as seen in the anime (Image via The Pokemon Company)

Though bizarre, Galar’s Fossils are a brilliant commentary on paleontology’s chaotic beginnings. They celebrate the scientific process — mistakes, revisions, and all — while paying homage to the quirky history of dinosaur discovery.

By embracing the absurdity of fossil mix-ups, Game Freak has crafted Pokemon that are not only entertaining but also a subtle reminder of how far science has come. Whether you view them as hilariously weird or oddly endearing, these Pokemon stand as a testament to the creative potential of blending history with fantasy.

So, the next time you revive a Dracovish or Arctozolt, take a moment to appreciate the story behind their mismatched parts. They’re not just Pokemon — they’re walking (or stumbling) lessons in paleontology