>>43120337The pelt is there to compliment in shape and color Croconaw's jaw, a similar jaw that Feraligatr has. Totodile's unique eye shape is complimented by the spike on its tail, and the spots on Croconaw does this for both its eyes and its tail spike. The yellow stripe on Feraligatr is complimented in shape and size by its jaw, and the speckled look that Crconaw had is achieved by the scales that Feraligatr has, which are also the same size as Feraligatr's eyes.
It's not that the caveman theme was abandoned, it served as a tool to transition between Totodile and Feraligatr, emphasizing not just its increasingly savage nature but the symmetry of the smaller details in their designs as well.
