>>23460433That's almost certainly the case, with the added caveat that it's probably much better at fighting with the swords while underwater. Didn't they come up with the design at an aquarium or some other place where you can see the animals swimming underwater?
That said, it's a pitiful mess of half-baked ideas that looks really out of place compared to the rest of its line. The whole "facultative biped" thing would've worked much better had they erred on the side of Feraligatr, which supposedly prefers to fight on all fours but is never actually seen doing so. Hell, having it sit on its hind legs in its resting posture (thus making it closer to an actual sea lion) would've gone a long way. Especially if it folded its arms and glared during its B2W2 idle animation.
>>23461895>not liking puppetsThat's okay, it's your opinion. All I ask is that you base your judgments on the 'mon itself and not its fans. Please. 