>>51782200It was confirmed by the creators themselves that Charmander, Squirtle, and Bulbasaur are based on a lizard, a baby turtle, and a frog, common pets that children catch.
The "Saur" of the line was an addition of the American localization team, because the pun of the Japanese name was difficult to recreate, possibly the marketing team did not have much faith in an amphibious plant to sell toys that is why that Red and Blue was the flagship game in America as opposed to Japan where it's Red and Green.
If it's any consolation, it's a cool frog.
