>>51544378This thread falls into that classic 'there's a reason behind it so the execution is good' trap. Yes, they're basing it on something. No, it's not a good execution. If they wanted a good execution there would be more obvious differences to show that it's a different creature undergoing convergent evolution, rather than being stretched and bleached Diglet because Gamefreak thinks it's the funniest mememon ever. The eyes, nose, and/or mouth should be different in some small way, its body should have different markings, there could be some small fins flattened against its body. Anything, really. Convergent evolution only produces nigh-identical creatures when it's a closely related animal in a similar niche genetically separated by something like activity time or a mountain range. Like two closely related lizards living in forests on either side of a mountain range, or a shrew that only comes out in the day vs one that only comes out at night. Otherwise despite being overall similar the creatures will differ in the little ways that aren't relevant to their lifestyle, or are a genetic remnant of their ancestral behavior/lifestyles.
