The Origins of 3 Starfish Pokemon & the Real Sea Stars Behind Them

Starfish in Pokemon come in two kinds. One is a stylized starfish with a gem for a heart. The other is based on the crown-of-thorns starfish, an invasive and venomous animal that has dismantled numerous reef ecosystems.

See all 3 starfish Pokemon in one list.

Here's every starfish Pokemon:

All 3 Starfish Pokemon

#120

Staryu

Staryu, the Star Shape Pokemon, is based on a stylized starfish such as the common starfish, or the necklace starfish with its vivid red center. Its gem may also be a reference to the Ultraman series, where Ultra Warriors have similar gems on their chests, called Color Timers, that start flashing when they are weak.

Fish Pokemon nibble at it, but Staryu is not bothered, since its body regenerates quickly, even if part of it is completely torn off. Many real starfish have the same ability to regenerate lost body parts. We need a week to get over a paper cut. Its gender unknown designation may be based on the hermaphroditism or asexual reproduction observed in some real starfish.

It stands 0.8 m tall.

#121

Starmie

Starmie, the Mysterious Pokemon, is based on starfish such as the purple sea star, for its color, and the sunflower sea star, for its many arms. Its central core resembles a faceted gem mounted inside a golden prong setting, a ruby in its standard colors and a sapphire in its Shiny colors. Mega Starmie's humanoid shape may be a visual pun on hitode, the Japanese word for starfish, which can be translated as "human hand".

It swims by spinning its body at high speed, and it absorbs tiny plankton as it cruises through the ocean. (We do not know how to feel about a ceiling fan that eats.) It stands 1.1 m tall and weighs 80 kg.

#748

Toxapex

Toxapex, the Brutal Star Pokemon, may be based on a crown-of-thorns starfish, an invasive and venomous echinoderm that has dismantled numerous reef ecosystems by preying on reef coral polyps, similar to how Toxapex preys on Corsola. Its body shape may reference helmet-shaped sea urchins which are abundant on the shores of Hawaii, and the pointy top of its head is based on a crown.

The poison in its sac is so toxic that Pokemon as large as Wailord will still be suffering three days after it first takes effect. We would like to know who timed it.

Its hidden ability, Regenerator, heals a third of its HP when it switches out.

All Three Starfish Pokemon Can Regrow What They Lose

Real starfish can lose arms and later regrow them, with the new arms starting out smaller before gradually matching the size of the others. The three starfish Pokemon carry that trait in different ways. Staryu's body regenerates quickly even if part of it is completely torn off, the two longer arms Mega Starmie uses as legs could reference regrown arms, and Toxapex heals a third of its HP each time it switches out through Regenerator.