The Super Nerd

Widely considered a major antagonist and competitor to Armaldo, Mendraking was a dangerous predator of the Spiculan Period seas. It is now widely believed by PokéPaleontologists that Armaldo's vaunted plate armor was a co-evolutionary response to attacks from Mendraking's three head-like appendages, each armed with jagged edges and two ocelli. Three true eyes surround what appears to be Mendraking's body, but actually form a crown on its head, giving it 360-degree vision. On what was originally believed to be its stomach, a mouth is fed by the three appendages, which hold fast onto food. The wings on Mendraking's back are used for swimming through the water, which it would rarely leave. While the coastlines and Armaldo's domain, the shallow seas and waters belong to Mendraking.

Modern observations show that Mendraking was likely an apex predator, feeding on a variety of Pokémon. However, like its own pre-evolution and Anorith, it struggles to survive in the chemical composition of modern oceans, likely due to a higher content of oxygen and other anthropogenic chemical changes. Likely, Armaldo's surperiority comes from the evolution of book lungs, allowing its descendants to evolve from modern Bug-type lineages, where Mendraking's Bug- or Dragon-type descendants may have stayed aquatic.

When PokéPaleontologists first discovered this Spiculan Period fossil, it had been assumed that the Pokémon it belonged to was a progenitor of such species as Krabby or Corphish. Many initial reports referred to the fossil as the "Pincer Fossil", or even the "Otherclaw Fossil", in reference to the previously found Claw Fossil associated with Anorith. However, when initially fed through Fossil Restoration technology, the fossil was not complete enough to be brought back to life. Subsequent discoveries of more individuals, and the advancement of technology from Fossil Restoration to Fossil Resurrection revealed the surprising truth - the initially-described similarities to the Claw Fossil were not unwarranted at all, and the resulting Pokémon was indeed very similar to Anorith.

Pseudracith's "claw" is both mouthpart and appendage, allowing it to capture and manipulate its prey, and bring it to the ventrally-positioned mouth. The body is nearly identical to Anorith, with more extensive chitinous armor and fins of a slightly different shape and length. This has led many PokéPaleontologists to see Pseudracith as an ancient variant, or a convergent Pokémon, or perhaps just a very close relative. The starkest difference between Pseudracith and Anorith would appear to be its five eyes, three of which are fully-functional compound eyes, and two of which are the ocelli positioned on the claw-like proboscis, making it look like the head of a different creature. This appearance may also have correlations with its typing, making it one of the oldest-known Dragon-type Pokémon yet discovered. Like Anorith, Pseudracith cannot thrive in modern waters due to different chemical composition, and represents the complex ancestry of Bug-type Pokémon.

When paleontologists first found fossils of Jellucigen, they had assumed that it was an apex predator of the Spiculan Period, as well as the main rival of contemporaries like Armaldo. However, more fossil discoveries and subsequent Resurrection revealed that Jellucigen is actually a timid Pokémon, and that its fearsome spikes are also largely fake, gelatinous and flexible while capped with chitinous armor. When frightened, Jellucigen raises its back end and inflates its spikes to scare off threats, then subtly emits psychic waves of fear to make it seem more dangerous than it actually is. This was especially effective when competing for highly sought-after food sources, scaring away other competitors and taking the food for itself. As such, Jellucigen made its living mostly through deceiving predators and competitors.

PaléoDex #0001 - Pikiyoi, the Transparent Pokemon!

One of the oldest known Pokémon in the fossil record, Pikiyoi is a very simple creature, with few organs to speak of, and only one life stage. Dating back to the Spiculan Period (~500 Ma), numerous fossils seem to indicate that it was quite common, with the most common consensus being that they were social Pokémon with similarities to the modern Pokémon Pikachu. The original discoverers, therefore, believed that the two shared a close ancestor-descendant relationship. However, subsequent discoveries revealed that the Pokémon had only superficial similarities, including the cheek-like structures that store electrical charge. These are not derived characteristics, but convergently evolved ones, with Pikiyoi's being similar in function and far more primitive in structure. Some have theories that Pikachu's own cheek pouches are actually an atavistic throwback, resurrecting this dynamic adaptation for a stronger and more prominent function. Based on Fossil Resurrection, many things have been discovered about Pikiyoi, including its closer relationship to the Tynamo line than most other Pokémon. Additionally, we now know that these aquatic Pokémon are quite shy and solitary, and can import a decent charge to predators with its stored electricity. As planktonivores, they have a simple physiology and metabolism that scientists are still unraveling. Many scientists have also compared it to members of the Solosis line, to which it is quite similar in physiological and anatomical limitations.

Meet Professor Risa Mangrove, field researcher of the Laneoki Region, and major liaison for your Pokemon journey!

Bunnelby, the Shivering Pokemon!

Bunnelby here is based on the snowshoe hare (Lepus americanus), and is from the freezing cold Kisukis Region, which is based on Nunavut, Canada. It's also found in another region, Nuvupi, which is based on Alaska and the Aleutian Islands! More on both of these regions to come!

Patrat, the Pioneer Pokémon!

Description: Ohovexan Patrat is a natural architect, building large networks of tunnels beneath the entire region. These burrows can stretch several miles, and their builders are very protective of them. This attitude is appreciate by other Pokémon that use these tunnels for their home, such as Dusterel, Bunnelby, Durant, Ohovexan Torkoal, and Psammowl. All of these Pokémon are underneath Patrat's purview, and will be protected as long as they live within the tunnels. Dirt is permanently stuck in Patrat's hair, especially gathering on their tails. If any intruders or potential predators are detected near the burrows, a Patrat will raise the alarm and begin throwing balls of packed dirt at the interlopers. Their most prominent enemy is Ohovexan Furret, which live within the burrow networks, and hunt Patrat down as prey.

Ursumoke is an imposing Pokémon, although not inherently dangerous upon interaction with humans. They will not run away from threats, but also will not seek them out or pursue them needlessly. They are more complacent than their counterparts in other regions, such as Ursaring and Beartic. However, they are dangerous when fully provoked, as their flames can easily reach temperatures of 1,400 °F. Ursumoke has gained full control of the fire that they produce from their red outer coat, and use it defensively in most instances. They maintain their control over fire by consistently obtaining fuel, normally in the form of berries, insects, and occasionally meat. Their varied diet brings them far out of their territories for food, but they tend to stay away from large human settlements. However, they will venture near campsites if desperate. They will use their fire to attempt to scare off anyone at the campsite, deliberately looking imposing to do so. It is believed that this is why the species has taken up the Dark-typing, although this is still a question that Pokébiologists are attempting to answer. Some people believe that Ursumoke will use the fire-proof pads on its feet to stamp out uncontrolled campfires. This local belief has sponsored the idea of Ursumoke as the “Fire Safety” Pokémon. 

Hello! Here it is, the third and final evolution of the Fire-type Starter for the Novang Region, my fanmade Pokémon region based upon New England. This Pokemon and its predecessors, Cuburn and Bearaze, are based on the American black bear (Ursus americanus), as well as one of the most famous American mascots and black bears of all time: Smokey, who is canonically an American black bear. This is most prominent in the final line, which has the tendency to maintain forest fires. This does not always mean stopping them, but also controlling them to reasonable degrees. This is something I didn’t put in the description, but I thought it was getting a bit long anyway. 

Bearaze is best known as a gluttonous Pokémon, prone to raid campsites for food. This is most commonly seen in the fall, as they’re preparing for the lack of viable (and edible) fuel in winter. They use that stored fuel in the cold winters of their home region, during which they hunker down in caves, and slow down their bodies and metabolism in order to conserve energy. Like their pre-evolution, they keep warm via the embers produced in their orange outer-coat, but these embers are far stronger, and more likely to cause fires if they hit a flammable surface. However, Bearaze has more control over its flame, and tend not to accidentally set forest fires. Also unlike Cuburn, Bearaze is less likely to run away from potential threats, and will instead stand their ground or slowly back away until it is necessary to run. A typical sign of a Bearaze visit is the sight of burnt footprints, produced by the hot pads of its feet. Overall, Bearaze is known as a mostly docile Pokémon, but an occasionally dangerous one if threatened all the same.

Cuburn, the Cub Pokémon!

Cuburn generates sparks and embers from the friction in its orange outer coat. While this coat is fire-proof, it down not have control over this ability, and often sheds embers when it is startled. For that reason, it tends to accidentally start small fires when scared, and this acts as a distraction for potential predators as it runs away. Despite this behavior, Cuburn is also attracted to large fires, especially at night. Often, unwary campers will find Cuburn resting near a campfire when they wake up, if they have not taken care to put it out when they go to sleep. For this reason, Rangers and park managers advise strict care and maintenance of forest fires, as the attraction of Cuburn can result in unfortunate circumstances. Additionally, Cuburn will often forage at campsites when they find them, which is another consequence of leaving a campfire unattended in the Novang Region. For this reason, Cuburn is also sometimes called “the Campfire Pokémon”.