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#0477 · Generation IV

What Animal Is Dusknoir Based On?

Dusknoir is mostly a fantasy design, but its closest real animal is the Common Octopus.

Dusknoir official artwork
Dusknoir
Common Octopus, the real animal Dusknoir most resembles
Real animal: Common Octopus

Closest animal

Common Octopus

Confidence

Broad or mixed-animal match

How Dusknoir compares to the real Common Octopus

Dusknoir's official category is the Gripper Pokémon. AnimalDex rates its resemblance to the Common Octopus as a broad match, meaning the animal is one influence in a largely fantasy design. Dusknoir is a ghost that grips and carries spirits with large hands, so it is mostly a folklore design. Its single eye, gripping arms and a mouth on its body are loosely octopus-like.

The comparison covers looks and behavior cues, not biology: Dusknoir is a fictional Pokémon, while the Common Octopus (Octopus vulgaris) is a real marine invertebrate. On AnimalDex the real Common Octopus scores 30 for dominance, 25 for speed, 20 for size and 45 for intelligence, out of 100, so its strongest trait is intelligence.

Official category: Gripper Pokemon. This page is an AnimalDex comparison for real-animal resemblance, not an official design-origin claim.

Common Octopus

Meet the real Common Octopus

Octopus vulgaris

The Common Octopus is an intelligent coastal cephalopod with eight highly flexible arms, rapid camouflage, and strong den-building behavior.

How to recognize it

  • Eight sucker-lined arms
  • Bulbous mantle
  • Rapid color and texture change

Real Common Octopus facts

  • Much of its nervous system is distributed through its arms.
  • It can open containers and navigate simple puzzles.
Diet
Crabs, mollusks, and other benthic animals.
Lifespan
Usually about one to two years.
Predators and threats
Large fishes, eels, dolphins, seals, and sharks.
AnimalDex stats for the Common Octopus, out of 100
DominanceSpeedSizeIntelligence
30/10025/10020/10045/100

Dusknoir animal FAQ

What animal is Dusknoir based on?
Dusknoir is mostly a fantasy design, but its closest real animal is the Common Octopus. Dusknoir is a ghost that grips and carries spirits with large hands, so it is mostly a folklore design. Its single eye, gripping arms and a mouth on its body are loosely octopus-like.
Is Dusknoir a real animal?
No. Dusknoir is a fictional Pokémon. Its closest real counterpart is the Common Octopus (Octopus vulgaris), which AnimalDex covers with real field-guide facts.
What is the real Common Octopus like?
The Common Octopus is an intelligent coastal cephalopod with eight highly flexible arms, rapid camouflage, and strong den-building behavior.
Which other Pokémon are based on the Common Octopus?
AnimalDex also pairs Octillery, Elgyem, Beheeyem, Clobbopus and Grapploct with the Common Octopus.