#0587 · Generation V
What Animal Is Emolga Based On?
Emolga most closely resembles the Southern Flying Squirrel.
Closest animal
Southern Flying SquirrelConfidence
Strong animal match
How Emolga compares to the real Southern Flying Squirrel
Emolga's official category is the Sky Squirrel Pokémon. AnimalDex rates its resemblance to the Southern Flying Squirrel as a strong match, meaning the design reads directly as this animal. Emolga is the Sky Squirrel Pokemon, a small rodent that glides on skin flaps between its arms and legs, just as flying squirrels glide. It stores electricity in its membranes; the squirrel body is real.
The comparison covers looks and behavior cues, not biology: Emolga is a fictional Pokémon, while the Southern Flying Squirrel (Glaucomys volans) is a real animal. On AnimalDex the real Southern Flying Squirrel scores 18 for dominance, 42 for speed, 9 for size and 35 for intelligence, out of 100, so its strongest trait is speed. AnimalDex also links Emolga to the Sugar Glider, covered below.
Official category: Sky Squirrel Pokemon. This page is an AnimalDex comparison for real-animal resemblance, not an official design-origin claim.
Meet the real Southern Flying Squirrel
Glaucomys volans
A small squirrel of eastern North American forests that glides between trees on a furred membrane stretched from wrist to ankle. Launching high on a trunk, it steers with its flat tail and swings upward just before landing, feet first, on the next tree.
How to recognize it
- Grey-brown upperparts and belly hairs white to the base
- Very large dark eyes
- A flat, broad, feathery tail
Real Southern Flying Squirrel facts
- Its fur glows pink under ultraviolet light, a finding first reported in 2019.
- A rod of cartilage at each wrist stretches the membrane wider in flight.
- Diet
- Nuts, seeds, fungi, fruit, insects, eggs, and tree sap.
- Lifespan
- Wild individuals often live a few years, while protected squirrels can live longer.
- Predators and threats
- Owls, snakes, raccoons, cats, martens, and habitat loss threaten flying squirrels; gliding and cavities protect them.
| Dominance | Speed | Size | Intelligence |
|---|---|---|---|
| 18/100 | 42/100 | 9/100 | 35/100 |
Meet the real Sugar Glider
Petaurus breviceps
A furred skin membrane stretched between each forelimb and hind limb turns this small, nocturnal marsupial into a glider. Launching from high in a tree with its limbs spread, it steers with its legs and tail and swings upright to land on a trunk with all four feet; glides of about 50 metres have been reported.
How to recognize it
- A dark stripe runs from the nose over the head to the back
- Fur is soft grey above and cream to pale grey below
- The eyes are large, dark and bulging
Real Sugar Glider facts
- It bites notches into the bark of eucalypts and wattles to make sap and gum flow, then returns to lick the wounds.
- In cold weather or when food is short it can enter torpor for several hours, cutting the energy it burns.
- Diet
- Sap, nectar, pollen, insects, and tree exudates.
- Lifespan
- They can live several years in the wild and longer in care, with bonds and familiar routes improving survival.
- Predators and threats
- Owls, snakes, cats, quolls, and habitat loss threaten gliders; group nesting, scent marking, and gliding reduce danger.
| Dominance | Speed | Size | Intelligence |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20/100 | 34/100 | 9/100 | 38/100 |
Emolga animal FAQ
- What animal is Emolga based on?
- Emolga most closely resembles the Southern Flying Squirrel. Emolga is the Sky Squirrel Pokemon, a small rodent that glides on skin flaps between its arms and legs, just as flying squirrels glide. It stores electricity in its membranes; the squirrel body is real.
- Is Emolga a real animal?
- No. Emolga is a fictional Pokémon. Its closest real counterpart is the Southern Flying Squirrel (Glaucomys volans), which AnimalDex covers with real field-guide facts.
- What is the real Southern Flying Squirrel like?
- A small squirrel of eastern North American forests that glides between trees on a furred membrane stretched from wrist to ankle. Launching high on a trunk, it steers with its flat tail and swings upward just before landing, feet first, on the next tree.
- Which other Pokémon are based on the Southern Flying Squirrel?
- AnimalDex also pairs Gligar and Pachirisu with the Southern Flying Squirrel.