#0207 · Generation II
What Animal Is Gligar Based On?
Gligar most closely resembles the Emperor Scorpion.
Closest animal
Emperor ScorpionConfidence
Reasonable animal match
How Gligar compares to the real Emperor Scorpion
Gligar's official category is the Fly Scorpion Pokémon. AnimalDex rates its resemblance to the Emperor Scorpion as a reasonable match, meaning the animal is clear but the design mixes in other traits. Gligar's name and category mean Fly Scorpion: it has pincers, a stinger tail and membranes for gliding. The emperor scorpion is the closest real animal to its scorpion body.
The comparison covers looks and behavior cues, not biology: Gligar is a fictional Pokémon, while the Emperor Scorpion (Pandinus imperator) is a real arachnid. On AnimalDex the real Emperor Scorpion scores 28 for dominance, 15 for speed, 13 for size and 10 for intelligence, out of 100, so its strongest trait is dominance. AnimalDex also links Gligar to the Southern Flying Squirrel, covered below.
Official category: Fly Scorpion Pokemon. This page is an AnimalDex comparison for real-animal resemblance, not an official design-origin claim.
Meet the real Emperor Scorpion
Pandinus imperator
Emperor Scorpion teaches Pincer Protection through large claws, glossy armor, and grounded night movement. Confidence comes from a strong outside that can hold, test, and warn before the sting is needed.
How to recognize it
- Large powerful pincers used for grasping prey and defense.
- Glossy dark exoskeleton that protects the body.
- Nocturnal ground life in humid African forests and burrows.
- Diet
- Insects, spiders, small invertebrates, and occasional small vertebrates.
- Lifespan
- Emperor Scorpions can live for several years, sometimes longer in protected conditions.
- Predators and threats
- Birds, mammals, reptiles, amphibians, and humans can threaten them. Armor, pincers, burrows, and warning posture protect a slow-ground hunter.
| Dominance | Speed | Size | Intelligence |
|---|---|---|---|
| 28/100 | 15/100 | 13/100 | 10/100 |
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 |
Gligar animal FAQ
- What animal is Gligar based on?
- Gligar most closely resembles the Emperor Scorpion. Gligar's name and category mean Fly Scorpion: it has pincers, a stinger tail and membranes for gliding. The emperor scorpion is the closest real animal to its scorpion body.
- Is Gligar a real animal?
- No. Gligar is a fictional Pokémon. Its closest real counterpart is the Emperor Scorpion (Pandinus imperator), which AnimalDex covers with real field-guide facts.
- What is the real Emperor Scorpion like?
- Emperor Scorpion teaches Pincer Protection through large claws, glossy armor, and grounded night movement. Confidence comes from a strong outside that can hold, test, and warn before the sting is needed.
- Which other Pokémon are based on the Emperor Scorpion?
- AnimalDex also pairs Skorupi, Drapion and Gliscor with the Emperor Scorpion.