PKMN of the Week: Dunsparce
/
Dunsparce are pale yellow, serpentine Pokémon with two small, white-colored wings which are capable of lifting the Pokémon a few inches off the ground. They also possess a drill on the end of their tail for digging which resembles a rattlesnake's rattle. Besides their main pale yellow coloration, they have accentuations of blue, such as the ring patterning encircling their eyes, the thick stripes on the pattern on its back, and its underside, and beige, such as its eyelids and back. Dunsparce’s eyes seemed perpetually closed and goggle-like in appearance, somewhat like Baltoy’s, and there are pointed prongs on the underside of its chin.
Origin
Dunsparce is based on the mythical tsuchinoko. Similar to Bigfoot or the Chupacabra, sightings and reports appear in the Japanese media, however hard evidence is always lacking. Tsuchinoko are 30 cm to 80 cm long, with a large head and poisonous fangs. Its body is thicker than its head and tail. The noises it makes resemble squeaks, chirps and snores. Unlike real snakes, which slither from side to side, a tsuchinoko wiggles ahead in a straight line. The tsuchinoko curls its body to leap through the air. Moreover, the fact that Dunsparce, a snake-like creature, has wings also brings to mind the motif of the Feathered Serpent, a prominent deity or supernatural being in many Mesoamerican religions. In addition, Dunsparce shares some traits with bumblebees, including their stripes, tiny wings, stinger-like tail, and the fact that they burrow into the ground.
