History Main / SingleSpecimenSpecies

Note that a SingleSpecimenSpecies is defined as being basically unexplained and therefore EcologicallyImplausible. So the LastOfHisKind can't "become" this, since that includes human survivors of a lost tribe, animals that were wiped out and so forth. However, AKindOfOne may be portrayed as a SingleSpecimenSpecies in ''subsequent'' works, [[FollowTheLeader following the original]]; in which case it may be a case of CallASmeerpARabbit since the characters have certainly never seen it before, but [[PopCulturalOsmosis the readers have]].

* The ''Pokémon'' series can be a bit... odd about this. In the games, it's implied that no two of the legendary Pokémon are alike. In the anime, the legendary birds were treated this way in the second movie, as was their leader, Lugia. However, in a later episode, a Lugia and its baby were shown as ordinary Pokémon, not special at all.

* Both used and subverted in {{Toriko}}. Many animals are so bizarre you don't expect to see another specimen, but sometimes one will show up.

* One episode of ''HowIMetYourMother'' had Marshall and Lily discover a small animal living in their apartment that had the characteristics of both a cockroach and a mouse: they dub it a cockamouse. No such creature is ever heard of again since they threw it out the apartment window (don't worry; it can fly).

* {{Godzilla}} and other more traditional kaiju sometimes are shown to have offspring, so they're right out. KingKong might qualify, as to our knowledge we never see anything that could possibly breed with it in that island.

* The Watcher In the Water in ''LordOfTheRings''.
** Parodied by The Straight Dope [[http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?s=4232c53a7ab66a114656ca0264863d5f&p=2506868&postcount=32 here:]]

Note that a SingleSpecimenSpecies is defined as being basically unexplained and therefore EcologicallyImplausible. So the LastOfHisKind can't "become" this, since that trope includes human survivors of a lost tribe, animals that were wiped out and so forth. However, AKindOfOne may be portrayed as a SingleSpecimenSpecies in ''subsequent'' works, [[FollowTheLeader following the original]]; in which case it may be a case of CallASmeerpARabbit since the characters have certainly never seen it before, but [[PopCulturalOsmosis the readers have]].

Note that a SingleSpecimenSpecies is defined as being basically unexplained and therefore EcologicallyImplausible; so LastOfHisKind can't "become" this, since that trope includes human survivors of a lost tribe, animals that were wiped out and so forth. However, AKindOfOne may be portrayed as a SingleSpecimenSpecies in ''subsequent'' works, [[FollowTheLeader following the original]]; in which case it may be a case of CallASmeerpARabbit since the characters have certainly never seen it before, but [[PopCulturalOsmosis the readers have]].

--> "But the most wonderful thing about tiggers is I'm the only one!"

Not to be confused with OnlyYouCanRepopulateMyRace (which is ecologically implausible for [[AdamAndEvePlot entirely different]] [[GreenSkinnedSpaceBabe reasons]]).

Not to be confused with OnlyYouCanRepopulateMyRace (which is ecologically implausible for [[AdamAndEvePlot entirely different reasons]]).

Note that a SingleSpecimenSpecies is defined as being basically unexplained and therefore EcologicallyImplausible; so LastOfHisKind can't "become" this, since that trope includes human survivors of a lost tribe, animals that were wiped out and so forth.

However, AKindOfOne may be portrayed as a SingleSpecimenSpecies in ''subsequent'' works, [[FollowTheLeader following the original]]; in which case it may be a case of CallASmeerpARabbit since the characters have certainly never seen it before, but [[PopCulturalOsmosis the readers have]].

Something that applies to many a videogame boss (especially in the case of a GiantSpaceFleaFromNowhere), {{kaiju}} or MonsterOfTheWeek - you come across a creature that looks unlike anything else you've seen or will see in that work's universe, but only once.

BonusPoints if it would be particularly hard for an ecosystem to support more than one of if.

However, for LongRunners, this may become a temporary trope, as a family/species and natural habitat may be created for the being in question at a later time.

Note that a SingleSpecimenSpecies is defined as being basically unexplained and therefore EcologicallyImplausible; so LastOfHisKind can't "become" this, since that trope includes human survivors of a lost tribe, animals that were wiped out and so forth. However, AKindOfOne may be portrayed as a SingleSpecimenSpecies in ''subsequent'' works, [[FollowTheLeader following the original]]; in which case it may be a case of CallASmeerpARabbit since the characters have certainly never seen it before, but [[PopCulturalOsmosis the readers have]].

Also, AddedAlliterativeAppeal.

Note that a SingleSpecimenSpecies is defined as being relatively unexplained and therefore EcologicallyImplausible; so LastOfHisKind can't "become" this, since that trope includes human survivors of a lost tribe, animals that were wiped out and so forth. However, AKindOfOne may be portrayed as a SingleSpecimenSpecies in ''subsequent'' works, [[FollowTheLeader following the original]]; in which case it may be a case of CallASmeerpARabbit since the characters have certainly never seen it before, but [[PopCulturalOsmosis the readers have]].

-->''"Fascinating, Captain. It appears to be an unknown creature that lurks in the pool waiting for passing strangers. '''{{Ecologically Implausible}}''', captain."''

-->''"Fascinating, Captain. It appears to be an unknown creature that lurks in the pool waiting for passing strangers. {{Ecologically implausible}}, captain."''

Note that a SingleSpecimenSpecies is defined as being relatively unexplained and therefore EcologicallyImplausible; so LastOfHisKind can't "become" this, since that trope includes human survivors of a lost tribe, animals that have been wiped out and so forth. However, AKindOfOne may be portrayed as a SingleSpecimenSpecies in ''subsequent'' works, [[FollowTheLeader following the original]]; in which case it may be a case of CallASmeerpARabbit since the characters have certainly never seen it before, but [[PopCulturalOsmosis the readers have]].

Obviously different from the OneGenderRace as there's only one specimen, and the concept of gender may not even apply. Also different from LastOfHisKind, as that implies the existence of more of the same species in the past, or AKindOfOne, where a whole species is known by the name of its most famous member.

* In ''Discworld/TheLastContinent'', the Wizards of Unseen University visit an island populated only with single specimen species.

* Adam in TheBible qualified, before Eve entered the picture. Not to mention God himself, of course.

Creators not contemplating for the existence of more of these tends to be a gap in their WorldBuilding, but tends to be a case where the MST3KMantra applies in full force.

However, for LongRunners this may become a temporary trope, as a family/species and natural habitat may be created for the being in question at a later time.

Obviously different from the OneGenderRace as there's only one specimen, and the concept of gender may not even apply. Also different from LastOfHisKind, as that implies the existence of more of the same species in the past, or of AKindOfOne, where a whole species is known by the name of its most famous member.

[[AC:AnimeAndManga]]
* [[http://dragonball.wikia.com/wiki/Buyon The Buyon]] from DragonBall, which could resist a Kamehameha in a relatively early stage of the series, was present only in a "boss tower" surrounded by an ecosystem in which it couldn't survive (FridgeLogic can be an important part of this trope - in this case, how did they bring the creature into the tower, and where from?). No other specimen ever appears again for the whole series, but it's interesting to see what would have happened if invaders had come across others of the same species - if others existed at all.
* In DragonBallZ, Cell would apply since he's an artificially created being, but only until he makes some offspring of his own - something similar happens with Majin Boo (also created, but by magic iirc) in the same series until some variations pop up.
* All the [[{{Neon Genesis Evangelion}} Angels]] were basically this. [[spoiler:Averted by the 18th Angel, us.]]

* {{Godzilla}} and other more traditional kaiju sometimes are shown to have offspring, so they're right out. KingKong might qualify, as afaik we never see anything that could possibly breed with it in that island.

* The title "character" in ''[[TheIlluminatusTrilogy The Illuminatus Trilogy: Leviathan]]'' is a gigantic single-celled organism at the bottom of the ocean, a result of the first cell division that just got bigger and bigger while the rest of life on Earth developed into multicellular organisms. [[spoiler: It's actually just a metaphor for the State. Straight out of Hobbes' article of the same name.]]
* In ''DiscWorld/TheLastContinent'', the Wizards of Unseen University visit an island populated only with single specimen species.
* Adam in TheBible, before Eve entered the picture. Not to mention God himself, of course.

* A number of entities and creatures in the various StarTrek series.

*** Ronin, a ghost-like lifeform apparently from Earth that bonds symbiotically with a human female, giving her pleasure in exchange for some kind of sustenance.

*** The Telepathic Pitcher Plant, a giant space monster that would MindControl the crews of passing starships to fly into it's mouth so it could eat the ship whole.

* The Weapons from FinalFantasyVII.
* The colossi in ShadowOfTheColossus.
* The Pokemon series can be a bit... odd about this. In the games, its implied that legendary Pokemon--of which there are only one--are one-of-a-kind rare beings. In the anime, the legendary birds were treated this way in the second movie, as was their leader, Lugia. However, in a later episode, a Lugia and its baby were shown as ordinary Pokemon, not special at all.
* In {{Pikmin}}, the Puffstool and Smoky Progg are only fought once and do not appear in the sequel. Averted in Pikmin 2 since any boss can be rebattled, even if killed the first time.
* The Nihilanth in HalfLife. Similar biologically to other Xen creatures (especially the controllers), but apparently the only one of his species.

* Just about any Kaiju in the PowerpuffGirls.
* Arguably Beast from BeautyAndTheBeast
* Most imaginary friends in FostersHomeForImaginaryFriends.

Examples:

* The example that comes to mind is the Buyon from DragonBall (http://dragonball.wikia.com/wiki/Buyon), which could resist a Kamehameha in a relatively early stage of the series, was present only in a "boss tower" surrounded by an ecosystem in which it couldn't survive (FridgeLogic can be an important part of this trope - in this case, how did they bring the creature into the tower, and where from?). No other specimen ever appears again for the whole series, but it's interesting to see what would have happened if invaders had come across others of the same species - if others existed at all.

* The Weapons from FinalFantasyVII come to mind, and I wonder if any of the Bahamuts in the many settings of that series have a family of any sort, possibly qualifying them for this category.

* Most imaginary friends in FostersHomeForImaginaryFriends.