You realize that "needle mouse" as a term for hedgehogs existed long before Cyndaquil, or even Pokemon, was a thing, right? They didn't just invent that? It's the same thing for Sandshrew being a "mouse" - the Japanese term for armadillo, read literally, is "armor mouse."

That's my point. It sounds like to them, socially that is just a different kind of mouse.

You're clearly determined to be overly pedantic with how ficitous monsters relate to real world animals. I'm sorry the cycle doesn't fit your very specific requirements, but 7 gens and 20 years is a lot to just throw out because they didn't use the right rodent or canine. So, you can go on believing the cycle doesn't exist at all, and I'll be expecting one of the remaining 5 animals to be the next fire starter with no surprise.

All these arguments already existed before gen 7. And out of all the possible animals they could have made it just conveniently fit again? What happens when the next one fits? Still just a silly coincidence? And after that when it happens again? Sorry Foxes are too different? Sounds bad.