Tonberry

The Tonberry (トンベリ, Tonberi) is a fictional species from the Final Fantasy series and one of its recurring elements. It made its first appearance in Final Fantasy V, and has appeared in multiple future Final Fantasy games. It is a salamander-like creature wearing a robe and carrying a knife and a lantern, who approaches slowly in order to do extreme, often fatal damage. While normally short in stature and "cute" in appearance, there have been multiple variants in the series, including the Tonberry King and a more realistic incarnation in Final Fantasy XVI. It was created by Tetsuya Nomura, who aspired to create a monster that would popularize Final Fantasy monsters like Dragon Quest monsters did.

The Tonberry has received generally positive reception, considered among the best and most iconic Final Fantasy characters. While Tonberries throughout the series have largely been thought of as endearing, the anthropomorphic Final Fantasy XVI Tonberry went viral on social media due to its unusually "shapely" buttocks. Writer Drew Mackie analyzed the possible origins of the Tonberry, speculating it may be inspired by the sea monk.