This page explains in detail the interactions between the Mario series and the Spyro series.
Spyro: A Hero's Tail[]
November 3, 2004
Mario
Spyro
In Red's Laboratory there's a friendly robot called Mergatroid which is likely based on Mario, since it has a red shirt, blue overalls and a red cap with the letter 'M' on it.
Additionally the carnivorous plant enemy found in jungle levels is believed by some to be based on Piranha Plants from the Mario series.
Mergatroid.
The Piranha Plant-like enemy.
License[]
The creators of Spyro didn't hold any right over Nintendo's Mario, but the only included subtle references to the series.