[2022]

There's a sort of vague knowledge about 'alternate colored Pokémon' in Johto, something that became a bit more common with the Lake of Rage incident. But knowing how each Pokémon changes isn't nearly as common; only real collectors and researchers know more than just Gyarados's -- or those lucky enough to find one of their own! Coyotito didn't know that their Sentret was shiny, they just thought it was a bit pale, 'til it evolved into Furret anyway.