Were Voltorbs around before pokeballs or were pokeballs based on Voltorbs?

An old school poster that you would find in biology class showing a Voltorb and it's eating habits, internal organs, migration routes, etc.

Anatomy of a Voltorb

Anatomy of a voltorb. It consists of 50% vol and 50% torb, and contains a human skull.

A Voltorb falls into that analyser machine from spongebob.

Plankton finally learns the exact composition of a voltorb

Plankton views the body composition of Voltorb

Plankton's computer wife analyzes that a Voltorb is 50% Volt, 50% Orb.

Plankton accidentally summons Voltorb in his lab.