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It is related to the Nidoran♂ line, and can produce Eggs that contain either Nidoran♀ or Nidoran♂. However, it is the only one of its line that can breed, as Nidorina and Nidoqueen are part of the Undiscovered Egg Group.
Nidoran♀ is a small, quadruped, rodent-like Pokémon. It has large, spiny ears, oversized front teeth, red eyes, and a pair of whiskers on each cheek. It is light blue with several darker blue spots. There are two white claws on each of its paws. Its back is covered with small toxic spines, and it has a small forehead horn. The poison secreted by the spines and horn is extremely potent, and even a scratch from its horn or a drop of poison from its barbs can be deadly. However, this docile Pokémon only uses its poison when it feels threatened. Nidoran♀ lives in open spaces, such as savannas and plains. Nidoran♀ is an exclusively female Pokémon, Nidoran♂ being its male counterpart.
Multiple Nidoran♀ appeared in Leading a Stray!, where they were among the Pokémon assisting a Luxio in its efforts to help a Wailmer trapped in the sewers.
Multiple Nidoran♀ appeared in Showdown at the Po-ké Corral, where they were among the Pokémon living at Professor Oak's Laboratory. These Nidoran♀ were colored the same way as Shiny Nidoran♀, but they predated the introduction of Shiny Pokémon.
A Nidoran♀ appeared in Gonna Rule The School!, under the ownership of the Pokémon Trainers' School. She was temporarily loaned to one of the school's underage students for use. She was colored the same way as a Nidoran♂, but could be a Shiny Nidoran♀.
Green had a Nidoran♀ nicknamed Nido, which first appeared in Just a Spearow Carrier. She was never seen battling until she evolved into Nidorina and then Nidoqueen. At Indigo Plateau, Green's Nidoran♀ was used to attract a fisherman's Nidoran♂ and to help persuade the fisherman to trade his Butterfree for Green's Weedle, but she was stopped by Red.
Nidoran has barbs that secrete a powerful poison. They are thought to have developed as protection for this small-bodied Pokémon. When enraged, it releases a horrible toxin from its horn.
Its highly toxic barbs are thought to have developed as protection for this small-bodied Pokémon. When enraged, it releases a horrible toxin from its horn.
Nidoran♀ has barbs that secrete a powerful poison. They are thought to have developed as protection for this small-bodied Pokémon. When enraged, it releases a horrible toxin from its horn.
Nidoran♀ and Nidoran♂ were the first Pokémon to feature gender differences, or even gender at all.
Despite the addition of genders to most Pokémon starting in Generation II, the two variations of Nidoran remained separate species, rather than a singular species that splits down different evolution paths based on gender.
An Egg laid by a Nidoran♀ does, however, have a chance of hatching into a Nidoran♂, as well as an Egg laid by a Nidoran♂ with a Ditto has a chance of hatching into a Nidoran♀.
Nidoran♀ is the only Pokémon that loses the ability to breed upon evolution.
Due to the fact that its gender, ♀, is included in its name, checking Nidoran♀'s summary from Generation II onward will display as if it were genderless if it does not have a nickname. If its nickname is anything other than "Nidoran♀", its gender will appear as normal.
Origin
Nidoran♀ appears to draw inspiration from hamsters, rabbits (perhaps an Amami rabbit, specifically), mice, or porcupines, with aspects of venomous mammals. Anatomically, however, they are arguably most like hyraxes – small, rodent-like mammals that are genetically more closely related to much larger mammals like elephants and manatees featuring thickset bodies with tough hides (similar to Nidorina and Nidoqueen).
Name origin
Nidoran♀ may be derived from needle. It may also come from cnidocyte, a type of venomous cell responsible for the stings delivered by stinging animals, most notably jellyfish. Alternatively, it may be based on 二 ni (two) or 二度 nido (two times/two degrees) referring to the two distinct evolutionary lines with similar names and traits. Also, the Japanese word ran is translated as orchid in English. Orchids are flowers that can be purple or blue, these being the same colors as the male and female evolutionary forms of Nidoran, respectively. The ♀ is an indication of its female gender.
This Pokémon article is part of Project Pokédex, a Bulbapedia project that aims to write comprehensive articles on each Pokémon species, as well as Pokémon groups and forms.