Nidoran♂

The Poison Pin Pokémon
#032 - Nidoran♂
Evolve	Nidorino
Debut	Pokémon: Red Version Pokémon: Green Version
Species Info
Type	+
Height	0.5 m (1'08")
Weight	9.0 kg (19.8 lbs.)
Color	Purple
Gender Ratio	Only ♂
Ability	Poison Point / Rivalry
Hidden Ability
Egg Group	Ground / Monster
Icon		Sprite
		File:032sprite.png
Footprint
30px
Base Statistics
Hit Points	46	Speed	50
Attack	57	Sp. Attack	40
Defense	40	Sp. Defense	40
Training Info
Catch Rate	235	Hatch Steps	5,120
Base Exp.	060	Effort Points	Att
Happiness	70
To Lv.100	Slow

Kanto #	Johto #	Hoenn #	Sinnoh #
< 032 >	< 098 >
Unova #	Johto (IV) #

Nidoran is a small Poison-type Pokémon introduced in the first generation games. It is notable as the first example in which a Pokémon is divided into different species by its gender. The female version is Nidoran♀.

Information

The male Nidoran is small, but it has a horn that is filled with poison. Its venom is more powerful depending on how large the horn is. This toxic horn is protection, and it also extends toxic barbs when angered. They are also known for their large ears, which they stiffen and raise to listen for danger. Nidoran have developed muscles for moving its ears in many directions, and it can also flap its ears like wings in order to hear distant sounds. They can pick up even the slightest sounds and will strike first upon detecting danger.

The primary difference between the two genders of Nidoran lie in their colors, as well as the male having larger ears and horns, and of course their divergent evolution paths. This Nidoran evolves into Nidorino at Level 16.

Gen		Game	Pokédex entry
I		Red	Stiffens its ears to sense danger. The larger its horns, the more powerful its secreted venom.
		Blue
		Yellow	Its large ears are always kept upright. If it senses danger, it will attack with a poisonous sting.
		Stadium	Its large ears sense danger. It extends its toxic spikes when angry. The size of its body thorns indicates its toxicity.
II		Gold	It is small, but its horn is filled with poison. It charges then stabs with the horn to inject poison.
		Silver	It raises its big ears to check its surroundings. It will strike first if it senses any danger.
		Crystal	It constantly moves its large ears in many directions in order to detect danger right away.
III		Ruby	The male Nidoran has developed muscles for moving its ears. Thanks to them, the ears can be freely moved in any direction. Even the slightest sound does not escape this Pokémon's notice.
		Sapphire	The male Nidoran has developed muscles for moving its ears. Thanks to them, the ears can be freely moved in any direction. Even the slightest sound does not escape this Pokémon's notice.
		Emerald	The male Nidoran has developed muscles that freely move its ears in any direction. Even the slightest sound does not escape this Pokémon's notice.
		FireRed	Its large ears are flapped like wings when it is listening to distant sounds. It extends toxic barbs when angered.
		LeafGreen	It stiffens its ears to sense danger. The larger its horns, the more powerful its secreted venom.
IV		Diamond	It scans its surroundings by raising its ears out of the grass. Its toxic horn is for protection.
		Pearl	It scans its surroundings by raising its ears out of the grass. Its toxic horn is for protection.
		Platinum

Appearances

Mainstream Games

In Pokémon: Red, Blue and Yellow, Nidoran could be found at Route 22 and Safari Zone. In Yellow, they also appeared at Routes 2, 9 and 10. In FireRed and LeafGreen, Nidoran could be found at Route 3 as well as the Safari Zone. They are common in Red, Yellow and FireRed, but are rare in Blue and LeafGreen.

In Gold, Silver, HeartGold and SoulSilver, Nidoran appeared on Routes 35 and 36. In Crystal, they showed up at Route 35 and the National Park. in HeartGold and SoulSilver, they could additionally be caught in the Savannah area of the Safari Zone. They could also be caught at the Refreshing Field Course of the Pokéwalker, from which it could be transferred to HeartGold/SoulSilver.

In Diamond, Pearl and Platinum, Nidoran could be caught on Route 201 using the Pokéradar. In White Version, they appeared in the White Forest.

Other Games

In Pokémon Pinball, Nidoran appeared at Pallet Town, Viridian City, Cerulean City and the Safari Zone. In Pokémon Trozei!, they could be caught at Secret Storage 4, Huge Storage 4, Endless Level 5 and Mr. Who's Den.

In Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Red and Blue Rescue Teams Nidoran was found on the first four floors of Mt. Thunder, the thirty-third through thirty-seventh floors of Wish Cave and the first four basement floors of Oddity Cave, while in Explorers of Time and Darkness they appeared at the first thirteen basement floors of Mystifying Jungle and the first twenty-nine basement floors of Mystery Forest. Nidoran also appeared in Pokémon Rumble, at the Eternal Tower.

Other Appearances

In Other Media

• One Kanto episode of the Pokémon anime featured two Nidoran of the opposite gender who were in love, but belonged to enemy Pokémon trainers. Eventually, Ash and his friends were able to convince the trainers to accept their Pokémon's romance, and they then both evolved into Nidorino and Nidorina. Nidoran of both genders have also made minor appearances throughout the series.

Trivia

• Part of its name may be derived from "needle" or "ni", the Japanese word for two which would represent the two very different versions of Nidoran. "Ran" may also come from the Japanese name for an orchid that could be either blue or purple, just like Nidoran itself.