Charmeleon is a tailed bipedal, reptilian creature similar to Charmander. It has crimson scales that are much darker than that of the bright orange Charmander. It has a tail with the tip burning with fire, a trait seen in many Fire-type Pokémon, especially the Charmander evolutionary line. If its tail is extinguished, it will also die like its prior evolution, though this has never happened in the anime or in game. Its skull has developed a horn-like protrusion to the rear and its mouth has elongated into a snout. It has a cream underside and an expansive cream coloration on the sole of its foot. Its front and back claws are far sharper and longer than Charmander.
Gender differences
None.
Special abilities
Charmeleon can breathe fire. This fire is much hotter than Charmander's. This is a result of a larger flame burning at the tip of its tail than that of Charmander's.
It possesses incredibly large claws which it utilizes in its powerful Slash attack. Its tail is also very powerful, having enough strength to lift an adult man.
Behavior
Charmeleon tend to be stubborn, bad-tempered, and simply hotheaded. Due to their incredible power at such a low level, they can easily feel they are better than their Trainers are and will sometimes disregard attack commands. When tame, however, they are a formidable opponent and a loyal partner. Wild Charmeleon are ready to evolve when they begin to travel in different areas battling random opponents, and the flames on their tails begin to flash larger.
Charmeleon are rare in the wild, but thrive in harsh environments such as craggy mountains and active volcanoes. Charmeleon also dwell in large numbers in abandoned mines and heated valleys. It is most likely to be found in Kanto.
Charmeleon when in the wild will hunt solitary much unlike Charmander who hunt in packs. Their diet consists that of the average omnivorous Pokémon diet.
Charmeleon debuts in Onix is On!, part of the Red, Green & Blue arc, battling in the Pewter Gym as one of Blue's Pokémon. It evolved from Charmander sometime between The Secret of Kangaskhan and this round. When Red and Blue collided in Celadon City, Red mistakenly picked up the Poké Ball of Blue's Charmeleon, but he managed to give it back to Blue later. It has since evolved into Charizard with Blue's harsh training, and became even more powerful, assisting in the defeat of both the Team Rocket triads Koga and Sabrina, and continued to act as the powerhouse for both Blue and Red, in the two times it was (temporarily) traded to him since then.
Charmeleon mercilessly destroys its foes using its sharp claws. If it encounters a strong foe, it turns aggressive. In this excited state, the flame at the tip of its tail flares with a bluish white color.
Without pity, its sharp claws destroy foes. If it encounters a strong enemy, it becomes agitated, and the flame on its tail flares with a bluish white color.
Charmeleon resembles a small dinosaur with remnants of Charmander's salamander-like appearance. Although its nomenclature suggests commonality with the chameleon, Charmeleon exhibits very few of the major physiologically distinguishing traits of the chameleon. Charmeleon does not have the specialized zygodactylic feet, separately mobile eyes, extrudable tongue, or the ability to change color like some members of the chameleon species. The few characteristics it does share are the similarly looking snout, a prominent head crest (which resembles a small horn in its Generation I back sprite), and extensive use of its tail. Chameleons have prehensile tails used for climbing and grasping, while Charmeleon utilizes its tail as a weapon.
Name origin
Charmeleon is a portmanteau of the word char (to burn) and chameleon.
Lizardo is a corruption of the katakana spelling of lizard.