List of Pokémon with gender differences: Difference between revisions

Latest revision as of 13:42, 28 April 2024

Although most Pokémon look identical regardless of gender, some species have differences in appearance due to gender, with noticeable differences between the males and females. With the exception of the differences between male and female Nidoran (which are considered distinct species), gender differences were introduced in Generation IV.

Pyroar's gender difference in the anime, with the male (left) and female (right)

These differences are a reference to sexual dimorphism, which is commonly seen in many real organisms and may offer some clues to their biology and behavior.

In Pokémon Diamond, Pearl, and Platinum, in the gate to Canalave City, Professor Rowan's assistant upgrades the player's Pokédex to be able to display form differences, including gender differences. In later games, they are displayed from the start.

Generation IV, in addition to introducing new Pokémon with gender differences, also modified several older Pokémon to have gender differences. In most cases, the male version retained the original design while the female was altered; however, the inverse is true for Dodrio, Meganium, Xatu, Aipom, Torchic, Beautifly, Ludicolo, Meditite, Medicham, and Milotic.

Later generations would introduce far fewer Pokémon with gender differences, but those that were introduced differ much more drastically in appearance. Starting in Generation VI, some Pokémon even have different Abilities, base stats, and/or moves they can learn depending on their gender.

Starting in Generation IV, certain Pokémon's evolution is affected by their gender. Burmy evolves into Wormadam if it is female or Mothim if it is male. Only female Combee and Salandit can evolve into Vespiquen and Salazzle respectively, with the males unable to evolve at all. Only male Kirlia can evolve into Gallade, though either gender can evolve into Gardevoir; similarly, only female Snorunt can evolve into Froslass, though either gender can evolve into Glalie. However, Combee is the only one of these Pokémon to have a visual gender difference.

List of Pokémon

Generation I

#	Name	Male	Female
Difference		Male	Female
0003	Venusaur
Female's flower has a visible gynoecium
0012	Butterfree
Female has black (purple in Generation V) spots on her lower wings
0019	Rattata
Female has smaller whiskers
0020	Raticate
Female has smaller whiskers
0025	Pikachu
Female's tail ends in the upper half of a heart
0026	Raichu
Female's tail lacks a point and is smaller
0032 0029	Nidoran♂ Nidoran♀
Males are purple with more spines and pointed ears, plus a larger horn. Females are light blue with whiskers and squared ears. The two are separate evolutionary lines, but can produce Eggs of one another by breeding.
0041	Zubat
Female has smaller fangs
0042	Golbat
Female has smaller fangs
0044	Gloom
Female has one large spot per petal
0045	Vileplume
Female's petals have larger spots
0064	Kadabra
Female has a smaller mustache
0065	Alakazam
Female has a smaller mustache
0084	Doduo
Male has black necks and female has beige necks
0085	Dodrio
Male has black necks and female has beige necks
0097	Hypno
Female has longer collar fur
0111	Rhyhorn
Female's horn is shorter
0112	Rhydon
Female's horn is shorter
0118	Goldeen
Female's horn is smaller
0119	Seaking
Female's horn is smaller
0123	Scyther
Female's abdomen is larger
0129	Magikarp
Male has yellow whiskers and female has white whiskers
0130	Gyarados
Male has blue whiskers and female has white whiskers
0133	Eevee
Female's tail's white tip has larger, rounder scallops. This gender difference was introduced in Pokémon: Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee!, where it was exclusive to the partner Eevee. Starting in Generation VIII, this gender difference was applied to all Eevee.

Generation II

#	Name	Male	Female
Difference		Male	Female
0154	Meganium
Male has longer antennae
0165	Ledyba
Female has smaller antennae
0166	Ledian
Female has smaller antennae
0178	Xatu
Male has three body stripes
0185	Sudowoodo
Female's head "branch" is smaller
0186	Politoed
Female has smaller cheeks
0190	Aipom
Male has shorter head fur
0194	Wooper
Female has one set of gill branches
0195	Quagsire
Female has a smaller dorsal ridge
0198	Murkrow
Female's hat-like plumage is smaller
0202	Wobbuffet
Female's mouth has lipstick-like markings
0203	Girafarig
Female's body has a larger yellow section
0207	Gligar
Female has a smaller stinger
0208	Steelix
Female lacks an outer tooth on each side
0212	Scizor
Female's abdomen is larger
0214	Heracross
Female's horn is heart-shaped
0215	Sneasel
Female's left ear is shorter
0215	Hisuian Sneasel
Female's left ear is shorter
0217	Ursaring
Female has longer shoulder fur
0221	Piloswine
Female has smaller tusks
0224	Octillery
Female has smaller suction cups
0229	Houndoom
Female has smaller horns
0232	Donphan
Female has shorter tusks

Generation III

#	Name	Male	Female
Difference		Male	Female
0255	Torchic
Male has a black speck on his rear
0256	Combusken
Female has smaller head feathers
0257	Blaziken
Female's head crest is smaller
0267	Beautifly
Male has longer red markings on his upper wings
0269	Dustox
Female has smaller antennae
0272	Ludicolo
Male has thicker stripes
0274	Nuzleaf
Female has a smaller leaf
0275	Shiftry
Female has smaller leaves
0307	Meditite
Male's ears are higher
0308	Medicham
Male has a larger bulb on his head
0315	Roselia
Female's body leaf is longer
0316	Gulpin
Female's feather is shorter
0317	Swalot
Female has shorter whiskers
0322	Numel
Female has larger hump
0323	Camerupt
Female has larger humps
0332	Cacturne
Female has a large diamond on her chest where male has two small ones
0350	Milotic
Male's hair-like fins are shorter
0369	Relicanth
Female has a shorter jaw guard

Generation IV

#	Name	Male	Female
Difference		Male	Female
0396	Starly
Female's forehead marking is smaller
0397	Staravia
Female's forehead spot is smaller
0398	Staraptor
Female's forehead spot is smaller
0399	Bidoof
Male's tail has two additional curls
0400	Bibarel
Male's mask has two additional curls
0401	Kricketot
Female has a larger collar
0402	Kricketune
Female has a smaller mustache
0403	Shinx
Female has blue hind feet and a shorter mane
0404	Luxio
Female has exposed rear ankles and a shorter mane
0405	Luxray
Female's mane is smaller
0407	Roserade
Female has longer cape
0415	Combee
Male's lower face has no red mark Only female Combee can evolve into Vespiquen
0417	Pachirisu
Female's head stripe is shorter
0418	Buizel
Female has one less light-colored spot on her back
0419	Floatzel
Female has one less light-colored bump on her back
0424	Ambipom
Male has shorter head fur
0443	Gible
Male has a notched dorsal fin
0444	Gabite
Male has a notched dorsal fin
0445	Garchomp
Male has a notched dorsal fin
0449	Hippopotas
Female's color pattern is inverted
0450	Hippowdon
Male's body is light brown and female's is bluish-gray
0453	Croagunk
Female has higher "bandages"
0454	Toxicroak
Female's vocal sac is smaller
0456	Finneon
Female has larger bottom tail fins
0457	Lumineon
Female has longer fins
0459	Snover
Female's midsection is white
0460	Abomasnow
Female has longer chest fur
0461	Weavile
Female's ears are shorter
0464	Rhyperior
Female has smaller upper horn
0465	Tangrowth
Female's finger markings are longer
0473	Mamoswine
Female has smaller tusks

Generation V

#	Name	Male	Female
Difference		Male	Female
0521	Unfezant
Male has a reddish-pink wattle with long extensions while the female has a curved feather on the back of her head. Male has a green underside and female has a brown underside.
0592	Frillish
Male is blue, frowns, and has a ruffled collar, smooth, diamond-patterned tentacles, and one upper eyelash per eye. Female is pink, smiles, and has a bulbous collar, frilled tentacles, and one lower eyelash per eye. Males have a star-shaped head pattern and a stiff crown while females have a flower-shaped pattern and a limp crown.
0593	Jellicent
Body color, eyes, head pattern, and tentacle differences are much the same as with Frillish, but the female's eyes are now larger and have two eyelashes each. Males have a facial covering resembling a large mustache while females have one resembling a fluffy collar. Female has a heart-shaped mouth and the male's is hidden inside the "mustache." Males have a more overall "kingly" appearance, while females have a more overall "queenly" appearance.

Generation VI

#	Name	Male	Female
Difference		Male	Female
0668	Pyroar
Male has a large mane shaped like the kanji character 大 ō (big or great) or 火 hi (fire), a stockier body, and half-brown front legs. Female has long, flowing hair similar to a ponytail and mostly-brown legs.
0678	Meowstic
Males are mostly blue with white highlights, the inverse of females. Male's eyes are green with light blue sclerae, while female's are red and yellow. The moves Meowstic can learn vary by gender, with males learning more status moves and females learning more damaging moves. Male Meowstic have the Hidden Ability Prankster, while female Meowstic have the Hidden Ability Competitive. In Pokémon Sword and Shield, all wild Meowstic are male in Sword and female in Shield. However, breeding allows both genders to be obtained in either version.

Generation VIII

#	Name	Male	Female
Difference		Male	Female
0876	Indeedee
Males have lowered eyes, a triangular mouth pointing upwards like a frown, and more black on their torso, made to resemble a suit. Females have wider eyes, a triangular mouth pointing downwards like a smile, and more white on their torso, made to resemble an apron. Male Indeedee have higher Attack, Special Attack, and Speed, while female Indeedee have higher Defense, Special Defense, and HP. The two genders also have different moves and Abilities. In Pokémon Sword and Shield, all wild Indeedee are male in Sword and female in Shield. However, breeding allows both genders to be obtained in either version.
0902	Basculegion
Males have red accents, fierce-looking eyes, longer barbels, and two additional growths on their chin resembling a stubble. Females have pale-blue accents, sad-looking eyes, shorter barbels, and additional accents around their lips and eyes. Male Basculegion have higher Attack, while female Basculegion have higher Special Attack.

Generation IX

#	Name	Male	Female
Difference		Male	Female
0916	Oinkologne
Females have more brown bodies while males have a darker gray complexion. Male Oinkologne have a larger left ear which often covers their left eye, and have a more magenta shade of pink for their hooves and snout. Male Oinkologne are also slightly plumper than the females, and have a differently shaped tail bobble. Male Oinkologne may have the Ability Lingering Aroma, while female Oinkologne may have the Ability Aroma Veil. They also have slightly different stats and moves learned via levelling up.

Trivia

Nidoran is the only Pokémon introduced with gender differences before the introduction of gender as a mechanic in Generation II. This makes Nidoran unique in several ways:
- It is listed as two separate species in the Pokédex, one for each gender.
  - The two species share identical names besides non-alphanumeric characters, being the only two species with this distinction.
  - Prior to Generation VIII, it was the only Pokémon with unique Pokédex entries for each gender.
  - Prior to Generation IV, it was the only Pokémon that could produce an egg outside its own evolutionary line when bred as the female or alongside Ditto, as Nidoran♀ can produce Nidoran♂ eggs and vice versa. As of Generation IX, Volbeat, Illumise, Manaphy, and regional forms (under certain conditions) now share this distinction.
- It has its gender listed as part of its species name.
  - Because of this, it is the only gender-known Pokémon that does not have its gender listed in the usual place during battle, unless nicknamed.
- In games without a gender mechanic such as the Pokémon Mystery Dungeon series, it often remains as the only Pokémon with gender differences.
Some Pokémon with gender differences have unique distinctions:
- Garchomp is the only pseudo-legendary Pokémon to have gender differences.
- Sneasel is the only Pokémon to have a gender difference in both its standard form and regional form.
- The Torchic evolutionary line is the only first partner Pokémon line to have all of its members have gender differences.
- Politoed is the only Pokémon with gender differences from a branched evolution line that evolves from a Pokémon without gender differences.
Fairy is the only type that lacks a Pokémon with gender differences.
Generation IV introduced the most Pokémon with gender differences, with a total of 31.
- It was also the first generation to introduce gender-based evolution, and the first to introduce new gender differences to Pokémon established in previous generations.
Generation IX introduced the fewest Pokémon with gender differences of generations that introduced Pokémon with gender differences, introducing only one.

The Krookodile from HZ037

Generation VII is the only generation that did not introduce any Pokémon that have gender differences. However, it did introduce a Pokémon that can only evolve if it is a specific gender (only female Salandit can evolve into Salazzle) and a new gender difference for Eevee that was exclusive to the player's partner Eevee.
No Mega Evolutions or Gigantamax forms have gender differences, even if other forms of the same species do.
Despite having very prominent gender differences, Hippopotas and Hippowdon only have artwork and a menu sprite for the male of the species.
Despite Spinda not having any gender differences, the Rotom Pokédex displays separate models for male and female Spinda, using whichever spot pattern the player caught first for each gender.
Some Pokémon with gender differences evolve into Pokémon that do not have gender differences, namely Golbat evolving into Crobat, Gloom evolving into Bellossom, Eevee evolving into the Eeveelutions, Murkrow evolving into Honchkrow, Girafarig evolving into Farigiraf, Gligar evolving into Gliscor, Hisuian Sneasel evolving into Sneasler, and Ursaring evolving into Ursaluna.
Although Krookodile has no gender differences in the games, in HZ037, a Krookodile who plays the role of "mother" in a litter of Sandile and Krokorok has pink eyelashes.