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Part of its internal anatomy, as seen in its conceptual art
Poliwhirl is blue, bipedal Pokémon with a spherical body. It has bulbous eyes that protrude from the top of its head. A black and white swirl covers its belly, which are actually its organs showing through its thin skin. It appears to have white gloves on its hands and rounded, digit-less feet.
While Poliwhirl is capable of moving on land, it prefers to stay in freshwater ponds and lakes. When out of water, it sweats to keep its skin moist. It is always covered in an oily fluid that allows it to slip away from enemies. The swirl on its belly ungulates gently, and staring at it induces drowsiness.
Poli was Red's first Pokémon. It debuted in the first round of the Red, Green & Blue arc, A Glimpse of the Glow as Poliwhirl, however was captured before the start of the chapter as a Poliwag. It gained more importance in Lt. Surge's story arc, in fact it evolved in Buzz Off, Electabuzz! while saving Red from drowning in the sea due to the specks of Water Stone present in the water.
Gold's Poliwag, Polibo, evolved into Poliwhirl in Ampharos Amore when Gold and Silver were trapped inside the Tin Tower. With Silver's knowledge of Pokémon trading, Gold temporarily traded Poliwhirl to Silver via their Pokédexes, prompting Poliwhirl to evolve into Politoed when the effects of its King's Rock activated from the trade, triggering the evolution.
Poliwhirl is a Tadpole Pokémon able to live on either land or in the water. When on dry land, it's constantly sweating to keep its skin nice and slimy. When in danger, it spins the whirlpool marking on its stomach to put enemies into a deep sleep, then it runs away. It evolves into either Poliwrath or Politoed.
Game data
Pokédex entries
This Pokémon was unavailable prior to Generation I.
The surface of Poliwhirl's body is always wet and slick with an oily fluid. Because of this greasy covering, it can easily slip and slide out of the clutches of any enemy in battle.
Its body surface is always wet and slick with an oily fluid. Because of this greasy covering, it can easily slip and slide out of the clutches of any enemy in battle.
Poliwhirl in the original Tokyo Pokémon Center logo
The logo for the Pokémon Center in Tokyo featured Poliwhirl until it was replaced by Piplup in July 2007.
Poliwhirl was also featured prominently on the center of the November 22nd, 1999 issue of Time Magazine.
Poliwhirl's sprites and artwork are inconsistent with respect to its gloves. Sometimes they are depicted as mittens, while other times they have separate fingers.
All spritework from FireRed and LeafGreen onwards feature Poliwhirl with mitten-like hands. Because of this, Poliwhirl is one of the few Pokémon to have its Emerald sprite differ from the Ruby and Sapphire one.
Poliwhirl is based on a glass frog. The spiral pattern on its belly is supposed to represent how the organs of these frogs and other tadpoles can sometimes be seen through their transparent skin. Its evolution is based on a tadpole's metamorphosis.
Name origin
Poliwhirl may be a combination of polliwog and whirl (referring to the spiral on its stomach).
Nyorozo is derived from ニョロニョロ nyoronyoro (the sound of slithering).
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.