Chimchar is a bipedal Pokémon resembling a chimpanzee. Its fur is primarily a shade of orange, though its face, outer ears, underbelly, hands, and feet are light yellow. Its rear has a small, round, red patch that is usually obscured by flames produced by burning gas in its stomach. These flames go out when it goes to sleep, and burn weakly when it feels ill. Its ears are large in comparison to its head size and red inside. It has two pointed teeth in its upper jaw. Chimchar has red markings nearly surrounding its eyes, a swirl-like symbol on its chest, and five fingers on its hands with three toes on its feet. It has a swirly crest of hair on its head. Being very agile, it is able to climb the rocky ledges of tall mountains, where it lives.
Chimchar debuted in Following A Maiden's Voyage!, where it was teasing a Piplup after stealing food from it. Piplup then started firing a Bubble Beam attack, but Chimchar kept jumping out of the way. Staraptor was hit in Piplup's line of fire and created a Whirlwind that wrecked everything in Professor Rowan's lab. Chimchar jumped out of a broken window, with Piplup chasing after it.
A Chimchar owned by Rowan appeared in SS024, where a new Trainer named Shinko was picking a starter Pokémon. A similar situation as Following A Maiden's Voyage! occurred, with Chimchar and Piplup starting a fight, leading to a window breaking and Chimchar and Piplup escaping. They were then captured by an Ariados's web before being rescued by Shinko and Dawn.
Two Chimchar appeared in Classroom Training!. One was seen battling a Turtwig at the Trainers' School, while the other appeared during a flashback under the command of a young Zoey.
Chimchar, the Monkey Pokémon. Chimchar easily climbs the sheerest of walls and lives on mountain tops. When it sleeps, its flames go out. (Note: Chimchar's actual classification is the Chimp Pokémon, not the Monkey Pokémon, as stated by Ash's Pokédex.)
"A Chimp Pokémon. With a flaming tail, Chimchar is skilled in Fire-type moves. Its light body affords it the ability to scale steep cliffs and live atop rocky mountains. Some say that the fiery tail is fueled by gas made in its stomach. Not even rain can put out the flames, but Chimchar always puts out the fire when asleep. Chimchar evolves into Monferno."
Game data
Pokédex entries
This Pokémon was unavailable prior to Generation IV.
Chimchar is the only starter Pokémon that is a member of the Human-Like Egg Group.
Origin
Chimchar appears to be based on a young chimpanzee. However, the markings on its rear without the flame, (plus facial markings on its evolutions) seem to indicate that it is more a cross between a chimpanzee and a young baboon.
Name origin
Chimchar is a combination of chimp and charcoal or char (to burn).
Hikozaru is a combination of 火 hi (fire), 子 ko (child), and 猿 saru (monkey). Zaru is also used to describe an ape.