Main series
Major appearances
In Wherefore Art Thou, Pokémon?, a Nidoran couple was in love with one another, much to the dismay of their Trainers, who hated one another. After the battle with Team Rocket, upon which she kissed Ralph's Nidoran♂, Emily's Nidoran♀, nicknamed Maria, evolved into a Nidorina.
In Leading a Stray!, multiple Nidoran♀ assisted a Luxio in its efforts to help a Wailmer trapped in the sewers.
Minor appearances
Nidoran♀ debuted in Sparks Fly for Magnemite, where she was seen in Gringey City's Pokémon Center.
In Showdown at the Po-ké Corral, multiple Nidoran♀ were living at Professor Oak's Laboratory. These Nidoran♀ were colored the same way as Shiny Nidoran♀, but they predated the introduction of Shiny Pokémon.
In Pikachu's Vacation, a Nidoran♀ was at the Pokémon Theme Park.
A Nidoran♀ appeared in Lights, Camera, Quack-tion.
A Valencia Island variant of Nidoran♀ appeared in Poké Ball Peril.
In The Power of One, a Nidoran♀ sensed the disturbance caused by Lawrence III.
A Nidoran♀ appeared in the Japanese credits of Pikachu's Rescue Adventure.
In In the Pink, a pink Nidoran♀ was a resident of Pinkan Island. Team Rocket attempted to capture her and her male counterpart, but they ended up being chased off by a pink Nidoking.
A Nidoran♀ appeared in The Chikorita Rescue alongside a Nidoran♂.
In Going Apricorn!, Tracey fed a Nidoran♀ at Professor Oak's Laboratory.
A Nidoran♀ appeared in A Farfetch'd Tale alongside a Nidoran♂.
In The Fortune Hunters, a Nidoran♀ was stolen by Butch and Cassidy.
A Nidoran♀ appeared in Beauty and the Breeder.
A Nidoran♀ appeared in Celebi: The Voice of the Forest.
In Fangs for Nothin', a Nidoran♀ was living at the Dragon Holy Land. Additional Nidoran♀ appeared with it in the following episode.
In Gonna Rule The School!, the Pokémon Trainers' School lent a Nidoran♀ to the school's underage students for use in lessons. She was colored the same way as a Nidoran♂, but could be a Shiny Nidoran♀.
In Showdown at the Oak Corral, a Nidoran♀ was living at Professor Oak's Laboratory.
Multiple Nidoran♀ appeared in the opening sequence of Destiny Deoxys.
A Nidoran♀ appeared in PK13.
In Beg, Burrow and Steal, a Nidoran♀ was living in an underground paradise.
In Lucario and the Mystery of Mew, a Nidoran♀ was living in the Tree of Beginning.
A Nidoran♀ appeared in The Green Guardian.
A Nidoran♀ appeared in Off the Unbeaten Path.
In Odd Pokémon Out!, a Nidoran♀ was living at Camomile Island.
A Nidoran♀ appeared in a flashback in Gathering the Gang of Four!.
In Once More With Reeling!, a Coordinator's Nidoran♀ competed in the Terracotta Contest.
A Nidoran♀ appeared in Pokémon Ranger and the Kidnapped Riolu! (Part 1). Four additional Nidoran♀ appeared in the follow-up episode.
Multiple Nidoran♀ made a cameo in Arceus and the Jewel of Life.
A Nidoran♀ appeared in BWS02.
Multiple Nidoran♀ appeared in Diancie and the Cocoon of Destruction.
In Pikachu and the Pokémon Music Squad, a Nidoran♀ was living in a forest.
A Nidoran♀ appeared in a flashback in A Watershed Moment!.
A Trainer's Nidoran♀ appeared in a flashback in Alola to New Adventure!.
In I Choose You!, a Nidoran♀ was taking shelter from the rain in a cave alongside Entei.
A Nidoran♀ appeared in a flashback in Enter Pikachu!.
In Dreams Are Made of These!, Goh caught a Nidoran♀ during a Pokémon Orienteering competition. She has since made further appearances in Pokémon Journeys: The Series.
A Nidoran♀ appeared in Trade, Borrow, and Steal!.
A Nidoran♀ appeared in Healing the Healer!.
A Trainer's Nidoran♀ got stuck in Gulpin's giant ball in A Rollicking Roll….
A Trainer's Nidoran♀ appeared in JN070.
Pokédex entries
Episode
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Pokémon
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Source
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Entry
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EP100
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Nidoran♀
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Ash's Pokédex
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Nidoran♀. Its poison pin is quite powerful for its size, but its horn is smaller than a male's.
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Pokémon Origins
In File 1: Red, a Nidoran♀ was seen in Professor Oak's introduction, while another was under the ownership of a Youngster.
In File 3: Giovanni, a Nidoran♀ was at Silph Co.
- Nidoran was the first Pokémon to feature gender differences, or even any indication of gender at all.
- Despite the addition of genders to most Pokémon starting in Generation II, the two variations of Nidoran remained separate species, rather than a singular species that splits down different evolution paths based on gender.
- An Egg laid by a Nidoran♀ does, however, have a chance of hatching into a Nidoran♂, as well as an Egg laid by a Nidoran♂ with a Ditto has a chance of hatching into a Nidoran♀.
- Nidoran♀ is the only Pokémon that loses the ability to breed upon evolution.
- Nidoran♀'s alternate coloration is similar to Nidoran♂'s normal coloration, and vice versa for Nidoran♂.
- Nidoran♀ shares its category name with Nidorina, Nidoran♂, Nidorino, Poipole, and Naganadel. They are all known as the Poison Pin Pokémon.
- Due to the fact that its gender, ♀, is included in its name, checking Nidoran♀'s summary from Generation II onward will display as if it were genderless if it does not have a nickname. If its nickname is anything other than "Nidoran♀", its gender will appear as normal.
Origin
Nidoran♀ appears to draw inspiration from hamsters, rabbits (perhaps an Amami rabbit, specifically), mice, groundhogs, or porcupines, with aspects of venomous mammals. Anatomically, however, they are arguably most like hyraxes – small, rodent-like mammals that are genetically more closely related to much larger mammals like elephants and manatees featuring thickset bodies with tough hides (similar to Nidorina and Nidoqueen).
Name origin
Nidoran♀ may be derived from needle. It may also come from cnidocyte, a type of venomous cell responsible for the stings delivered by stinging animals, most notably jellyfish. Alternatively, it may be based on 二 ni (two) or 二度 nido (two times/two degrees) referring to the two distinct evolutionary lines with similar names and traits. Also, the Japanese word ran is translated as orchid in English. Orchids are flowers that can be purple or blue, these being the same colors as the male and female evolutionary forms of Nidoran, respectively. The ♀ is an indication of its female gender.