Charmander is a Fire-type Pokemon introduced in Generation I. It evolves into Charmeleon starting at level 16, which evolves into Charizard starting at level 36. Along with Bulbasaur and Squirtle, Charmander is one of three starter Pokemon of Kanto available at the beginning of Pokemon Red, Green, Blue, FireRed, and LeafGreen. Take a look below for 30 more awesome and interesting facts about Charmander.

1. Charmander is a bipedal, reptilian Pokemon with a primarily orange body and blue eyes.

2. Its underside from the chest down and the soles of its feet are cream-colored.

3. It has two small fangs visible in its upper jaw and two smaller fangs in its lower jaw.

4. A fire burns at the tip of this Pokémon’s slender tail and has blazed there since Charmander’s birth.

5. The flame can be used as an indication of Charmander’s health and mood, burning brightly when the Pokémon is strong, weakly when it is exhausted, wavering when it is happy, and blazing when it is enraged.

6. It is said that Charmander dies if its flame goes out. However, if the Pokémon is healthy, the flame will continue to burn even if it gets a bit wet and is said to steam in the rain.

7. Charmander can be found in hot, mountainous areas. However, it is found far more often in the ownership of Trainers.

8. As shown in Pokémon Snap, Charmander exhibits pack behavior, calling others of its species if it finds food.

9. Niue released a one-dollar coin featuring Charmander as part of a commemorative promotion for the Pokémon franchise, with Charmander on one side and the nation’s coat of arms on the other.

10. In the first generation, on its sprite and first artwork, Charmander’s “back” is depicted as having a small line of spikes. The spikes were not shown in the sprites and artwork of later generations. Blue’s Charmander also had these spikes in the Pokémon Adventures manga, where the spikes were larger and easier to see. The spikes were also seen on Green’s Charmander from the Pokémon Pocket Monsters manga.

11. Charmander has the longest name of all unevolved starter Pokémon.

12. Charmander is the only Fire-type starter Pokémon that is not a member of the Field Egg Group.

13. Charmander, Cyndaquil, and their respective evolutionary lines have exactly the same base stats.

14. Charmander’s hand has an inconsistent number of fingers in its designs. The original sprites designed by Atsuko Nishida for Pokémon Red and Green featured three fingers, while the artwork Ken Sugimori drew based on those sprites had four fingers. Currently, the Trading Card Game, anime (including movies and specials), artwork unrelated to games and merchandise use the three-fingered hand design; while the 3D models and the artwork based on those (such as the ones made for Let’s Go, Pikachu! and Let’s Go, Eevee!) feature the four-fingered hand design.

15. Charmander’s design was based on Charizard in such a way that it was surprising to see it evolving into the latter Pokémon. In particular, Charmander was designed as a lizard, possibly referencing the mythical salamander (as opposed to the real-world amphibian of the same name that inspired its mythical counterpart).

16. This salamander was a fire spirit capable of surviving in extreme heat or flames, and it is sometimes creatively rendered or interpreted in the shape of a lizard.

17. Its draconic evolutionary line may be a reference to lizard species that are likened to dragons, such as bearded dragons and flying dragons.

18. Charmander is a combination of char (to burn) and salamander.

19. Charmander physically debuted in Charmander – The Stray Pokémon, where Ash, Misty, and Brock found it after it was abandoned by its Trainer, Damian, who only cared about raising strong Pokémon.

20. At first, Charmander refused to leave the spot it was at, believing Damian would return for it. However, when a rainstorm picked up, Charmander grew ill and Ash took it to a Pokémon Center. Charmander realized that Damian was no good, and allowed Ash to catch it.

21. Charmander also appeared in I Choose You!, which is set in a different continuity from the main series. In this continuity, it previously belonged to Cross and evolved into Charmeleon after defeating a Jigglypuff in battle.

22. Ritchie owned a Charmander named Zippo, which debuted in A Friend In Deed. It was later revealed to have evolved into Charmeleon during A Parent Trapped!.

23. A Charmander starred in Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Team Go-Getters Out of the Gate! as the leader of Team Go-Getters.

24. A Charmander appeared in a flashback in Mega Evolution Special I as the unevolved form of Alain’s Charizard.

25. A Charmander appeared in Summer of Discovery!, under the ownership of Trevor. It was later revealed to have evolved into Charmeleon during A Legendary Photo Op!, and then into Charizard during A League of His Own!.

26. A Charmander appeared in A Six Pack Attack!, where it was seen with Professor Oak along with a Bulbasaur and Squirtle.

27. A Charmander appeared in The Fires of a Red-Hot Reunion!, under the ownership of the Kanto Fair Host. Seeing it inspired Ash to bring his Charizard back onto his team.

28. Charmander debuted in Pokémon – I Choose You!, where it was seen in Ash’s dream.

29. Multiple Charmander appeared in Battle Aboard the St. Anne as some of the Pokémon seen aboard the St. Anne.

30. A Charmander appeared in Hypno’s Naptime, where it was seen in HopHopHop Town’s Pokémon Center.