The flame can indicate 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. It is said that Charmander would die if its flame were to go 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. Supposedly, Charmander is drawing warmth from the flame on its tail, during quiet nights, one can hear the sound of a flame burning if listening hard enough while Charmander sleeps. Charmander’s design is based on a lizard, however as its name suggests it may also have been inspired by salamanders, which in mythology have an affinity with fire.