Its drill-tipped tail is used to burrow into the ground backwards. This Pokémon is known to make its nest in complex shapes deep under the ground.
Biology
Physiology
Dunsparce resembles in some respects a serpent—it is, in fact, based on the tsuchinoko of Japanese lore. Its Japanese name, Nokocchi is actually created by switching the first and second half of tsuchi/noko. It does not have arms or legs. It has a yellow hourglass shaped body, two tiny wings on its sides, a drill-shaped tail (resembling that of a rattlesnake's), and two spikes under its chin. Its underbelly is blue, as well as the markings on its back. It also bears a slight resemblance to the Eurypterid. Dunsparce lives in caves and deep underground in nests of complex design. Its rudimentary wings enable it to hover just above the ground, providing it with an alternate method of locomotion besides crawling.
Not much other information is known about Dunsparce, probably because it is both very rare and timid. If it realizes it has been spotted, it rapidly burrows backwards into the ground using its tail drill and disappears out of sight.
In Pokémon Uranium, Dunsparce was planned to have an alternate evolution named Dunterach. It was a Ground/Dragon type.
Design origin
Dunsparce is based off the Tsuchinoko, a creature from Japanese mythology. It may also draw inspiration from winged serpents, which are significant in many Mesoamerican cultures.
Name origin
Dunsparce is a combination of dun (grayish yellow) or perhaps dunce and sparse (in reference to its rarity).