Origin
Cyndaquil's appearance is based on the echidna, but it also has traits of shrews, anteaters, and tenrecs, such as its long snout, and having little to no tail. Its closed eyes may be a reference to baby honey badgers, as its final evolved form is based on one. When its fire is lit, the fire resembles the quills of the porcupine.
Name origin
Cyndaquil is a combination of cinder (ashes) and quill (referring to needle-like hairs).
Hinoarashi may be a combination of 火 hi (fire) and ヤマアラシ (山荒) yama-arashi (porcupine). It can be taken to mean 火の嵐 hi no arashi (storm of fire).
https://bulbapedia.bulbagarden.net/wiki/Cyndaquil_(Pok%C3%A9mon)Exactly now, I finally realized what it is. I waited since 2001..
