Griffin Problem

The Griffin Problem is the matter of how to taxonomically classify liminal, hybrid creatures like the griffin.
==The Problem==
What is a griffin's phylogenetic relationship to other creatures?
A griffin could be a lion that developed a bird head and wings or it could be a bird that developed a lion's body. It could also be a creature that developed entirely separately from either and merely resembles a lion or bird of prey. If it's the latter case, then where these six-limbed creatures came from down the evolutionary line becomes a great question. Body plan is rather stable evolutionarily so a six-limbed creature with mammalian and avian traits presents a phylogenetic conundrum.
Where did the mammalian traits come from? Where did the avian traits come from? How did they combine or otherwise occur together?
There are a number of solutions to the problem, the first of which has been discussed above, while the rest will be discussed below:
#Convergent evolution
#Place of Power fusion
#Innate magic fusion
#Fashioning by god
#Fashioning by wizards
==See Also==
The Griffin Problem
List of Creatures
Category:Meta