Gryphons

Gryphons are a family of stable chimera with heads of raptorial bird and the bodies of great felidae (big cats). Sometimes, Gryphons are classified as ornithodesmus. 
== Physiology ==
Gryphons have a number of unusual properties: their claws turn red when dipped in poison, their feathers have properties related to the treatment of heart conditions. Gryphons feathers have related properties such as seeing through illusions and making arrows more accurate. Their feathers are heavy enough to be used as crude darts.
Gryphons vary in size, often between that of regular lions and shire horses. Their claws can grow so large they are used as cups by the median races.
=== Lifecycle ===
A gryphons lifecycle is unique, once the gryphon cub-chick hatches, the mother swallows it, which lives in her digestive tract for a week or two before it's healthy enough for the mother to throw back up and live on its own. Gryphons can sense if someone has handled their young. 
== Behavior ==
They are a hunter species that prey on large mammals, horses above all else. The relationship with horses and gryphons is complex, because while gryphons prey on horses, hippogriffs are sometimes born from a gryphon and a horse. Gryphons also often mate with sphinxes, for unexplained reasons. 
Gryphons are proud animals that actively seek gold, which is collected for mating and feeding purposes in some subspecies. Gryphons have also been observed trying to catch falling stars, which they keep in their nests. Gryphons are sometimes found as beasts among lions and eagles.
== Subspecies ==
Gryphons have many subspecies, which differ in terms of their morphology, namely the presence of functional wings.
=== Classical Gryphon ===
(Accipitricephali alis Leocrus) a gryphon with the body and ears of a big cat, and the wings, head, and front legs of an eagle.
Classical Gryphons often soar above deserts, seeking the treasures the wind uncovers, such as gold which they hoard, and bones of long dead animals. Classical gryphons live alone in nests and lay eggs.
Live near deserts. 
=== Opinicus ===
(Accipitricephali alis Leo) a gryphon with the body of a big cat and the wings and head of an eagle. Opinicus live in mountains in family units.
It is thought that Opinicus will mate with those with the most gold. As it ensures that plenty of mammals will come to their nest to be eaten, if not, they will travel to the plains to eat horses. Opinicus excavate extensive tunnel systems in which to brood their eggs, often bringing the gold it unearths to its nest.
=== Keythong ===
(Accipitricephali Leo) a wingless subspecies of gryphon, who emit light from their shoulders and have spikes on their backs. They're large predators that dwell in mountains hunting fish and game, where they live together in packs. 
Keythongs live in mountains where they are often found guarding gold deposits, because they know it attracts a lot of prey. It isn't uncommon for Keythongs to make their nests in gold deposits as well. 
Category:Chimera
Category:Animal
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Category:Ornithodesmus