I'm not sure if the ears would be more feline or avian, as it depends on the corresponding shape of the head. On the other hand, mammalian ears are more useful for triangulating sounds without moving the rest of the head, so they might be advantageous.
Also, if their food source was based on fish, that doesn't necessarily mean a change in beak type, as the raptor-style beaks of ospreys and eagles are still plenty useful for eating fish. Talons might be different or have a better grip for slippery food though... That is unless you're thinking of removing the raptor aspect altogether and having a pelicangryph. :P
XD The peli-gryph idea has been played with, along with as many other twisted combinations as people could come up with, (including civet-cat/vulture).
You are right that the hooked beak _is_ used for eating fish.
I'm working on my knowledge of avian and feline anatomy, but I'm not certain of the bird ears yet.
Overall I've been working on the basis that a gryphon is the Predator Grand. The lion is the king of the land, the eagle the lord of the air, by the hierarchy of the Middle Ages (and by some other standards as well). So for any conflicts in purpose in anatomy, the predatory feature is given priority. So; wide-set birds-eyes vs. forward-focused cat-eyes, gryphons are presumed to be have mostly forward set eyes (although the avian head allows for wide, and even backward, viewing, say about 290 degree vision). For the ears I still need to work out how the birds aural system works, but I think I would favour cat ears anyway.
Forgive me for lecturing. *rolls eyes* I'll probably copy most of this to the next version.
It's cool. It could be possible to have forward-focused bird eyes like owls, without neccessarily having to have the more rounded-head appearance.. not sure tho.
Also, for some reason it feels like I commented on this much longer than a couple weeks ago.. Maybe it's just my brain being weird. *shrug*
I've always thought of gryphons having paws, rather than claws, due to the cover illustration of an early publication of The Black Gryphon by Mercedes Lackey, that showed Skandranon having paws.
?? I'm wondering if there are different versions of the covers, since the ones I've read had gryphons which were _very_ birdy, rather twiggy actually. You wouldn't have a link by any chance?
"Prehensile" is the wrong term, but I haven't found someone who could give me the right term. And books just talk about how it works, not what word I should use. *frustrated sigh*
There have been references to dragons as being semi-avian. The Chinese dragon is more mammalian a lot of the time. So _much_ variety in creatures called 'dragon'. For instance; my Grandma looks nothing _like_ the dragons in Eragon. :P
I think some monkeys have prehensile tails, but still, I've seen gryphons in some movies with claws up front and paws behind, also, would it be possible that dragons and gryphons are related somehow? I mean both have beaks(Sometimes), both have wings that are quite bird-like, and both have some sort of "claws". Either way, someone correct me if u want, bu I'm a bit confused about all this...
--- This posts reminds me of the different types and explanation for some grphyon physiology presented in the books written by Mercedes Lackey fantasy series: The Mage Wars - The Black Gryphon, The White Gryphon, The Silver Gryphon
Altho the first book talks a little more about the Gryphon origins (in relation to their origins and grphyon physiology). ---
I dont identify quite as clearly about gryphons but I do enjoy reading about them :D I'm more riverbound :p ---
Its been years since I've logged in with my LJ account. I believe it last dated at 2002. Thats ... 5 years. (awe and shock registers on face!)
But as I was saying.
I think the book creates and discusses some dietary, physiological difference between some gryphon specie in her world. Gryfalcon's being one of them with a few details on how they could also be adapted from osprey bloodlines. The discussion between the larger birds of prey as related to the lion half, and those more hawk-like with different ear tufts variations, beak shape and diet. ---
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Also, if their food source was based on fish, that doesn't necessarily mean a change in beak type, as the raptor-style beaks of ospreys and eagles are still plenty useful for eating fish. Talons might be different or have a better grip for slippery food though... That is unless you're thinking of removing the raptor aspect altogether and having a pelicangryph. :P
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You are right that the hooked beak _is_ used for eating fish.
I'm working on my knowledge of avian and feline anatomy, but I'm not certain of the bird ears yet.
Overall I've been working on the basis that a gryphon is the Predator Grand. The lion is the king of the land, the eagle the lord of the air, by the hierarchy of the Middle Ages (and by some other standards as well). So for any conflicts in purpose in anatomy, the predatory feature is given priority.
So; wide-set birds-eyes vs. forward-focused cat-eyes, gryphons are presumed to be have mostly forward set eyes (although the avian head allows for wide, and even backward, viewing, say about 290 degree vision).
For the ears I still need to work out how the birds aural system works, but I think I would favour cat ears anyway.
Forgive me for lecturing. *rolls eyes*
I'll probably copy most of this to the next version.
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*shamefaced*
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Also, for some reason it feels like I commented on this much longer than a couple weeks ago.. Maybe it's just my brain being weird. *shrug*
Reply
I've always thought of gryphons having paws, rather than claws, due to the cover illustration of an early publication of The Black Gryphon by Mercedes Lackey, that showed Skandranon having paws.
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??
I'm wondering if there are different versions of the covers, since the ones I've read had gryphons which were _very_ birdy, rather twiggy actually.
You wouldn't have a link by any chance?
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There have been references to dragons as being semi-avian. The Chinese dragon is more mammalian a lot of the time. So _much_ variety in creatures called 'dragon'. For instance; my Grandma looks nothing _like_ the dragons in Eragon. :P
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This posts reminds me of the different types and explanation for some grphyon physiology presented in the books written by Mercedes Lackey fantasy series: The Mage Wars - The Black Gryphon, The White Gryphon, The Silver Gryphon
Altho the first book talks a little more about the Gryphon origins (in relation to their origins and grphyon physiology).
---
I dont identify quite as clearly about gryphons but I do enjoy reading about them :D
I'm more riverbound :p
---
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It is frustrating to have poeple post insightful and helpful comments, and not being able to follow them up.
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My apologies.
Its been years since I've logged in with my LJ account. I believe it last dated at 2002. Thats ... 5 years. (awe and shock registers on face!)
But as I was saying.
I think the book creates and discusses some dietary, physiological difference between some gryphon specie in her world. Gryfalcon's being one of them with a few details on how they could also be adapted from osprey bloodlines. The discussion between the larger birds of prey as related to the lion half, and those more hawk-like with different ear tufts variations, beak shape and diet.
---
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I did reffer to her books for this, and I like the way she had writen the Silent mage's notes (I can't remember his name).
I haven't yet got hold of the other books on that world, only the gryphon trilogy.
I'll check out your journal, not up for much more today though.
Thanks for getting back to me.
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