Gryphons

Gryphon is a term used for three medium-sized to large species of carnivores predominantly found in northern, eastern, south- and southwestern Jælondis in northern Borgalor, all of which have mixed avian and mammalian traits and capable of flight.
The three extant species are the northern gryphon, plains- or southern gryphon, and least gryphon, each of which are further divided into several subspecies, many of which specialize in hunting specific animals both on land or in the air. All but a few select populations of plains gryphons avoid the Qug Mountains in central Jælondis, due to competition with highland Wyverns who hunt much the same prey as they do, but are better adapted to life at higher altitudes than the former.

Least Gryphon

Least gryphons are native to southern and southwestern Jælondis, particularly Ytvía, Lamþó Hills and Maralon Steppe, and share territory with the plains gryphons in the lattermost region. Smaller populations are also found in southeastern Ójom as well.
They hunt primarily small prey such as hares, rabbits and various birds, though more gregarious subspecies are able to take down animals as large as wild donkeys in some cases and are known to attack people as well. Some varieties are crepuscular or even nocturnal, unlike other gryphons.
Due to being the smallest gryphon species, they're rarely featured in heraldry compared to the other ones, and currently only appear on the arms of a single chivalric order and a couple of noble houses.

Northern Gryphon

Northern gryphons are the largest living species and are found throughout northern Jælondis, particularly northern Ójom and the Þjan Tundra, while the Þjaric Elves have driven the ones in northern Iðlía Forest to the brink of extinction to protect the livestock there. Like their southern cousins, they specialize in hunting large herbivores such as deer and reindeer, but are known for snatching away bear cubs or muskox calves from time to time.
Several goblin and lowland dwarven countries feature northern gryphons on their arms and banners.

Plains Gryphon

Plains gryphons are the most common and arguably famous of all modern gryphons, and feature heavily in various human cultures both past and present as a symbol of royalty, protectors of the dead and general apotropaic device. They are primarily found on the Maralon Steppe and Fúmsis Savanna, and were also common in southwestern Jælondis prior to the Fell Wars, where they've since been extirpated by undead being.
While not averse to eating carrion, plains gryphons, like highland wyverns, specialize in hunting pegasi, though unlike the latter prefer to swoop down on the winged equines while they're on the ground rather than chase them through the air. The same technique is sometimes used to kill other large herbivores, including domesticated horses and cattle.

Basic Information

Anatomy

While they vary somewhat in size, shape and markings, all gryphons have the same general body-plan, with the front half resembling that of a large bird of prey and the rest that of our world's lynx species.

Additional Information

Uses, Products & Exploitation

Rulers in Maralon and Fúmsis have kept tamed subspecies of least- and even plains gryphons for coursing or to capture fowl for millennia, though that practice now only survives in the countries of Hynra and Orgoll.
More recently, gryphons have been introduced to the Southlands in southernmost Borgalor as zoo animals or exotic pets.

Origin/Ancestry

Southwestern Jælondis