Griffin

Felidae avianus

Basic Information

Anatomy

All griffin species share common characteristics, namely that they bear resemblence to a hybrid of large feline and bird. They are a quadrapedal species with the forelimbs resembling the legs and talons of a predatory bird and the hind limbs resembling a large cat. Their underbelly and hindquarters are fur coated, however their front shoulders, chest and back are feathered. Two large wings spread from the shoulders, and they have large bird-like heads. In crude terms, a griffin resembles a bird with it's tail replaced with the torso and hindquarters of a cat.

Known Subspecies

There are several subspecies of griffin, each one characterised by their habitat and appearance. Most subspecies resemble a living cat and bird, as detailed below:

• Archgriffin (lion & eagle)
• Exotic Griffin (Tiger & parrot)
• Nocturnal Griffin (leopard & owl)
• Paradise Griffin (lynx & bird of paradise)
• Polar Griffin (snow leopard & snowy owl)
• Red-headed Griffin (mountain lion & vulture)
• Woodland Griffin (housecat & various forest birds)

Biological Traits

Male griffins tend to be larger and heavier than female griffins, with males of some subspecies (eg Archgriffins) having manes to further distinguish them.

Genetics and Reproduction

Griffins reproduce sexually as most animals do, with females coming into season anuually for around 4 to 5 days. In this time, they seek out a single male to mate with and help rear the young. A female griffin will only stay pregnant for around two days before laying a clutch of eggs and incubating them for 65-70 days. A griffin typically lays between two to four eggs per clutch and spends the next 18 months raising it's young. The male will only stay for the first 9 months or so before leaving the nest in pursuit of another mate, though some breeding pairs have been observed to mate for life.

Growth Rate & Stages

Once hatched, a griffin chick is bald and blind, taking around 6 weeks or so to become fully feathered and furred. After ten days, the chicks will have their eyes open and begin exploring the nest and surrounding area. The chicks live as a pack, with the first born being the alpha (aside from the parents) due to it's advantage in size and age. Not all chicks make it to adulthood, with the youngest and smallest often being the first to die due to lack of food or occasionally in-fighting with siblings. After 12 or so weeks, the Griffins flight muscles will be fully developed and the young, now referred to as fledglings, will leave the nest with the parents, learning to hunt small prey such as rabbits and mice. At around 150 days old, a griffin is considered a juvenile, now resembling an adult of the species though considerably smaller being around a third to half the size. It is at this point that the father leaves the nest and the juveniles stay with their mother as a pack for the next 9 months before leaving the nest and establishing their own territory. It will be another year before the reach sexual maturity and can reproduce themselves.

Ecology and Habitats

Different subspecies of Griffins inhabit a wide range of habitat, from deserts and mountains to forests and polar regions. As long as the area has large prey (deer, cattle, etc.), a good water source and somewhere large and high to roost, such as a cliff or a giant tree, a griffin can inhabit it. A griffins territory range depends on the subspecies but most have a range of around 8 square miles from their nest or den. Griffin's are an apex predator and actively hunt large prey, and have been recording taking on other smaller predators when desperate enough. Griffins are extremely territorial, and whilst they often tolerate predators of other species such as wolves, bears and lions, they will not tolerate another griffin in their territory outside of mating season, often fighting to the death.

Dietary Needs and Habits

All griffins are carnivorous, and all subspecies but the Red-Headed Griffin are predatory. A griffin typically makes a large kill every week and feeds off of the carcass until the next hunt. They usually hunt large prey, typically deers, but have been known to kill anything as large as a cow or horse. They also hunt smaller animals, such as rabbits, foxes, even squirrels, though this is only when a larger food source is unavailable. Once a kill is made, a griffin will eat it's fill at the kill site before carrying the carcass to it's nest. A griffin will eat all parts of the animal, even the bones to get at the marrow inside, and what it can't digest it regurgitates somewhere away from the nest. Young griffin chicks eat regurgitated meat from their mothers for the first few weeks of their lives before devloping a digestive track robust enough to eat raw meat from their parents kills. A griffin's exact hunting method differs between subspecies, though all are primarily aerial predators, flying overhead and diving at their prey, making the kill on impact with their talons and beak. Griffins aim for the neck when hunting as it is the swiftest way to kill their prey and gives them an easy point to hold on to should the prey survive. Some subspecies also hunt from the ground or tree canopy, hiding in foliage and stalking their prey before using their wings to help pounce at their target.

Biological Cycle

The mating season takes place in early spring with chicks hatching in mid to late spring. The passing of seasons barely effects griffins, although they may need to migrate to a new territory if their prey is migratory and leaves their territory. Griffins have been known to grow thicker fur and down during the winter months to keep warm.

Additional Information

Domestication

There are records of attempts to domesticate a griffin, though none ever end well. Some griffins are kept in captivity, but it is illegal to do so and very difficult to keep an adult griffin contained without use of magic.

Geographic Origin and Distribution

Different subspecies of griffin can be found in all corners of the world, however the most commonly found species is the Archgriffin which can be found in almost every country and habitat in Nerunia.

Perception and Sensory Capabilities

Griffins have an extremely keen sense of sight and smell. Their sight is mainly movement based with incredible and detailed long-distance vision which aids them in hunting their prey from the skies. It's speculated that a hunting griffin can spot prey as small as a rabbit from a distance as great as 3 miles. They are able to quickly refocus their eyes, allowing them to essentially zoom in and lock onto their prey. Much like a bird of prey, Griffin's have a very wide range of colour vision, enabling them to see slight changes in colouration and even UV light. Most species of griffin are diurnal predators and have eyes positioned on the side of their heads, though there are some subspecies that are nocturnal and have front-facing eyes, giving them incredible binocular vision. Much like an owl, these nocturnal Griffins heads are able to rotate almost fully around, giving them a 270 degree range of vision. Whilst most diurnal griffins have poor night vision, the nocturnal species have good vision in the night and day due to their increased sensitivity to light and ability to adjust their iris's according to the level of light, however their day vision is slightly blurry and they are unable to see colour very well.

Scientific Name

Felidae avianus

Lifespan

18 years

Conservation Status

This species is rare but only certain subspecies are protected in all regions.

Average Height

1.4-1.7 metres at the shoulder (most larger subspecies, eg. Archgriffins, Spotted griffins, etc.) 25-40cm (Paradise griffins) 5-8cm (Woodland griffins)

Average Weight

200-240kg (most larger subspecies, eg. Archgriffins, Spotted griffins, etc.) 12-16kg (Paradise griffin) 1-3kg (Woodland griffins)

Average Length

2-2.8 metres from nose to tail tip (most larger subspecies, eg. Archgriffins, Spotted griffins, etc.) 65-80cm from nose to tail tip (Paradise griffin) 10-15cm from nose to tail tip (Woodland griffins)