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LeeDassin — The Gryphon
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Published: 2009-04-27 11:49:46 +0000 UTC; Views: 5692; Favourites: 148; Downloads: 88
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Description
Following on from my Unicorn picture, here comes a sketch of a Gryphon. Please be prepared for a lengthy explaination.My theory of Gryphons has been around for some time, but the idea of "fleshing-out" this theory is only recent.
For those that do not know birds are derived from reptiles and modern day birds evolved from dinosaurs. This theory comes from the fossil of a creature known as Archaeopteryx [link] a dinosaur-like creature with a long tail and claws that had developed a early wishbone and feathers along it’s entire body.
With that in mind, imagine if over time the wings and claws of the arm separated into individual limbs. Now we have a creature with functioning arms that are separated from the wings. To be able to fly this creature would need extensive muscle mass in the chest area. This brings the chest down closer to the ground to enable the forelimbs to touch the ground and enables a four-limbed walking stance.
To counteract the heavy chest a long tail then evolved equipped with stiff lateral feathers to aid balance when the creature is in flight. Much of the body is covered in light downy feathers that give the appearance of fur while the reptile hands remain scaled like that of a bird. Despite appearances the Gryphon is not a long distance flyer as it cannot sustain its heavy body in the air for long periods of time.
The toothed mouth is lost to enable a lightweight beak to evolve, although the creature keeps a serrated edge to aid in tearing at prey. The forelimbs are free and not needed for walking and can evolve to handle food, most likely fish as the lightweight body is far to delicate to allow the Gryphon to handle larger prey such as horses which it was legend to feed on.
Yes I seem to have gotten over my drawers block, although the only inspiration for drawing seems to lie in Gryphons. We’ll have to wait and see what happens next…
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Comments: 37
This isn't really anything like a gryffon. But it looks awesome.
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Thank you, its not meant to look anything like a traditional Gryphon
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Beautiful design~ However, I don't think it would be plausible for a limb to split in two. As you know, enormous pectoral muscles are required to power wings; arms don't need the same musculature. Would there be two sets of pectoral muscles or just one? Too small and the wings would not support flight, too large (enough to power both limbs) would weigh the animal down and make it too heavy to fly. Also, the skeleton. Would both limbs be attached to the same shoulder blade (therefore both limbs would move at the same time) or would there be two shoulder blades sliding on top of each other (which would wear away the muscles and bones). Science mush nonetheless- I love the drawing and design; keep doing your thing~
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Thank you very much and wonderful questions.
I imagined it to have one set of shoulder blades meaning the arms move as they fly. The pectorals would be entirely for the wings and barely anything for the arms. As for the muscles to control both, its actually a hard one there, I imagine the arms to have reduced muscles to the extent the rely on the mechanics of the joints to move and cannot actually do much damage alone. Their power comes from the claws on the hands and the very inertia of flight to cause damage to prey. Other than that, unfortunately its one of the issues with flight in animals with both forelegs and wings, its a balance that's very hard to actually work out.
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A very good explanation! From the way you explain it, it seems possible for such a hexapod to exist. What I wonder is if the extra limb will eventually be lost through natural selection or just become vestigial from its lack of use. Maybe the creatures will evolve new ways to accommodate their new limbs?
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Thank you very much
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Yes, I am sure it is completely possible. Those creatures would just need more energy to power those extra muscles. For example, many people think that large animals can't fly, when the world's largest flying animal Quetzalcoatalus, had a wingspan of 3 cars lined back to back, weighed about 450 lbs and stood taller than a giraffe. Nature and its creatures are truly remarkable.
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That's a beautiful take on the gryphon! I have to say, I like it better than the classic depiction
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Thank you
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I would rather say it's a kind of drake than a gryphon
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Well it could be argued either way, mythological creatures can have many interpretations. To me so long as they look like they have features that are similar or could be mistaken as parts of certain animals then it works. Drake, gryphon they could have been the same creature viewed by different peopl. Though I always thought a drake was a small dragon like lizard without wings
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Just... all gryphons I've ever seen (as long as they were not anthro) were walking on 4 limbs, not 2^^ And gryphons rather tend to be mammals in a half^^(however that's not a rule. But it seems to be a kind of rule saying that there has to be sth clearly from a bird but it's not about wings) I would say this is more like dragon than a gryphon
I've never heard of such definition of a drake
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Oooo I love this idea. All of your fantasy/anatomical work is very inspiring. It takes time to consider the evolution, and how ideas and mythologies came to be. I had a teacher who imagined that Chinese dragons were inspired when people saw peacocks flying through the forest -- long, undulating tails, claws hanging down... Small dragons, but still
This is beautiful.
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Peacocks are how I imagined the myth of the Phoenix, birds with tails like fire flowing behind them
But that makes a lot of sense, I love that idea of the peacocks being dragons
Many mythological creatures are because of people seeing animals they had no explaination for, it keeps some of the magic in the world
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Wow, I really love how you used science-based information to explain a creature that is generally regarded as fantasy. That is a very unique talent and one I wish I had.
Even though I don't personally believe in the evolution between species (meaning I do believe that species do evolve, just that one thing doesn't turn into something completely different), you do make very valid points about the way such a creature would evolve, and the whole thing just overall makes sense.
I would love to see the unicorn one. I think I shall just go and look for it now.
I wish you the best of luck as a fellow artist.
~Rainshine
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Well evolution does not mean a change into something completely different, it is a very very slow process that does not happen immediately or with any sudden change. There have been bird and plant species have been seen to change into genetically different species over a few decades
The Theory of Evolution is a very strange thing to understand, if it is not explained right it can sound just stupid.... I am glad my explanation made sense
It is always nice to see people who do not believe un evolution still understanding the principles enough to respect it as a theory. I am not highly religious but I do respect peoples beliefs in a God, faith is a good thing ^^ You're beliefs may not be based from religion, but regardless thank you for what you said, it means a lot
The Unicorn one is not a direct "evolution" more as defining it as a species based on it's traits, I hope you like it 
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You are quite welcome, friend.
Also, I notice you also have some Lion King stuff in your gallery. Have you ever considered applying your realism to that? It's always quite bothered me how unrealistic they make the lions in regard to colour (you know, how Scar and all his lions have black manes, regardless of age). xD
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Well I have indeed, that is why I have the realistic pictures ^^ But I try not to go too far with Disney stuff, I make the pictures realistic but I would not apply science to them
Lions can have black manes when they are young, I learnt that although common in older males it can also be a sign of high testosterone levels which give the mane a darker colour
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Well then... Thankx for teaching me something new today. I actually didn't know that about lions.
But seriously, I mean it when I say that you are a phenomenal artist, and I will be watching for future deviations from you.
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This is gorgeous! I love gryphons that look plausible!
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Wowww, that is EPIC. I wish I could draw like that. But I'm only 13, so... hehe.
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Never say that, age is no barrier to art. I know people younger than me whom I think are fantastic artists.
I saw your art and for 13 that is fantastic, I could never draw that good at 13. Keep it up!
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THE DESIGN AND CONCEPT! WOAH IT'S MIND BLOWINGLY AMAZING! I ADORE IT!!!!
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WoW! Great pic! So cool. It looks like it could have been around in the past! Great info as well. Keep up the good work!
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NICE!!! Archeopetrix is like the first gryphon ever. :3
Part Compogsnatus- part Eagle.
I Loved this pic!
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A very interesting twist on the Gryphon, I must say! I do like this design a lot: The deep, powerful chest full of flight muscles, while the limbs are very light so this creature won't be weighted down by heavy legs or arms.
I really like the wings
...Before I properly read your comments on this piece, I was going to suggest that the chest possibly seems a little too heavy, but upon reading that the Gryphon can walk on all-fours, I shall shall scratch that bit
I love this design! You've turned the Gryphon into a feasible-flying creature, and that is something I applaud
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Thank you very much! I love making things seem scientifically plausible
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You are very welcome! I love designing creatures like that also
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