Wyvern

A wyvern (or wivern) is a winged reptilian mythical beast often found in Medieval heraldry. It is similar to a European dragon, but it differs in that it has only two legs, cannot breathe fire, and has a barbed or snake-like tail. Occasionally, it is said to be smaller than a dragon or to be able to breathe fire. In heraldry, it represents pestilence, conquest, or other such ideas.

Another mythical creature that is similar to the wyvern is the cockatrice[?]. Variants of the wyvern include the sea-wyvern, which has a fish-like tail, and the lindworm, which either has no legs (commonly) or no wings.

Wyverns are also featured in many fantasy settings. In Dungeons & Dragons, wyverns have a poisonous tail stinger.

External links

• Encyclopedia Mythica: Wyvern (http://www.pantheon.org/articles/w/wyvern)
• Bestiary of Modern Fantasy: Wyvern (http://www.dragon-warrior.com/Bestiary/wyvern.shtml)
• Dave's Mythical Creatures and Places: Wyvern (http://www.eaudrey.com/myth/wyvern.htm)