wyvern

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Wyvern speared by angels Liber Floridus, 1448

A wyvern or wivern (pronounced /ˈwаɪvərn/) is a legendary winged reptilian creature with two legs and a barbed tail often found in mediaeval heraldry. The word is derived from Middle English wyvere, from Old North French wivre "viper".^[1]

The wyvern is regarded as a type of dragon. Wyverns are normally shown as dragons with two legs and two wings that may have clawed tips. Some have been known to have no legs.^[2] Sometimes there are eagle's claws on the wingtips. The rest of its appearance can vary, such as appearing with a tail spade or with a serpent-like tail.

Literary use

In Steve Alten's The Loch the Loch Ness Monster is a guivre which got into Loch Ness through Moray Firth. In the 1989 film La Vouivre, the vouivre was a wood nymph.

Some cryptozoologists^[3] have interpreted wyverns as surviving pterosaurs, which were extinct around 65 million years ago. There are alleged sightings in remote areas of pterosaur-like creatures such as the Kongamato in Africa.^[4]

Mascots and cultural references

The wyvern is a frequent mascot, especially in Wales and Wessex, but also farther afield in Herefordshire and Worcestershire, as the rivers Wye and Severn run through Hereford and Worcester respectively. For example, one of the local radio stations is called Wyvern FM.^[5] Vauxhall Motors had a model in its range in the 1950s called the Wyvern. A wyvern is also the mascot of the Korean Baseball Organization team SK Wyverns, established in 2000.

See also

Wikisource has the text of the 1911 Encyclopædia Britannica article Wyvern.

• Basilisk
• Cockatrice
• European Dragon
• Lindworm

References

External links

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Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Wyvern

• Lady Gryphon's Mythical Realm: Wyvern
• Dave's Mythical Creatures and Places: Wyvern
• Dragonsinn: Wyvern Facts
• "Wyvern": Compact OED definition

v • d • e Heraldic creatures Beasts Bear • Boar • Bull • Dog • Camelopard • Hind • Kangaroo • Lion • Ox • Stag • Tiger • Wolf Birds Cock • Dove • Eagle • Pelican • Rook Legendary Creatures Alce • Basilisk • Biscione • Cockatrice • Dragon • Enfield beast • Griffin • Keythong • Lindworm • Manticore • Martlet • Opinicus • Phoenix • Salamander • Turul • Unicorn • Wyvern Fish Dolphinfish • Ged • Lucy • Scallop Others Bat • Bee • Crapaudy • Emmet • Serpent