The WyvernThe Wyvern is closely related to the Western dragon and is often described as being a type of dragon. Others prefer to view it as a different species.
What Is A Wyvern?Today the depiction of a wyvern is varied - all forms of serpentine, dragonlike creatures are called wyverns. The traditional description is of a creature that resembles a small dragon but with only two legs and a barbed tail. The barb is often said to contain poison. In many ways the wyvern is closer to a winged serpent than to a fully fledged dragon.Wyverns rarely if ever breathe fire.
OriginsAccording to my etymological dictionary the English word "wyvern" is a 17th century variant of the older 13th century "wyver". This in turn derives from the Old French "wivre" and the Latin "vipera" which means "viper".There are few surviving legends concerning wyverns specifically. It appears to have been a rather unpleasant beast and is associated with plague, pestilence and destruction. Although it appears rarely in written tales, the wyvern is common in heraldry. It is normally described on the blazon as "statant" (standing). Presumably its popularity is due to its destructive nature - an example of heraldically "bigging oneself up"! A relative of the wyvern is the lindworm. In some traditions this is the same creature, in others it is essentially a wyvern without wings.
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