wyverns

While two great superorders of Dragons have conquered the skyes, superorder Dracomorpha is the one that has, by far, been the most troublesome of the two, developing into a variety of monstrous predators far harder to deal with than other types of dragon. 

While modern Dracomorpha include flying giants and slithering, winged monstrosities, it is likely Order Pseudodraconidae, the Wyverns, are the most similar in shape and size to their common ancestors. Wyverns are adapted to hunting as they dart through the air, in a manner very similar to the gliding dragons of ancient times. Their wings are shorter than those of their ancestors, adapted for improved maneuverability, and their tail ends on a vane that helps Wyverns stabilize themselves as they fly. 

Unlike other clades of dragon, Wyverns still retain the feather covering of their ancestors, but these have developed further, showing a great variety of pigments shapes and speciallizations. The plumage of most Wyverns is used either to blend in with their environment, communicate with one another through specific signals, or even help them with their mating rituals. Other specialized feathers look like long, sharp quills or spikes that can be erected by the Wyvern for a diversity of purposes.

Wyverns are generalist predators which have adapted to a variety of ecological niches. They tend to spend most of their time in areas with greater tree cover, where smaller prey are more abundant and larger aerial predators are scarce. The snout of most Wyverns is long and narrow, perfect for catching small and fast creatures, and they have developed a not very powerful hemotoxic venom, which aids in the digestion of its prey from the moment they catch it, thus helping reduce their digestive system and making them lighter.

Given their smaller size, Wyverns defend themselves by looking scary, opening their wings, fluffing their feathers, and hissing and growling aggressively, flying away if this display is unsuccesful. Larger species, however, may instead take advantage of their venom to deliver a quick and very painful bite to potential predators.

Habitat: Northern Asia and Europe.

This colorful black, red and bright yellow covering of this Wyvern helps it stand out in its natural habitat, in sharp contrast with other species of Wyvern, both as a means of impressing mates and scaring off predators. The Zilant also displays another great example of the development and great usefulness of these feathers: while its early ancestors lived in a much hotter environment, the Zilant needs protection against the long, cold winters of its new habitat, and so its feathers have become much denser and more branched to help insulate it against the cold. Behavioral adaptations aid in this protection, as the Zilant will form its nests inside natural caves, where dozens of Zilant will huddle together in order to conserve heat.

Habitat: Around the Mediterranean Sea.

Cockatrices are one of the best examples of the larger Wyverns, reaching heights of up to two meters, or 6.5 feet. They are too large and heavy to fly, insead using their wings for territorial displays. Males are covered in long quills and fleshy crests that swell during courtship season, helping it attract mates. Once the Cockatrice has mated, females will be the ones to dig a deep burrow using their strong legs, lay the eggs and care for them, leaving the nest only to feed.

Cockatrices hunt by shooting their venom from modified glands. This special venom, mainly composed of neurotoxins, can reach prey from distances of up to 6 meters, usually aimed at the head, paralyzing it and allowing the Cockatrice to tear into it without a care in the world, ripping off pieces of it with their short, robust snout. Unfortunately, these mighty predators suffer the tiranny of an unexpected enemy: the tiny weasels that share its habitat , which easily enter their nests while the mother is hunting, and feed on the eggs.