Bird or dragon?

Posted Oct 15, 2020, 8:59:48 AM UTC

A little comparison/study painting.

Something I'm still not sure about... does it make more sense to draw stryx on the ground bipedal (bird-like) or pterosaur/dragon-like (quadrupedal)?

 

I'm not a biologist, but i'm always interested in science and realistic approaches to fantasy stuff. I think quadrupedal walking makes more sense with stryx, since these guys are sooo large and heavy. Therefore they would have more in common with pterosaurs than with modern birds. So... quadrupedal walking makes sense, I guess? Also stryx still have these wing fingers, and they must have some evolutionary advantage, right? Especially because stryx are missing the Alula part of their wings as a result.

 

I think stryx would still run on two legs though, while flapping their wings for balance and to gain speed. Like an angry goose chasing someone XD

 

Also I can't draw folded bird wings. The pterosaur-attempt makes it so much easier XD

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  • Oct 20, 2020, 12:45:18 AM UTC
    Valid questions XD

    I love the idea that they would be semi-quadrupedal - maybe for bending over to peer down at things or readying themselves to breathe fire! >w<

    Any who! great artwork! I think you did a great job~
    • Oct 26, 2020, 6:04:48 AM UTC
      Thank you ^^

      Ohhh great idea with the quadrupedal fire breathing. This could look really cool. I need to draw this when I have time ^^
  • Oct 19, 2020, 5:51:53 PM UTC
    I really like how you draw gryphs! I also think you did pretty dang well on drawing the folded wings :3

    You have brought some good points too that are interesting. Also reading the other comments were interesting too xD
    • Oct 20, 2020, 1:35:37 PM UTC
      Thank you Smile
      But actually... it's supposed to be a Harpia ^^'
      I'm still practicing the different types of birds. They all look very similar right now xD

      Yes, I also really liked the discussions and ideas. It's fun to theorise about these things ^^
      • Oct 20, 2020, 3:33:19 PM UTC
        Oh oops my bad haha. Either way it looks great. Body types are fun too play with too. Can't wait to see more :3
  • Oct 17, 2020, 1:23:19 AM UTC
    These look so nice! I think both make a bit of sense, but one-finger wings don't seem useful for walking/running, so that looks more like a resting/steady stance more than one they'd use to get around! I'd think it's like how a dragon would get on all four to attack / before breathing fire on a target.

    Other than the denser tail, I think Stryx follow bird anatomy quite closely? They're just larger, but everything is proportional, so I'd say they still stand the same way their small relatives do!
    • Oct 19, 2020, 2:38:31 PM UTC
      Thank you Smile

      And thanks for your opinion! Smile
      Yes, I agree. On second thoughts it does make more sense to have Stryx bipedal/bird-like. And it would propably look less weird xD
      • Oct 19, 2020, 10:47:17 PM UTC
        My pleasure!!

        And yeah!! I was gonna agree fully on the dragon stance at first but then I went "wait a minute" lmao

        I think both ideas are great though!! Esp. since it's a fantasy world and kinda up to us >:3c
  • Oct 15, 2020, 1:05:41 PM UTC
    So my two cents on the subject, not that it matters but, I feel avians are primarily bipedal while mammalian are primarily quadrupedal.

    Think of the dinosaurs, there are large creatures that were bipedal there. Stryx I imagine are much like them, less dense boned and can be bipedal thanks to their long tail allowing balance. Why else would they have developed such a tail when the one attached to the base of the tail should be plenty efficient for flight. I also like to think the ulna may still be there and the front claws an extra unfused digit allowing them to grip on things like rock faces much better.

    As for mammalians they’re based on bats who are quads in nature when they have to walk and are more densely boned than avian stryx, so seem to tip the scale enough to walk like your standard wyvern would.

    This is all theory and headcannons to make sense of their biology and so you do you though!
    • Oct 15, 2020, 9:43:52 PM UTC
      Thank you very much for your opinion! I love theorising about such things ^^

      The long tail is a good point. For some reason I didn't think about bipedal dinosaurs there. But you're right, they could be pretty similar to Stryxes. Also stryx have these extra feathers on the tailtip. These would also be much more useful for balancing, instead of like... using the tail as a weapon while fighting, which was my previous thought.

      But now I wonder how those poor tailless stryxes can hold their balance without the extra tail support xD

      It's also a really cool idea that they could use their wing fingers for climbing and holding onto vertical surfaces. I never thought about this, but I like it a lot ^^

      I also fully agree with you about mammalian stryxes.

      Thanks again! These are some really great ideas!
      • Oct 21, 2020, 5:52:44 AM UTC
        I love theorizing too ^^ I think tailless stryx would be a good example of the balance no longer being there and forcing them to be quadrupedal, likewise, they may just adapt as birds have and have their knees as pivot points instead of their pelvis. Using their knees allows their center of gravity to be more within the center of the body instead of at the end of the body balancing with the center of gravity at the pelvis causing topheaviness. Don't get me wrong I'm sure they can probably use it as a weapon, especially with spiked armor, but I believe battle is what the evolution of breaths was for with tails being for balance. Feel free to use my headcanons though! I think about it often as I started college as a bio major XD