The griffin; a mythical creature spoken of in legend and in Greek mythology, it was known for its courage and strength. Appearing to be a fusion of an eagle and a lion, how such a beast would function is a mystery. Uncovering the functions and behaviour of the griffin is based on its external appearance (see figure 1) and making judgements based on that. This is used to draw conclusions as to what lies beneath the surface. Figure 1- Side view of the Griffin
For the sake of consistency and foundation of knowledge, it will be assumed in most cases that the eagle characteristics represent that of the Bald Eagle.
From the diagram, it can be somewhat easy to distinguish what parts are characteristic of a lion or an eagle. The following table outlines …show more content…
The beak is curved and sharp, similar to the canine teeth of a lion, which supports the theory that it is a carnivore. Eagles sustain themselves on live prey (Encyclopædia Britannica, 2014), and usually proceed to decapitating it. There would be little to no caecum present in the gut due to its carnivorous diet, but due to its considerable size and dietary requirements, its preferred choice of prey would run out quickly. Therefore, it may have a small caecum to help digest plant material in times of need. Being a carnivore equipped with sharp talons and claws, a strong beak and extremely accurate eyesight, griffins probably exhibit aggressive and protective natures. The following diagram shows the Bald Eagle’s digestive …show more content…
It is used to store food. The gizzard contains girt which assists in digestion (Xavier, 2012). A lion’s digestive organs are simple, large in size and long in length, with the stomach and small intestine secreting a lesser amount of enzymes due to its diet. The digestive system of the griffin would probably resemble an eagle’s more than a lion’s due to the presence of a beak.
Eagles tend to be solitary hunters; mature male lions exhibit similar behaviour, but female lionesses tend to be rather social (Arsznov BM, 2012). The hind quarters of the griffin appear to be like a lion’s; the positioning of the griffin in the diagram, however, makes it difficult to determine the presence of exterior reproductive organs that would be indicative of a male; so it will be assumed that, if the hind quarters of the griffin determine its sex, then it would be a female. A lionesses’ reproductive organs are asymmetrical in size, with the left ovary and its associated structures (such as the uterine horn) being larger than the right (Hartman, et al., 2013). If the griffin’s reproductive system is akin to a lion’s, male or female, then it would not lay eggs like an eagle; rather, it would house its young within its uterus as a female, or fertilise the eggs through intercourse as a
For the sake of consistency and foundation of knowledge, it will be assumed in most cases that the eagle characteristics represent that of the Bald Eagle.
From the diagram, it can be somewhat easy to distinguish what parts are characteristic of a lion or an eagle. The following table outlines …show more content…
The beak is curved and sharp, similar to the canine teeth of a lion, which supports the theory that it is a carnivore. Eagles sustain themselves on live prey (Encyclopædia Britannica, 2014), and usually proceed to decapitating it. There would be little to no caecum present in the gut due to its carnivorous diet, but due to its considerable size and dietary requirements, its preferred choice of prey would run out quickly. Therefore, it may have a small caecum to help digest plant material in times of need. Being a carnivore equipped with sharp talons and claws, a strong beak and extremely accurate eyesight, griffins probably exhibit aggressive and protective natures. The following diagram shows the Bald Eagle’s digestive …show more content…
It is used to store food. The gizzard contains girt which assists in digestion (Xavier, 2012). A lion’s digestive organs are simple, large in size and long in length, with the stomach and small intestine secreting a lesser amount of enzymes due to its diet. The digestive system of the griffin would probably resemble an eagle’s more than a lion’s due to the presence of a beak.
Eagles tend to be solitary hunters; mature male lions exhibit similar behaviour, but female lionesses tend to be rather social (Arsznov BM, 2012). The hind quarters of the griffin appear to be like a lion’s; the positioning of the griffin in the diagram, however, makes it difficult to determine the presence of exterior reproductive organs that would be indicative of a male; so it will be assumed that, if the hind quarters of the griffin determine its sex, then it would be a female. A lionesses’ reproductive organs are asymmetrical in size, with the left ovary and its associated structures (such as the uterine horn) being larger than the right (Hartman, et al., 2013). If the griffin’s reproductive system is akin to a lion’s, male or female, then it would not lay eggs like an eagle; rather, it would house its young within its uterus as a female, or fertilise the eggs through intercourse as a