The Violet Crested Griffin

The Violet Crested Griffin is the national symbol of Idemountila, and the crest of the royal family there. It gets its name from the beautiful violet colored crest on their head.
The Violet Crested Griffin is seen as a symbol of power due to its striking features and rarity. Due to its high population in the mountains of Idemountila, it has become a national symbol of power and is aligned with the strength and prowess of the kingdom's armed forces.

Basic Information

Anatomy

Griffins are beasts that have features of both a large cat and a bird of prey, with the back half being comprised of the former's feature, and the front half being the latter. The Violet Crested Griffin in particular derives its features from the snow leopard and the northern goshawk. The hind legs have a white to grey base with black spots and rosettes. The tails is rather bushy and full, but usually ends in a darker tip then the main base color. The fur is incredibly thick to protect against the harsh temperatures and climate of the southern mountain ranges, as well as the high altitudes. The forebody is typically a blue-grey to brownish-grey coloring on the top part of the body, while the underside is either grey or white. However, these colors are not the standard, and can range from almost completely white on both the top and undersides, to black on the topside with a white underbelly. The eponymous feature this beast is the vibrant violet crest that can be found of the griffin's head.

Ecology and Habitats

The Violet Crested Griffin can be founds in the mountainous regions in the southern areas of Ivryia. They live and nest amongst the clifsides and can be seen flying around on fairweather days.

Dietary Needs and Habits

The Violet Crested Griffins are carnivorous beasts, actively hunting its prey, agilely manuvering through the terrain and skies while hunting livestock, sheep, and other animals that live in and around the mountains.

Conservation Status

The Violet Crested Griffins are incredibly rare creatures, native to only the southern mountain ranges of Ivryia. The largest populations of them have been spotted in Idemountila, and have thus become the national symbol and has found its way onto the crest of the royal family.