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Origins[]
The Amphiptere is a creature with origins in Greek and Roman mythology, legend and folklore. In particular, accounts of their existence first arose in Natural History (a work written by Pliny the Elder, who was reputed to have related the creature to, or even conflated it with the Jaculus), Histories (a work by Herodotus) and On Animals (a work by Aelian).
Later, it would also gain connections to Medieval mythology, legend and folklore, including Medieval Heraldry.
Appearance[]
The Amphiptere is best described as resembling a snake with feathery, avian wings. Aside from this, the Amphiptere varies in the snake breed that it resembles, as well as the bird species that its wings resemble. Some resemble cobras with falcon wings, or anacondas with condor wings, or black mambas with hawk wings asps with garden snakes with hummingbird wings.
In some cases, an Amphiptere might even have feathers more places on its body than just its wings. It may even have bat-like wings or draconic wings in place of bird wings. And with those, the species/breed of bat or dragon to which it bears similarities also varies.