Sea-wyvern supporters in the arms of the Borough of Vale Royal

A wyvern (or wivern) is a winged reptilian legendary creature often found in medieval heraldry where the usual blazon is statant (standing). The wyvern is similar to a European dragon, but it differs in that it has only two legs, cannot breathe fire, and has a barbed or snake-like tail. Occasionally, it is said to be smaller than a dragon or to be able to breathe fire. In heraldry, it represents pestilence, conquest, or other such ideas.

Another mythical creature that is similar to the wyvern is the cockatrice. Variants of the wyvern include the sea-wyvern, which has a fish-like tail, and the Lindworm, which either has no legs (commonly) or no wings.

In some fantasy works, wyverns are said to be the one of the 4-legged dragons. They are said to be the most feline-like, having a cat-like intelligence and temperament. During the Middle Ages, they were supposedly the most useful of all dragons to sorcerers, as they had the unique ability to work easily with spells.

Wyverns are also featured in many fantasy settings. In Dungeons & Dragons, wyverns have a poisonous tail stinger.

'Wyvern' is also a term used in Herefordshire and Worcestershire to unite the two main cities, as the rivers Wye and Severn run through Hereford and Worcester respectively. For example, one of the local radio stations is called Wyvern FM, and its first logo in 1982 featured a Wyvern dragon.

'Wyvern' is also an online game.

There are also Wyverns in the Nintendo, video game series Fire Emblem as a flying unit. The units are called Wyvern Rider and Wyvern Lord, where the humans ride on small, four legged, winged reptiles.

The Wyvern is also featured in the famous Japanese anime series "Saint Seiya: The Hades Chapter" by Masami Kurumada, as a majestuous body armor protecting a proud, sharp and extremely strong warrior named Radamanthys. When not worn by its master the armor takes the shape of a Wyvern.

External links

• Image: Saint Seiya - Hades: Wyvern Radamanthys
• Encyclopedia Mythica: Wyvern
• Bestiary of Modern Fantasy: Wyvern
• Dave's Mythical Creatures and Places: Wyvern
• Online Game: Wyvern