Bestiary:
Heraldic Monsters
&
Medieval Critters
compiled by Modar

These are creatures referred to in various bestiary and/or heraldry texts.
For some of the creatures, their use in period heraldry cannot be found.

A * denotes that the charge has been used at some point in SCA heraldry.
Several of depictions cannot be used for SCA registration, but are here for description reference. 

 ~ Click on a creature's name to see a picture of it. ~

Please note that the pictures presented are to give the viewer an
understanding of what the creature looks like, not to be
drawings compatible for device submission.


Allocamelus Also called an Ass-camel, this creature is part camel, part ass.
.
* Alphyn   This creature has a body much like that of a wolf with the front legs and belly of a dragon. It also has long pointed ears, a long thin tongue, and a knotted tail.  
.
* Amphisbæna (dragon-style)
or
Amphisbæna (serpent-style)
  Some legends say it is a serpent with two heads, one at each end of its body. Other myths say it is a dragon-like beastie with a head at each end. Also called: Amfivena, Anphine, Anphivena and Fenmine.
PicDic (1st Ed): A dragon with bird's wings and a head at either end.
.
* Antelope, Heraldic
(or here)
  Like a Tyger but with serrated horns and a deer’s legs. Probably the same as an Ibex though the horns may curve more. The antelope’s horns point backwards, the ibex’s forwards according to some references.
PicDic (1st Ed): Body like a deer's, but with tusks, a lion's tail, and serrated horns.
.
  Apres   A creature with the body of a bull and the tail of a bear
       
* Badger
(or here & here)
  A hard-working burrowing creature, known for its fierce fighting skill particularly when protecting home and family.
       
* Bagwyn
(or here)
  Beast like the heraldic antelope, but having the tail of a horse, and long horns curved over the ears.
PicDic (1st Ed) Similar to an antelope, but with a bushy tail, fringes of fur on the legs, and long swept-back attires.
.
  Barnacle Goose   Legends say that barnacle geese grow on trees whose branches hang over water. The young birds hang from the branches via their beaks. When the birds are mature, they fall from the trees; if they fall into the water they float and are safe, but those that fall on the land die.
       
* Basilisk
(or here)
  A cockatrice with a dragon’s head stuck on the end of his tail
.
  Bat   Called a reremouse in heraldry. Seventh century sources state that the bat is a bird. But unlike other birds, it is a four-legged and resembles a mouse and makes a squeaking sound. The Latin name for the creature is vespertilio which refers to the time it flies (after twilight).
       
  Bonacon
(or here or here)
  Also known as a Bonasus. A bull-like (or bison-like) creature with horns which curl inwards, a horse's tail and a short mane. Its horns were consider useless, but the creature was reported to be very dangerous as it defends itself by shooting burning excrements at its enemies. First noted in heraldry as a crest granted to Richard Chandelor in 1560.
At present the SCA College of Arms has a precedent again the registration of such a monster: "The bonacon was considered too offensive by a significant fraction of the College and is therefore not allowed for use in the SCA." WVS [21] [LoAR 21 Jul 80], p. 12
.
  Boreyne    A creature with a barbed tongue, dorsal fin, the forelegs of a lion and the hind legs of an eagle
       
  Calopus
(also here, here or here)
  A creature with a wolf body, a cat head and goat horns. Also called a Chatloup.
.
* Calygreyhound   Has the body of an antelope, the claws of an eagle of its forelegs and the hooves of an ox on its hind legs.
PicDic (1st Ed): A cat's face, tufted body and tail, eagle's forelegs and frond-like horns.
       
* Cameleopard   A natural giraffe. Also called a Camelopard. Most likely described as an animal with a hump like a camel and spots similar to a leopard.
.
  Camelopardel
(or here)
  Like a camelopard but with 2 long, curving horns
.
  Caretyne   Creature with the body of a bull, a snout, horns (and just one ear by some reports), which breathes fire and has gold spots (some reports say it is white with gold spots). May have originated from the Cretan Bull of Hercules mythos or the Marathonian Bull of Theseus mythos. Creature is noted as being on the badge of a Tudor-period courtier.
       
Catoblepas A four-legged bull-like creature with a head that is large for its body, and blood-shot eyes that always look down.
* Centaur
(or here)
  Half-man, half-horse, as in classical mythology. A centaur wielding a bow is called a sagittary.
.
  Cerastes   The cerastes is a serpent with no spine and two ram's horns on it's head.
       
* Chatloup
(also here, here or here)
  A creature with a wolf body, a cat head and goat horns. Also called a Calopus.
.
* Chimera
(or here)
  A fire breathing creature that has the body of a goat, the head of a lion and the tail of a serpent. Sometimes depicted as a lion body with three heads (one lion, one goat, one serpent/dragon-like).
.
* Cockatrice
(also here , here or here)
  Like a wyvern with a cock’s head, comb and wattles, and a barbed tongue
.
* Demobison
(or here)
  Also spelled demo-bison. This is a bat-winged bison. One of these creatures, named Argent, was once considered for use as the Arts symbol in the Kingdom of Calontir (which later chose to go with a golden swan).
       
* Dolphin
(or here)
  Also called Delphine. Their name derives from them joining together to sing. They are noted as being the fastest beasts in the sea and for the fact that they can jump over most ships.
       
* Dragon   The heraldic dragon is a 4-legged beast with a horny head, barbed tongue, scaly back, armoured rolls on the chest and belly, 2 bat-like wings, 4 legs with talons like an eagle’s, and a pointed tail often with an arrow-like end.
It is usually shown rampant, statant or passant, and rarely displayed like an eagle. A sea dragon has no wings
.
  Dragon, Chinese   Oriental Style (lizard-like, without wings) and with 5 toes. For SCA use, a generic-style oriental dragon must have three toes or less.
.
  Dragon, Korean   Oriental Style (lizard-like, without wings) and with 4 toes. For SCA use, a generic-style oriental dragon must have three toes or less.
.
* Dragon, Oriental
(or here or here)
  Oriental Style (lizard-like, without wings) and with three toes or less.
.
* Enfield 
(or here)
  A curious beast with a fox’s head and ears, a wolf’s body, hind legs and tail, and an eagle’s shanks and talons for front legs.
PicDic (1st Ed): The body of a greyhound, the head of a fox, the forelimbs of an eagle, and the hindquarters of a wolf.
.

Gansas

A swan-like creature that has only one leg with (one) webbed foot on which is one talon. Yearly they migrate to the moon.
* Griffin 
(or here or here)
  The head, breast, wings and claws of an eagle, with the hindquarters and tail of a lion. It has swept-back pointed ears. If rampant it is termed segreant. Also called a Gryphon or a Griffon. A male griffin (also called a Keythong) has no wings but often has horns and a spiky tail.
.
Gulon Creature known to be like a dog in shape and size with a cat face, which has very sharp nails, long brown hair, and a tail like a fox.
* Harpy
(or here)
  Vulture-like bird with the head and breasts of a woman
.
* Hedgehog
(or here)
  Also called Herison and Urcheon. Known for its quills used in defense and for spearing fruit to take home to its young.
       
* Hippocampus 
(or here)
  A beast with the top half of a horse and bottom half being a fish's tail. It usually has forelegs with webbed paws. Also called a Heraldic Sea-Horse.
.
* Hippogriff
(or here)
  A cross between a horse and a griffin, with the front of a female griffin and the back of a horse. Also called a hippogryph.
.
* Hydra 
(or here)
  A 7-headed dragon
.
  Hydrus   Also called Enhydros. It is an animal known for killing crocodiles from the inside.
       
* Hyena   A canine-like creature that eats human corpses and has the ability to change its sex.
       
* Ibex   Probably the same as an Antelope, but with straighter horns. The antelope’s horns point backwards, the ibex’s forwards according to some references
.
* Jaculus
(or here)
  A jaculus is a winged, leaping snake. Usually the wings are bat-wings. In the SCA such a creature is referred to as a pithon or (if the wings are bird-type wings) a winged serpent.
.
* Keythong
(or here or here)
  A male griffin. It has no wings but does have rays or spikes (historically of gold) proceeding from several parts of his body and often (but not always) has horns and a spiky tail as well. 
.
* Kraken   PicDic (1st Ed): Depicted as a squid, with tentacles and a pointed head; the number
of tentacles are left to the artist, but is most commonly shown with ten.
.
  Lamia   Creature that is a beautiful woman from the waist up and from the waist down a serpent.
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  Leucrocotta
(or here)
  Creature that has the haunches of a stag, and the head of a badger, the neck, breast and tail of a lion.
.
  Lubolf   A hippopotamus-like creature with fangs.
       
* Mandrake   A plant that grows in human shape
       
* Manticore
(or here)
  Creature with the body of a lion, human face, a fatal sting like a scorpion's in the end of his tail, and poisoned spines along the tail which could be shot, like arrows in any direction.
.
Mantygre The body of a tiger, and the head of an old man with horns.
* Melusine
(or here)
  A two-tailed Mermaid.
       
  Mer-dog   Creature with the upper body of a dog and the lower body of a fish.
Compare the difference to a sea-dog [see below].
.
* Mermaid
(or here)
  Creature with the upper body of a woman and the lower body of a fish. When depicted as holding a comb and mirror, they are blazoned as " a mermaid in her vanity".
.
* Merman   Creature with the upper body of a man and the lower body of a fish.
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Mermecolion
(or here )
Creature with the head of a lion on the body of an ant.
  Minotaur
(or here)
  Creature with the body of a man and the head of a bull.
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* Monkfish   Creature with the upper body of a robed monk and the lower body being a fish-tail. Also called a Bishop-fish.
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  Monoceros
(or here)
  Creature that has the head of a stag, the body of a horse, the feet of an elephant and the tail of a boar.
.
  Morhon
(or here or here)
  A type of heraldic whale (cetacea) that has two blow-holes and many times depicted with a lion-esque mane.
       
  Muscaliet
(or here)
  A creature said to have a body like that of a small rabbit with the legs and tail like those of a squirrel. Its ears are similar to that of a weasel with its muzzle being like that of a mole. It has bristly hair like that seen on a a pig and has the tusks of a boar.
       
Musimon
(or here)
A ram/goat cross with 4 horns. Also called a tityrus or a tytron.
       
  Nebek
(or here)
  A dog-like creature with a long tail and a wrinkled snout.
.
* Opinicus
(or here)
  A griffin’s head, neck and wings, a lion’s body and a bear’s (or camel’s according to some references) tail.
PicDic (1st Ed): Similiar to the griffin, but all four legs are lion's legs, and the tail is that of a bear.
.
* Pantheon
(or here)
  PicDic (1st Ed): The body of a hind, the bushy tail of a fox, cloven hooves and completely strewn with mullets or estoiles. Also called a Pard.
.
* Panther, Heraldic
[English]
(or here)
  Much as a real panther, but usually shown incensed (flames issuing from its mouth and ears) and spotted.
.
* Panther, Heraldic
[Continental]
  PicDic (1st Ed): (Same as the English Heraldic Panther, but with) the head and forelimbs of an eagle; sometimes the head has horns as well.
.
* Panther, Natural
(or here)
   A panther as it appears in nature. In the SCA it is oft referred to an an Ounce.
.
  Parandrus   Also called Tarandrus and Tharandus. This ox-sixed, long-haired creature with stag-like horns has the chameleon-like ability to change its color.  It's normal color is like that of a bear.
       
* Pegasus   A winged horse
.
* Pelican
(or here or here)
  An eagle-beaked bird that pierces it's breast to give of it's life-blood for it's young.
       
  Peredixion Tree   A tree that attracts doves but repels dragons.
       
  Peryton
(or here)
  Some sources say it is a creature that is half-deer and half-bird. It has the head & front quarters of a deer and the wings & hindquarters of a bird; other sources say it is an eagle with the head of a stag.
.
* Phoenix  
(or here or here)
  Also called a Fenix. In heraldry it is a demi-eagle rising from the flames
.
* Pithon
(or here)
  A bat-winged serpent or snake. (If the wings are bird-type wings, it is usually referred to as a winged serpent.) Also called a Jaculus.
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  Questing Beast   Creature that has a serpents head, leopards body, lions hindquarters and a deer's hooves.
(Perhaps an early rendition of a giraffe)
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* Roc   A bird of enormous size, bulky body and wide wings. Also called a Rukh.
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* Salamander
(or here)
  Lizard-like, shown surrounded by flames. Also sometimes depicted as a fire-breathing dog-like animal with a lion’s tail.
PicDic (1st Ed): An elemental fire-spirit shown as a lizard enflamed.
.
* Satyr   The legs, ears and tail of a deer and the face and body of a man. The head has small horns.
PicDic (1st Ed): The torso of a human with the hindquarters of a goat.It is horned, and may be playing a panpipe.
.
  Sawfish   This creature is a winged sea monster named for the saw-toothed crest on its back with which it cuts a ship when swimming under it so that as the water rushes in and drowns the crew.
       
* Sea-Dog 
(or here)
  A talbot-like dog with scales, webbed feet and a dorsal fin down his back.
Compare the difference to a mer-dog [see above].
.
* Sea-Dragon
(or here or here)
  A beast with the top half of a dragon and bottom half being a fish's tail.
.
* Sea-Goat A beast with the top half of a goat and bottom half being a fish's tail.
* Sea-Horse, Heraldic
(or here)
  A beast with the top half of a horse and bottom half being a fish's tail. It usually has forelegs with webbed paws. Also called a Hippocampus.
.
* Sea-Horse, Natural
(or here)
  A sea-horse as it appears in nature.
.
* Sea-Lion
(or here)
  A beast with the top half of a heraldic lion and the bottom half being a fish’s tail.
.
* Sea-Serpent
(or here)
  One of a variety of sea monsters.  Many are snake-like sea creatures, others are monstrous whale-like or squid/octopus-like in appearance.
.
* Sea-Stag A beast with the top half of a stag and bottom half being a fish's tail.
Compare the difference to a stag-fish [see below].
* Sea-Wolf
(or here)
  A beast with the top half of a wolf and the bottom half being a fish's tail.
.
* Senmurv   PicDic (1st Ed): The front half of a dog and the wings and rear body of a bird.
(Usually drawn in Persian style.)
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  Seps   A serpent with pointed ears, whose poison is so strong that what it eats is instantly liquefied.
       
* Simurgh   Also called a Persian Peacock. Like a peacock with separated, long twisting tail feathers. (Many times drawn in a Persian style.)
.
  Sirrush   This creature is serpent-like, with the head a scaly head and skin of a snake, with the forefeet of a cat, and birds claws for hind feet.
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* Sphinx   Creature with the body of a lion, wings and a human face. A version called the Gyno-Sphinx is depicted with a woman's head and breasts. The Egyptian Sphinx (also called an Ando-Sphinx), has a man's head, wearing a pharaonic head-dress and has no wings.
       
  Stag-Fish   Creature with the head (only) of a stag on a fish body.
Compare the difference to a sea-stag [see above].
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* Theow    A wolf with cloven (cow-like) hooves instead of paws.
.
*  Tyger
(or here or here)
  The heraldic tyger is much like a lion, but wih a long downcurving tusk on the end of his nose. A real world tiger is blazoned as a Natural Tiger
PicDic (1st Ed): Body is much like that of a wolf, but it has a crest of tufts on the back of its neck, and a tusk pointing down from its nose.
.
* Unicorn
(or here or here)
  The heraldic unicorn has a horse’s body, a single long horn, a lion’s tail, tufted hocks and cloven hoofs like a goat, and a beard
.
* Vegetable Lamb
(or here)
. A stalk like plant whose blossoms "issue a lamb". According to legend, once the lamb-blossoms have eaten all the vegetation within their reach, they die of starvation. Also according to legend the vegetable lamb is considered a delicacy as its meat tastes like fish, and its blood like honey. Its bones can be used in rituals to give human beings the power of prophecy. Also called, Barbary Lamb, Barmotez or Tartary.
PicDic (1st Ed): Plant bearing young sheep as its fruit.
  Viper   A creature similar in appearance to the wivern/wyvern.
       
* Wyvern   A 2-legged dragon. The default coloration of a wyvern is green with a red chest, belly and under-wings.
.
* Yale   Bull-like creature with a lion’s face, 2 long horns (usually depicted as going in opposite directions) and a short, tufted tail.
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* Ypotrill   PicDic (1st Ed): Camel's humps, a boar's face, cloven hooves.
(Some depictions show it with a snaky tail.)

 


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Modar's Heraldry Page (and sub-pages) are published by Ron Knight (known in the SCA as Modar Neznanich) for the edification of the members of the Barony of Forgotten Sea, its cantons, the Shire of Cúm an Iolair and the members of the SCA. It is not a corporate publication of the Society for Creative Anachronism, Inc. and does not delineate S.C.A. policies. In cases of conflict with printed versions of material presented on these pages or it's links, the dispute will be decided in favor of the printed version unless otherwise indicated. Opinions expressed are those of the authors.