Pegasus Anatomy

And ECM Pegasus
ECM Pegasus Text



A pegasus, the mythical creature with both equine and avian features, are depicted often in many various media and publications, including the popular Disney production, Fantasia, where they are portrayed in certain Greek-influenced animation sequences in sync with classical music.

According to most depiction and description among mythical texts, the pegasus (pl. pegasi) is a large magical beast that is most like a horse in anatomy, but with the addition of a semi-feathered coat and large, muscular wings.

A typical adult pegasus is around 6 feet (1.8 meters) tall at the shoulder, with a 15-25 feet (4.6-7.6 meters) wingspan. They weigh between 1,300 and 1,800 pounds (590-815 kilograms).

The Pegasian skeletal system is very light and bones are full of hollow pathways of a somewhat spiriling nature, but despite its light weight, it is composed of a strong and durable external and internal structure that provides a sturdy support and surprising flexibility. Many common bone structures found in mammals are fused together into a single bone, ossifications, and bones whose hollow criss-crossing structures, cross walls make for much lighter weight without losing durability. Many bones are surprisingly flexible, much like a denser form of cartilage, and filled with light airs such as oxygen and helium. Pegasi also have a fused collar bone, furcula, and a keeled breastbone, and only slightly more bones in its body than a typical horse. A pegasian skeleton is made of a potassium-calcium carbonate, and its hollow pathways are filled with either oxygen, nitrogen, or helium blends.

Both fur and feathers cover a pegasus hide, most often a vivid white, but more rarely with brown, red, maize or black mottle or covering. Large, knowing eyes are both compassionate and emotive, and provide the creature with ability to see twice as far as a human in normal conditions, with the ability to distinguish color and detail normally, as well as the ability to see in the dark, which only distinguishes forms, without color or textural detail. Its silvery binocular iris is quite apparent, especially in full sunlight. From afar, the glinting light makes the creature have an almost heavenly visage with its shining eyes. In some varieties, and only in very rare occasions even among differently colored pegasi, amber or red irises are also possible.

Pegasian noses are very adapted, giving the creature the ability to recognize familiar odors and track be scent alone. The creature is both aware and quickly reactive.

A pegasus has a very unique metabolism, which is most like a bird's, but with the addition of an organ referred to as the pegasi fundementum, which is a common addition in magical and mythical beasts, including the dragon, fae/fairies/sylvans, and the Titans. The excess radicals produced in the high metabolic rate of pegasi are filtered through the pegasi fundamentum, which stores them as molecular mana, and which is used to produce the magical effects they are capable of performing (detection of good/evil intentions, an ability once though to be an innate sense of intuition). A unidirectional pulmonary system, the ability to take in oxygen in both inhalation and exhalation, and a more evolved cellular antioxidant system all help provide the energy for such dynamic activity and flight for the pegasus species.

Sharp, ultra dense teeth make any organic substance adequate as a meal, though vegetation and unclean or overpopulated vermin of many forms are its standard diet. Pegasi have been known to feed on unique plants, animals and substances often though inedible.

Sharp hooves are often preened in a manner that is somewhat purposeful in motivation, as if the creature is always ready for combat, using its feet as sufficient weapons. It does this by raking them on hard surfaces, such as stone cliffsides or slate flats.

Pegasi are strong, durable and dextrous magical beasts with an avid sense of wisdom and a personal aura of charisma that is telling of its diplomatic or defensive personality. Its face, eyes, actions and mannerisms are all emotive and often sympathetic to innocence and good intentions. A lively awareness, excellent eyesight, hearing anda knowing glance all make this creature a fine steed, though an exotic saddle is required to ride such a creature, and only with a lot of personal work from an individual rider with a good sense of handling animals and magical creatures.

A slight smell of ozone sometimes accompanies the pegasian body and it can permeate its surroundings with the scent in a typical nest, lair or personal space that it spends adequate time. This is both useful for mating, calming infant pegasi and respiratory aeration.

The life cycle of pegasi is similar to that of a typical horse, though they sometimes live to older age, especially in the nearby environments of fairies, unicorns or druids. Pegasi lay eggs in clutches of one to two, mate for life, and protect nests actively, combating any creature they perceive as threatening to its eggs or young.

Pegasi also hold places of death as hallowed ground, sometimes protecting or avoiding the location of the death of a good-natured or powerful sylvan creature, and it is thought that they look upon death with some resentment, as if reluctant to leave their lives behind or in disagreement with their mortality. Death by pegasi has been documented, but some have claimed that a demi-afterlife, or a pegasian ascension of some form is also possible at death.

Pegasi have been known to mate with both unicorns, a hybrid known as a Pellicorn, Sigma or Unysses.

Aquatic pegasus, known commonly as Great Barrier Faequine, are a close cousin. In this creature, scales replace fur in hues of vibrant color (most often blue or green, but also in dynamic combinations with other colors), elegant fins and webbed feet provide underwater locomotion. Aquatic Faequine have never been sighted above water, and the evolutionary link between the pegasi and the Faequine is yet unknown.

In any race of pegasus, a strong, thick coat and tough flesh give it a somewhat firmer layer of hide, and it can resist most blunt damage done to it, bleeding only under slashing or severe abrasion. Blood a color of a violet-blue turns silvery and lavender when dry. Maimed and dead pegasi are a grievous sight to behold, for it is both majestic and tragic at once.
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Wizards of the Coast, & Dungeons & Dragons, (2002, 2003). Dungeons & Dragons - V.3.5 Core Rulebooks : 'Monster Manual'(2003). From Wizards of the Coast, Inc., Dungeons & Dragons, and Redman, R., Williams, S., & Wyatt, J. Multinational Corporation, American Headquarters, Renton, WA, 98057. Online Web Media - Art Galleries:
http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/ag/20030712a