Aparture Griffins

About
Native to all three planets, and quite common, these griffins appear to be a mixed species of bearded vultures and alpacas, and vary based on climate that they live in in both color and fur thickness.

Habitat/Homeland
As stated above, they do exist in ALL biomes (except for underwater biomes), and tend to make caves or treetops their homes.

Domestication Status
These creatures are wild, domesticated as both house pets and live on ranches/farms.

Animal Group
Griffins fall in both avian and mammal animal groups.

Fur/Feathers/Scales/Hide/Etc.
The Aparture have thick fur, similar to wool, that comes in various colors based on location (i.e. desert Aparture have red/orange/yellow whereas forest Aparture would have green or yellow fur and feathers).

Their wings are fully feathered and function the same way that bird wings do, wingspan is 6-10 times the size of the animal itself.

Limbs
They have four feet, the front feet are scaly and possess talons like one would expect birds to have, the rear feet are 3-clawed, but shaving would show that they do not have the scaled type of front leg to match their back legs.

Wings are often large and markings vary from griffin to griffin.

Protective Features
They possess and regularly use their talons in self defense, and have powerful jaws to crush bone in their enemies.

Food Chain Status
They are apex predators.

Notable Features
Long, individual feathers that taper from the top of the skull. Though they are often joked about as being "reins" to control them, they are not for that, they're decorative!

Ecology
Ecologically, they are predators that keep the local grass-fed population from overgrowing.

Society
In Uragi society, they are used for their milk, meat, eggs, fur/wool, feathers, and bone, as well as for labor (pulling chariots, tools, etc.), and are often used as house pets.

Resources Provided
They are a resource of food, clothing, jewelry accents (feathers, bone), and labor. However, their feathers are often used for their magical properties as well. Although it is considered cruel (and usually only harvested upon death), the breath weapon gland is emptied for use in alchemical potions and attack oils.

Strengths/Skills
They are amazing fliers, often called "stormchasers" because of their ability to navigate through harsh storms with little issue. They can crush bone with their jaw strength, and have the tactical capacity to hunt in packs (similar to velociraptors). They are considered intelligent for feral animals.

Magical Gifts

 * Breath Weapon - Akin to whatever biome they are in (fire for desert, ice for tundra, etc.), the breath weapon (yes, like dragons) can be a dangerous tool to face in battle.

Temperament
The Aparture, like anything, can be even tempered or ill-tempered, they vary as much as people do. They are relatively easy to tame, IF they choose their handler. They will fight if they do not like the person attempting to tame them.

Weaknesses
They are weak against lightning, even though they do fly in storms, they do not like being struck by lightning (I can't imagine who would?). If their wings are clipped or damaged, and they cannot fly, they become prey for other large animals.

Diet
They are osteovores (bone), and carnivores (meat).