This was an article written by a friend of mine from the OtherkinAlliance.org forum. The forum/website no longer exists, but before it disappeared, I did get permission from this friend to share an article they put together on another forum of mine.
Gryph Types
By Tytogriph
Gryphon/Griffin
True gryphons are the easiest to identify, having the head, wings, and forelimbs of a bird of prey; the body, tail, and hind limbs of a feline; and often ears that can be feline, equine, or eagle-owlish in nature, though can be seen without visible ears as well. The most common variety is eagle/lion, though any bird of prey and cat qualifies.
However, if it has the front legs of its feline half as well, it’s not a gryphon, but an Opinicus. Likewise, a gryph with all four legs resembling a birds is an Avian Gryphon, rather than a true gryphon.
Opinicus
On the whole, Opinicus has a similar description to gryphons, but are not the same creature. Besides having four feline paws instead of bird talons, they can also have a more camel-like tail or even one like a snake. It also has a subtype called the Draco Opinicus.
Canid Gryphons and Canid Opinici
The Canid gryphon is the same as its feline true gryphon, however it has a canine back half. If it has the front feet of a canid animal, it would be a Canid Opinici.
Avian Gryphon
Far more obscure than either its true gryphon or Opinicus counterparts, the Avian Gryphon is the most bird-like, true to its name, with four avian legs, wings, head, and a feline’s body and tail.
Draco Gryphon, Dracogryph, and Draco Opinici
The Draco Gryphon is the same as either the true gryphon or the Avian except that it has leathery dragon’s wings instead of feathered ones. However, if it contains more draconic features, it is a Dracogryph.
The dracogryph is the same as either the true gryphon or the hippogryph in that it has the head, and forelegs of it’s avian, as well as the body, hind legs, and tail of its dragon, the wings being the real kicker. These can be feathered like its bird half or leathery. However it is possible for it to be a mixture of both types as well.
The Draco Opinicus is the same as it’s true Opinicus counterpart except that it has dragon wings and scales on its neck.
Hippogriph
This variety is often portrayed as specifically eagle and horse, but can be any bird of prey and ungulate (hoofed animals ranging from horses, to llamas, to aardvarks, to elephants) Like gryphons, they have the head, forelegs, and wings of their bird type and the back half of, well, their other half.
Alce
Alce is identical to the true gryphon with one exception: it has horns. These are usually straight, but may be branched and/or curved.
Keythong
The keythong, unlike all of the previous types, is wingless–and thus flightless–instead having spikes on its shoulders or covering its entire body.
All of the above varieties varieties can have a feather tuft on its tail, unless the hippogriph has a full horse-tail. However, an avian-equine hybrid tail may be possible with thin, hairlike feathers. All of these varieties, with exception of the hippogriph and the draco gryphon may also be wingless.
Marigryph/Mergryph
The Marigryph is a type of gryph that is often found underwater and has a mermaid’s tail and fins in place of wings. It may have other definite water features such as gills and webbing between its toes on its front legs. Otherwise, it resembles the true gryphon.
Hieracosphinx
The heiracosphinx is an Egyptian chimera with gryphon-like features, having a lion’s body and a falcon’s head and no wings.
Hagryphus
Someone that identifies as this type would definitely be a therian, as the Hagryphus is actually a dinosaur discovered in Utah. It was believed to have lived during the Upper Cretatious period and was roughly three meters long–large for an oviraptorosaur.
If sources are requested, I’ll post a couple, but likewise I hope if anyone knows of other types or can correct me of any mistakes they’ll post those as well.
Well, I didn’t exactly intend for it to become an actual article, more as a general guide, and as such, some of my sources are a bit iffy, but sources incoming:
http://www.scribd.com/doc/38096641/GryphonTypes
tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/OurGryphonsAreDifferent
http://www.unews.utah.edu/old/p/040306-2.htmlwww.polenth.com/gryphon/myth.html
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