The first tag of the Revised Dragon Code is the one for species. By its very nature, this is probably the only tag that cannot, and indeed should not, be omitted: the former because leaving it out makes it difficult to identify the results as a Dragon Code at all, and the latter because, if the point is to describe yourself, having something listed for your species is more or less a bare minimum, even if it's extremely vague; ex. DC2.?, “I don't know what species I am”.

For the identifiable species, the first letter to be used is capitalized and generally refers to a broad grouping. Being more specific involves adding additional lower-case letters for subtypes and sub-subtypes.

I have attempted to include an explanation of each listed species, though in some cases this involves a certain amount of conjecture; this is particularly the case with dragon species that were taken from modern fiction or roleplaying, as the terminology may have changed or proven to be ambiguous.

Dragons are the famous reptilian and reptilian-adjacent creatures of legend and song. This covers a lot of ground, but includes a number of beings from many cultures and stories, ancient and modern. Wyrm's site noted that “It's difficult to define what is and what isn't considered a Dragon. After much talk on the newsgroup, it was decided that if you feel like a Dragon, then you are a Dragon!”

DC2.D by itself indicates “I am a Dragon! I will not be bothered by humanity's petty attempts to subdivide our race.”

Amphiteres, amphipteres, or amphitheres are winged serpents. Generally they have no arms or legs, though sometimes they can be covered in feathers.

This appears to refer to dragons of a roughly humanoid shape, size, and posture, along the lines of DnD's dragonborn.

This is one of the more ambiguous terms; presumably it is a (relatively) small species of dragon. Given the time period and target audience, it seems likely that the concept is that of the creature of the same name detailed in the 1989 Creatures and Treasures II sourcebook for the Rolemaster Second Edition TTRPG:

These tiny drakes are very small to almost medium-sized - but can be dangerous no matter what, for they still wield their larger bretheren's breath weapon (although it is not as potent). Dragonettes are exact miniatures of larger dragons, varying in color as the great drakes. Though most (80%) breath fire and resemble fire drakes, it is thought that each dragon variety is represented in the ranks of the dragonettes. Many spellcasters will try to obtain one of these magical creatures as a special familiar. Dragonettes that use spells know all the lists common to dragons, although most lust after the magic that will make them the size of larger drakes (e.g. the “Living Change” essence list), for their comparative size burns jealous hatred deep in their reptilian hearts.

Creatures and Treasures II, p. 14

Though the Dracopedia books appear to have been published well after the end of development on DC2, they (and some other artists since) depict dragonettes as a Western dragon variant with two relatively powerful legs, on which it stands, two wings, and two small arms. In the Dracopedia universe, the larger, domesticated breeds are used as steeds by humans.

A form of dragon found in east and southeast Asia, usually epitomized by the Chinese dragon but with many variants. Generally depicted with a somewhat snakelike long, skinny body, four legs, often antlerlike horns on its head, and long catfish-like barbels or whiskers sprouting from above its mouth.

Faerie dragons are small, iridescent dragons with butterfly wings. They have mischievous personalities and a predilection for magic.

The hydra is a dragonlike creature with multiple heads and usually four legs and no wings. Traditionally, killing it involves severing all its heads, but cutting off a head will cause two to grow in its place unless the neck-stump is cauterized by fire. Very much based on the Lernaean Hydra of Greek myth.

Dimars are draconic beings featured in the Dimar shared worldbuilding project and associated work. They resemble Western dragons in having four conventional limbs and two wings; they appear to walk on all fours (using the knuckles, on the front paws), have an unusual arrangement of digits and claws on the hind paws, and often have fur along their spines while being scaled elsewhere.

Dracoliches are, quite simply, draconic liches; that is to say, an undead whose soul and existence are preserved in a phylactery.

Genetically-engineered alien beings from the Dragonriders of Pern series by Anne McCaffrey. They bear a strong resemblance to western dragons, with four legs and two wings. However, they have a smooth hide rather than scales; their eyes are multifaceted and can change color with mood; they have two knobs atop their heads, similar to giraffes; they have powers of a psionic nature such as telepathy, which they use to communicate, and telekinesis; they can teleport themselves and things attached to them; and they can breathe fire if provided with the right kind of mineral intake.

Dragon turtles appear both in Chinese mythology and, somewhat differently, in roleplaying games. In the latter case, they are aquatic creatures, with the body and shell of a turtle and a draconic head and long tail.

Historically, the mythological distinction between serpents and wyrms was essentially nil. This may be one of those cases where self-identification trumps consistency in terminology, but it may be conjectured that serpents, at least, like the snakes they were named for, have a long, narrow build and no arms, legs, or wings; the AD&D2e description suggests snakelike beings.

Sea serpents have a time-honored place in folklore. Though their appearance may vary, they are generally large marine creatures with fins or flippers.

Presumably serpents that live in a fiery or volcanic environment, with a natural resistance to heat.

Both in mythology and in RPGs, the tarrasque is a large and fearsome four-legged creature with a spiky, armored carapace, and sharp teeth. Traditionally depicted as at least fearsomely hungry, if not insanely destructive.

Pseudodragons are four-footed, winged creatures, similar to Western dragons but only about a foot long and with a scorpion-like sting on the end of the tail.

Wyverns appear in both Western mythology and roleplaying games; in both cases the term refers to a dragon with two wings and two legs.

The stereotypical dragons found in Western fantasy - generally scaly, with four legs and batlike wings, and often the ability to breathe fire or some other substance. Traditionally, they are depicted as rapacious, greedy for treasure, and apt to devour princesses and virgins. (Which of course is pure slander; many dragons are perfectly satisfied with eating anyone who tastes good.)

See serpents for the uncertainty of terminology here. Given what is otherwise an absence of drakes from this section, we might conjecture that “wyrms” refers to dragons that are four-legged but wingless.

This category more or less covers beings that are of a general shape and configuration similar to, or only mildly differing from, humans. Wyrm's site states that “Humanoid creatures have only one head, two arms, and two legs. A tail and wings are optional!”

For your bog-standard human, there is no separate subtype and only H is used (i.e., DC2.H: “I am a Human! Need I say any more?”).

To indicate a humanoid that resembles another species, one may use DC2.H^X, where X is the code for the species in question. For instance: DC2.H^Dw, a humanoid resembling a western dragon. Presumably many furries and scalies would be described in this fashion. That said, this same modifier can be applied more generally; see the relevant section.

This appears to refer to the great apes, humanity's closest relatives in the evolutionary tree: chimpanzees, gorillas, orangutans, and so on, but not including other monkeys (which generally have tails). This apparently also does not include the gibbons, the lesser apes, which are categorized here with the monkeys. In the technical sense humans are apes as well, but in the Dragon Code, as in colloquial speech, they're not treated as such.

Though they have a long history in Germanic mythology, today we usually think of dwarves through the lens of Tolkien's and D&D's depictions: very much like humans, but short-statured, often bearded, usually living underground or at least in hilly or mountainous terrain, with an aptitude for mining and fine craftsmanship.

Like dwarves, elves are a traditional mainstay of Germanic folklore that have been reinterpreted through the lens of Tolkien. Generally depicted as humanlike but with pointy ears, usually beautiful, graceful, and long-lived, often with strong connections to magic and nature.

Wood elves are usually depicted as eschewing the trappings of civilization, preferring to live in low-maintenance societies that seek to live with their forest surroundings rather than impose their will upon them. They have affinities with materials like stone, wood, bone, and leather rather than metal, and prefer forms of magic with strong natural connections (ex. druids).

The term fairy has had a long and complicated history, often intertwined with those of elves and other enchanted creatures, but since at least the Victorian era fairies have been depicted as magical beings of a generally humanlike appearance and inclined to magic and mischief, often diminutive and having wings like those of butterflies or dragonflies.

Humanoids of abnormally, even monstrously, large size have appeared in the mythologies of many cultures. In TTRPGs they are generally depicted as a class of being with many subtypes, whose appearance and behavior vary from each other, but their large size, near-human appearance, and (frequently) indifference to human concerns are emphasized.

A product of the Renaissance, gnomes were originally described as earth elementals. In a TTRPG context, they tend to be short, slight, underground-dwelling, creative types, with some behavioral similarities to dwarves but with a more experimental, technological bent. There is also a species that lives in gardens.

In a hole in the ground there lived a hobbit. Lifted straight out of Tolkien. For legal reasons, most TTRPGs use “halfling” instead, but the result is similar: a short humanoid with hairy feet, quick reflexes, and an aptitude for stealth.

A race created for the Dragonlance setting when it was felt that halflings wouldn't work there. Small, wiry humanoids with a combination of preternatural fearlessness and insatiable curiosity, often combining into a tendency to “borrow” or “find” other peoples' property.

Nymphs date back to ancient Greece, where they were female nature deities, personifications of places or natural features. In an RPG context they are not very dissimilar, being a type of fey that serve as personifications of natural beauty.

Beings originating in Norse myth. The term was originally somewhat vaguely defined, but in later Scandinavian folklore took on a reputation of being large, often monstrous, dim-witted man-eaters who would turn to stone when exposed to sunlight, a conception that found its way into Tolkien's works. In TTRPGs they are roughly similar but, like giants, often come in a variety of subtypes with different abilities and appearances.

I assume that this is broadly the same concept as one of the more modern depictions of the werewolf as an anthropomorphic wolf, as in the famous Wolf Man movies.

In most of the other species categories, the use of an unaugmented category tag indicates ambiguity about what specific species one is (DC2.Bh for a hawk, vs. DC2.B for an unspecified bird). But since, solely in the case of humanoids, BC2.H just means a human, some other way of indicating the same relationship is needed; for this, DC2.H? is used.

Members of the class Amphibia; generally speaking, four-legged vertebrates that begin life as aquatic larvae and develop into more terrestrial adults through metamorphosis, though some of the odder members have adapted to a burrowing lifestyle by losing their limbs. Wyrm's site defines these as “Creatures which spend their early years in water (with gills), and their later years on land (with lungs).”

DC2.A by itself indicates “I am an Amphibian, and that's all you need to know!”

You probably know what these are. Short bodies, no tails, usually a hopping gait, usually carnivorous. When contrasted with toads, this term usually refers to species with smoother, moister skins and more aquatic habitats.

Newts are taxonomically a type of salamander, but are more adapted to an aquatic lifestyle, with webbed feet and paddlelike tails. They also tend to have rougher skin.

Salamanders are somewhat lizardlike amphibians with four legs, long tails and blunt snouts. Contrasted with newts, the term is usually reserved for members of the group with smooth, moist skin and a more terrestrial adulthood.

Not to be confused with the other kind of salamanders.

While “toad” is not a scientific term and species referred to as such are taxonomically frogs, this is generally used to refer to species with rougher, drier skin and more terrestrial habitats.

Traditionally, organisms of the class *Aves*, though there are cladistic problems with that definition. Still, we know most birds when we see them: Wyrm's site describes these as “Feathered, a beak, two wings, two feet, and egg laying.”

DC2.B by itself indicates “You can try to categorise me, but I'm just a bird!”

Any of a number of dark-colored birds in the genus Corvus, known for their high intelligence and, along with the larger ravens, their important place in human folklore.

Any of a number of birds of prey of the family Accipitridae, not necessarily closely related to each other but distinguished by their size and ability to take large prey. They are relatives of hawks, which are in the same family.

Like eagles, birds of prey of the family Accipitridae. This term covers both the true hawks of the subfamily Accipitrinae and New World members of the genus Buteo, whose Old World members are called buzzards.

A supernatural bird originating under that term in Greek myth (but quite possibly connected with the Egyptian Bennu). It is associated with fire and rebirth, often depicted as burning away at the end of its long life only to be reborn from the ashes.

A large bird of the genus Corvus, closely related to crows but considerably larger; there are a number of species, but the most famous is the exceptionally widespread common raven.

Wyrm's site defines these as “Hard shells and usually aquatic, with jointed legs.” Cladistically, the subphylum Crustacea, but given how few subtypes of this there ended up being - all three of which are decapods - they probably could have been combined with other arthropods like insects… or arachnids, for which there are no entries at all (I'm honestly surprised that there weren't at least a few spider-beings around that needed classification.)

DC2.C by itself indicates “I have a shell, but you'll need x-ray vision to see past it!”

Mostly members of the infraorder Brachyura; characterized by wide, short bodies, with an abdomen tucked underneath the main body and (usually) a pair of swimming legs behind the six walking legs and the two claws. Most live in the water, but there are some that dwell mostly on land. A number of animals in the related infraorder Anomura are also called crabs (hermit crabs, king crabs, porcelain crabs) due to a similar shape.

Largish animals, generally of the family Nephropidae, though there are other decapods referred to as lobsters. They have long bodies with muscular tails, and are adapted for life on the seafloor. There are other animals of similar shape that are called lobsters, such as the related reef lobsters and achelates such as the spiny and slipper lobsters.

Long, slender crustaceans, superficially similar to lobsters in shape but usually smaller and more adapted to swimming than to walking. They are spread out over a number of infraorders, and some crustaceans called shrimp are not decapods at all (ex. brine shrimp, mantis shrimp).

A wide-ranging group of archosaurs whose most famous members existed before the Tr-J extinction event; taxonomically speaking, birds are also surviving dinosaurs, but few think of them that way, which is reflected in this code. Wyrm's site says “If you existed 65 million years ago, or earlier, you could be a Dinosaur!”

DC2.S by itself indicates “Look at my teeth … does it matter what I am?!”

Strictly speaking, refers to members of the genus Allosaurus. They were large predatory dinosaurs with long, narrow skulls and horns or crests on their heads.

A genus of four-legged, large, heavily-built herbivores with a beaked muzzle, a wide frill at the back of the head protecting the neck, and three horns on the head; two forward-curving ones above the eyes, and a third one on the snout. This may also refer to other triceratopsines with a fairly similar appearance.

A genus of enormous herbivores with very long tails and necks. Historically there has been some confusion over whether Brontosaurus was a separate genus or should be considered a synonym of Apatosaurus, and the matter is still not settled, though the majority opinion seems to be that they are the same. Not to be confused with the related Diplodocus, or the (much) more distantly related Brachiosaurus, which have a generally similar shape.

Large, heavily built herbivores, with long hind legs and a somewhat tilted-forward posture, but most famous for the rows of upright plates running along their backs. And, of course, their thagomizers (rest in peace, Thag Simmons).

Large, carnivorous dinosaurs with lots of sharp teeth and teeny little arms. If, somehow, you are familiar with no other type of dinosaur, you have at least surely heard of these. They may have been at least partially feathered, which means that we can't prove they weren't huge fatbirds.

Made famous due to the Jurassic Park films, the actual genus Velociraptor was not much like the film presentation except in general shape; they were small predatory dinosaurs, only knee-to-thigh high, and feathered, with sickle-shaped claws on their feet. The Jurassic Park versions were based on Deinonychus antirrhopus, which was larger, though still not that large, and which also had feathers.

Beings that originate from somewhere beyond Earth, though they may have little in common besides that. Wyrm's site puts it differently as “If you exist on another planet, or in a Science Fiction series, then you are an Extraterrestial!” and lists DC2.E by itself as indicating “I don't exist on this planet.”

To which I must rebut: they don't exist on this planet that you know of. They may have started somewhere else, but that doesn't mean they aren't dropping by to visit… unlikely as it seems. I wouldn't, if I were them. :P

EXTERMINATE!

Of Doctor Who fame. Originally from the planet Skaro, they are mutated biological cores housed in armored travel machines shaped like a tapering cylinder topped by a domelike turret. Famously xenophobic and trigger-happy.

Famous animals from Star Trek, native to Iota Geminorum IV. Round, furry creatures with no obvious external features; they are slow, lack teeth, and despite some ability to climb would be considered utterly harmless were it not for their extremely rapid breeding rate when fed, rendering them capable over overrunning an environment within a very short amount of time.

Feeeeeesh.

Taxonomically, fish consist of a collection of similarly-adapted groups of gilled, aquatic vertebrates; they are not a single group, since any higher-level group based on a common ancestor would also include creatures not usually thought of as fish, such as tetrapods (i.e., basically every other vertebrate in existence). Wyrm's site says, “If you're cold blooded, have gills and fins, and live in water, then you're a fish!”

DC2.F by itself indicates “I breathe water, that should tell you all.”

Unusually shaped fish of the genus Hippocampus, with segmented armor, a prehensile tail, and a head and neck whose shapes resemble those of a horse.

One of the most wide-ranging terms to be found in this list at this level of the hierarchy, as it can refer to any species that, well, lives in fresh water… which is over 40% of all fish species.

Carassius auratus, a species of carp, is one of the most common aquarium fish. Most typically an orange to golden color, but there are many breeds with differing colors, shapes, and sizes.

Carnivorous fish, usually (but not always) inhabiting freshwater environments and darkly spotted or speckled on their backs. Most species referred to as trout are members of the subfamily Salmonidae, and are relatives of the salmon.

Fish of the division Selachimorpha. Most are predators - often apex predators - with a keen sense of smell, though they vary widely depending on ecological niche.

Insects are the largest class of arthropod, and extremely diverse. Wyrm's site defines them thus: “All insects have a head, thorax, abdomen, two antenna, and three pairs of legs.”

DC2.I by itself indicates “Six legs, a thorax, head, and abdomen. I also buzz a lot!”

Insects of the family Formicidae, famous for forming well-organized colonies divided into physically distinct castes, altogether capable of a surprising amount of coordination. Related to wasps and bees, though honestly I'm surprised that there's no entry for either in this list.

Beetles are members of the order Coeloptera; their front wings have been adapted into hardened casings for the rear wings, giving many beetles a shiny, rounded appearance. There are many, many species of beetle; they comprise 25% of all animal species.

Insects of the order Diptera, who have only one pair of wings; the rear pair have developed into small sensory organs called halteres. Most known for buzzing around other beings being annoying, though really it's not their fault. Though mosquitoes are not usually thought of as flies, they fall into this order as well.

Generally, any species of grasshopper that has a swarming phase; under certain environmental conditions, they experience a drastic change in behavior that causes them to form huge swarms that move around feeding together, capable of devastating crops, often - especially in pre-modern times - to the point of causing famine.

Most insects of the order Lepidoptera are moths - the term covers any lepidopteran not considered a butterfly. They have wide, flat wings, usually opaque and dull-colored, and many of them have feathery antennae and are nocturnal. Early in their lives they live as caterpillars.

Butterflies are lepidopterans of the suborder Rhopalocera. While similar in shape and lifecycle to the related moths, they generally have large, colorful wings.

Wyrm's site describes these as “Anything unnatural that first cropped up in recent legend (e.g. after the Dark Ages).” This distinguishes them from the mythical beings, which have older origins. That said, some of these are debatable, being best known from after the Dark Ages but with much earlier origins (ex. people like Herodotus and Pliny the Elder mentioning the griffin).

DC2.L by itself indicates “My name has mythical significance… what do you mean you've never heard of me!”

Originally, a sort of decorated waterspout, carved or formed into the shape of a fantastic or mythical creature, often found on buildings such as cathedrals. These came in many shapes, but as a living creature tend to be depicted as somewhat humanoid with horns on their heads, batlike wings, and an affinity for stone and statuary.

Gremlins appeared in the 20th century as mischievous beings responsible for malfunctions in aircraft and other machinery. Aside from their short stature, depictions vary widely, though many today will think of the small, furry mogwai from the Gremlins films.

Or, possibly, griffons.

A creature with the head, neck, wings, and front legs and talons of an eagle, and the body, back legs, and tail of a lion. They are often depicted with upright ears, or at least feathery earlike structures. Gryphons were popular symbols in medieval art and heraldry. Unsurprisingly, they also make appearances in RPGs. In some settings beings of other bird/mammal combinations may appear.

Traditionally, a Persian creature with the head of a human, the body of a lion, and the tail of a scorpion (or having poisonous quills). Modern depictions tend to be similar, though sometimes wings are added.

Classically, mermaids are aquatic beings whose upper half is that of a human and whose lower half is that of a fish, though various aquatic humanoids and fish/human hybrids of various mythologies may also be called by that name. The term merfolk may have a similar but more gender-neutral scope.

As depicted in modern RPGs, merfolk tend to be broadly similar to the classical mermaid concept but with their halves having a more unified appearance.

Salamanders took on a mythical shape from antiquity through the Renaissance, often with some variance but generally centering around a lizard-like being with an affinity for fire. RPG versions are often depicted as intelligent newt-like or serpent-like humanoids, keeping the connection with fire and heat.

Not to be confused with the other kind of salamanders.

In traditional folklore, sprites are tiny fairy-like or else ethereal beings similar to nature spirits. TTRPG depictions tend toward the former.

The DnD version of Tolkien's Ents; awakened trees with a vaguely humanoid appearance. They are physically tough, though vulnerable to fire, and have some magical power over other plants.

The earliest unicorns varied between a number of supernatural hoofed animals, but by the Middle Ages the conception of them had largely solidified into that of a horse - generally a white one - with a long, spiraling horn sprouting from its forehead. Traditionally said to be wild and untameable except by virgin women.

“Warm blooded four limbed creatures, usually with hair or fur, and which secrete milk for their infants.” according to Wyrm's site, which is pretty close. The limbs are a bit of a flexible point, considering cetaceans, but still.

DC2.M by itself indicates “I give birth to live young … and what a strain it is too!” The monotremes have it easier, but then they aren't represented here.

Bats are members of the order Chiroptera, characterized by a somewhat rodent-like appearance and forelimbs modified into leathery wings; they are the only mammals capable of true and sustained flight. I'm not clear on what other “avian like mammals” would fall under this category, unless they meant unrelated gliding species such as flying squirrels.

Big furry animals of the family Ursidae with adorable widdle round ears, rubbable tummies, and sharp teeth. Friend-shaped, but not likely to be friendly. Most are omnivores, though there are some carnivores and herbivores. It's not clear whether this would include the giant panda, though they are cladistically bears.

Members of the subfamily Caninae, including dogs, wolves, jackals, foxes, raccoon dogs, dholes, and similar.

Canis familiaris. Man's Best Friend. Doggos and puppers. Four-legged friends. Heckin good bois. What happens to wolves when you let them crash at your place for a few thousand years.

There are a ludicrous number of breeds, landraces and types adapted to various purposes. There is some debate over whether dingos and New Guinea singing dogs are members of this species or a separate one(s).

Canines particularly of the genus Vulpes (the true foxes), but the term is also used of Otocyon (the bat-eared fox) and Urocyon (the gray foxes). Generally smaller, bushier-tailed, and with flatter skulls than wolves. One of the most iconic is the red fox, which has a longstanding place in human mythologies as a trickster.

A term that, by itself, is most used of Canis lupus, the gray wolf, the wild relatives of dogs; usually bigger and floofier than dogs are. There are a number of other members of the genus Canis that are also referred to as wolves - some of whose seperate specieshoods are disputed - and they are both relatively closely related with each other and bear strong resemblances to each other.

Members of the family Felidae. All are obligate carnivores (i.e., they must eat meat to survive) and have retractable claws, rounded skulls with short muzzles, and flexible bodies; most are solitary predators.

Can refer to either a leopard or a jaguar with melanism. This is therefore more a visual type than an actual species.

Acinonyx jubatus, the fastest land animal on Earth. It has a light build, with long legs and tail, and a spotted coat. Although they are not domesticated, they are surprisingly chill toward humans and are relatively easy to tame, which has caused them to be kept as exotic pets throughout history (but please don't try this at home).

Like domestic cats, but unlike lions and tigers, they can meow, and it is great.

Felis catus, the perfect blend of adorable derp and magnificent asshole. They graciously allowed the Egyptians to domesticate them from African wildcats and then worship them, and are slightly annoyed that in modern times our devotions and sacrifices have not been quite so up to snuff as they were then.

Panthera pardus is a slender, muscular big cat with dark rosettes on a cream or golden coat. Known for stalking and ambushing their prey and dragging it up into a tree to keep it from competitors.

• s (Snow Leopard): Panthera uncia, whitish to gray with black spots and rosettes, and also a Fluffy Boi. Despite the common name and its place in this list, it is a separate species from the leopard, and in fact is probably more closely related to tigers. Once got skadooshed by a panda. (Fun fact, I think this is the only subsubsubcategory: DC2.Mfps. And therefore the only part of this that I can't give a header, because they don't go down that far.)

The “king of the jungle” - though in fact it prefers to stick to savannahs and open woodlands - most people know of Panthera leo. Lions have large, broad-chested bodies, tufts on the ends of their tails, and live in large social groupings; the males, famously, have thick manes on the heads and necks.

Felines of the genus Lynx, including the bobcat. Famous for their short tails and and black tufts on the tips of their ears, as well as their epic sideburns.

The term “panther” by itself is rather ambiguous, and in this context rather confusing. It can be used to refer to either the leopard or the puma or cougar, both of which already have their own categories; or, less often, it can be used generically to refer to members of the genus Panthera, but out of the five species within that genus, four of them are already represented here (and the fifth, the jaguar, is not usually described as a panther when referred to by itself).

Possibly this refers instead to the legendary creature called a panther, which is most usually depicted as something like a leopard with multicolored spots.

Puma concolor, also known as the cougar. They are more lightly built and agile than their fellow New World felines the jaguars, and are plainly colored without strong patterns, though the specific color may vary.

Panthera tigris, the largest living cat species. Famous for its dark stripes; the base color of the coat is most stereotypically in an yellow-orange-red range, though other variations exist.

Though there have been (and to a lesser extent, still are) other subspecies, the term “horse” almost always refers to Equus ferus caballus. Like many domesticated species, there is a wide variety of breeds from ponies to draft horses, but they share hoofed toes, specialized adaptations for running, and a strong fight-or-flight response.

Generally, “monkey” refers to any simian that is not an ape; they are differentiated from apes by being generally smaller, more likely to have tails, and more arboreal.

Despite their placement here, this family (Hylobatidae) is more usually considered to be a type of ape, though in size and behavior they have much in common with monkeys.

As used here, this refers to at least the longer, skinnier members of the mustelids, including not only those commonly called polecats, but also the named ferrets and mink, as well as presumably weasels, stoats, and ermines. There are other mustelids, such as martens, sables, otters, and badgers, which may or may not be included in this category.

Mustela furo, a domesticated polecat probably originally bred to hunt rabbits. Adorable little stinkers.

Mink are any of several semi-aquatic mustelids. Famous for their dark, fine fur, which had historically been prized for its uses in clothing (and for which mink have been hunted or farmed).

Members of the order Rodentia, most with compact bodies, short legs, and long tails, and a pair of sharp, continuously-growing incisors each in the lower and upper jaw, which must be worn down by use for their owner to remain healthy. Most rodents are small, but this is not universally the case; an adult capybara compares favorably with a large dog.

Generally, members of the subfamily Gerbillinae, small, burrowing rodents closely related to murid mice and rats. More specifically, the word is most often used to describe the Mongolian gerbil, Meriones unguiculatus, which is the species most often kept as pets.

Generally, members of the subfamily Cricetinae, small but usually short-tailed, chonky-looking rodents with large cheek pouches. The species most often kept as pets is the golden hamster, Mesocricetus auratus.

Mice are small rodents with long tails, rounded ears, and pointed snouts. They do not form a single evolutionary clade and are distinguished from rats mostly by size (rats are larger). The most famous mouse species is probably Mus musculus, the house mouse, which is widely distributed around the world, has been associated with humans since the dawn of agriculture, and has been domesticated both as pets and for scientific purposes.

Like mice, rats do not form a single lineage, but are a collection of rodents with similar appearance and behavior. Like mice, they have a long-standing relationship with humans, both as pests and as domesticated species.

Rodents of the family Sciuridae, usually with slender bodies and long, bushy tails. Most people will probably think of squirrels as living in trees, but there are ground squirrels in this family as well, though some of them are not called squirrels in common parlance (marmots, prairie dogs, chipmunks).

The infraorder Cetacea, which does indeed consist of the whales, possibly the most water-adapted of the mammals. Blowholes, front limbs adapted into flippers, tails with horizontal flukes. Most of them are social and relatively intelligent.

Though the most typical examples are the "true" or oceanic dolphins, species of toothed whale referred to as dolphins are scattered across a number of families, often mixed in with species more often referred to as whales. Most have conical teeth and prominent beaks.

Orcinus orca, also called simply the orca. It is in fact the largest member of the oceanic dolphins, an apex predator that has been known to take, among other things, moose as prey. Famous for its highly distinctive black-and-white coloration, which makes it look a bit like a sleeker, swimmier and more bitey panda.

Toothed whales of the family Phocoenidae. They are similar in overall shape to dolphins, but lack a pronounced beak and have flat, spade-shaped teeth; so while it is certainly possible to confuse them with dolphins, if I were you I wouldn't do it on porpoise.

Wyrm's site says, “Soft body, hard shell, no backbone. Can be a little slimy too!” Generally, though not universally, true. Molluscs share a common ancestor, but have diversified so much over the eons that they can differ significantly from each other.

DC2.O by itself indicates “I keep my house with me … I rarely need to move!”

Molluscs of the order Sepiida. Like octopus and squid, they are cephalopods and bear a close resemblance and relationship to squid in particular, with a similar arrangement of arms and tentacles and eyes with W-shaped pupils. Their unique feature is an internal shell called a cuttlebone, which plays a role in regulating buoyancy.

Limpets are snails, particularly of the subclass Patellogastropoda but generally referring to a number of snails with a distinctive shape of shell similar to a shallow cone, and which - while mobile - are able to cling to surfaces with considerable tenacity.

An order of cephalopods with soft bodies and eight arms. They are among the most intelligent invertebrates, with considerable talents in problem-solving and tool use.

“Oyster” is the common name of a variety of salt-water bivalves that are not all closely related, but which tend to have rough, somewhat irregular shells. They are famous for being the source of pearls, but while many shelled molluscs - not only oysters - produce pearls of some kind, relatively few species consistently produce pearls of gem quality, among them oysters of the genus Pinctada.

Generally, gastropods with shells, usually coiled off to one side; gastropods without shells are more often called slugs, but most subclades of gastropod have both slug and snail species. Famous for traveling around leaving trails of mucus, which improves their ability to stick to and move across surfaces, as well as helping to protect their skin.

Wyrm's site describes these as “Anything that exists in Myths (e.g. before the Dark Ages).” In general, this category is more consistent than the Legendary one, though with hellhounds it depends on what specific variety you're talking about; many cultures had similar creatures, and they may not all be related or have appeared at the same time.

DC2.Y by itself indicates “My name is legendary … what do you mean you've never heard of me!”

Creatures of Greek mythology, a hybrid of horse and human; the standard depiction is of a human torso, joined at the waist to a horse's body where the head and neck would ordinarily be. Their society tends to be depicted as rustic and closely tied to the natural world, sometimes with a penchant for revelry. They are also often depicted as favoring, or being associated with, the bow and arrow.

In Greek myth, the Cyclopes were giants of a fairly humanoid appearance but with a single eye in the middle of the forehead. There are several depictions of Cyclopes, varying from skilled craftsmen to solitary, lawless shepherds, depending on the source, and this is sometimes reflected in their modern depictions, though the emphasis tends to be on their brute strength and solitary nature.

Golems were beings of Jewish folklore, of rough humanoid shape but made from clay; it is sometimes implied that the first humans went through a stage of golem-hood before they were finished. It was often said that the golem was animated through the act of writing. TTRPG golems tend to be similarly magically made and animated constructs, though of various materials, by which they are classified into subtypes.

A wide variety of cultures associate doglike creatures with hellish or underworld locations and figures, but among the prototypes for this concept are found in beings such as the Greek Cerberus and the Norse Garmr, both of them guardians of the gates of the underworld, as well as the more active Cŵn Annwn or black dogs of British folklore, who participate in the Wild Hunt. TTRPG versions intensify the hellish aspect with a fiery visage, and emphasize their roles as trackers and hunters.

A creature of Greek mythology, classically with the head and tail of a bull and the body of a man. The original Minotaur was a singular creature rather than a species, the product of a union between woman and bull that was the end result of one of those episodes of divine spitefulness that the Greek gods were known for. Having become irredeemably wild and craving of human flesh, it was imprisoned in the Labyrinth. Modern depictions of minotaurs retain the generally humanoid shape but may blend other bovine traits with it, such as hooves; they are also usually depicted as an at least somewhat civilized, if martial, species.

Like the Minotaur, Pegasus was originally a singular being, the offspring of Poseidon in the form of a winged horse that played a supporting role to assorted Greek gods and heroes. In TTRPGs, pegasi are depicted in a similar visual way, and are not always as intelligent as a human but almost always aligned with good and as desirable mounts.

The original satyrs were Greek nature spirits; universally male, often dramatically so, and usually with the legs and tail of a horse. The bros of Dionysus, god of wine, festivity, and ritual madness, they had an enormous capacity for drinking, screwing, and other assorted debauchery. In modern times, they have tended to be conflated with fauns, which instead have the lower halves of goats and often goatlike horns of some form on their heads. They have tended to remain all-male and with a reputation for revelry and debauchery.

The sphinx is a being of Greek and Egyptian myth with the head of a human, the body of a lion, and the wings of a bird; the Greek and Egyptian versions differ on whether it is male or female and how it behaves. TTRPGs tend to carry on a version of this division, including associating the Greek-inspired, female gynosphinxes with riddles.

As Wyrm's site puts it, “Trees, flowers, fungii. Lifeforms that can't walk away.” In other words, this category isn't used for plants strictly speaking, but for sessile things that grow from or in a substrate. I find myself wondering if corals would end up going here as well.

DC2.P by itself indicates “I'm rooted to the spot, in more ways than one!”

Plants of the family Cactaceae that are adapted to life in dry environments; they are succulents, storing water in fleshy stems, with their leaves often adapted into sharp spines to deter herbivores. If you encounter one, think very carefully about hugging it, especially if it's a jumping cholla.

Not sure where the extra 'i' came from. Fungi are non-photosynthetic organisms that live off chemical energy, often via the decay of other organisms; the best-known are probably mushrooms, but includes things like yeasts and molds as well.

The definition of tree is neither precise nor universally agreed upon, and they tend to be one of those you-know-one-when-you-see-one categories. Most are woody plants with elongated trunk and branches, but at the smaller end tend to shade into shrubs, and some plants usually considered trees in common parlance are not woody.

Trees of the genus Fraxinus, though the unrelated rowan is sometimes called the mountain ash. They have “helicopter seeds” and its wood, which while tough and strong is also elastic and lightweight, has had many uses throughout history, and has been used to make weapons, musical instruments, and indoor furniture and furnishings.

Elms comprise the genus Ulmus. The leaves tend to have serrated edges, but are fairly rounded, coming to an abrupt point at the very tip. The wood's interlocking grain makes it resistant to splitting, and yet it bends well, lending itself to the making of things like bows, ship keels, and wagon wheels; it is also resistant to decay while wet, and was sometimes used for water pipes.

Hardwoods of the genus Quercus. They have leaves with lobed edges and produce seeds in the form of acorns. The hardness and strength of its wood not only gives the oak many practical uses, but in conjunction with the long lives of many oak trees, has made them a symbol of strength and endurance in many cultures.

“Cold blooded scaly creatures. No, probably not your mother in law!” according to Wyrm's site. Obviously not including dinosaurs, though at least some of them were probably warm-blooded anyway - but yeah, the familiar set of Scaly Bois.

DC2.R by itself indicates “Cold blooded and scaly, or so you might think!”

More generally, crocodilians: semi-aquatic reptiles with thick skin, short legs, and mostly carnivorous. Crocodiles and alligators are distinct lineages and differ somewhat visually, the former having tapered, more pointed snouts and the latter having broad, rounded ones. This category might also be interpreted to include the other crocodilians, the gharials (with long, very narrow snouts) and the caimans (related and similar in appearance to alligators, but generally smaller).

Chameleons are a family of reptiles famous for their ability to change color, as well as their independently mobile eyes, long sticky tongues, and two opposing pairs of toes on each foot.

Members of the Gekkota. These lizards are small, usually nocturnal, and usually have wide pads on their toes that aid them in climbing; most also lack eyelids, and keep their eyes moist and clean by licking them with their tongues.

Varanus komodoensis, not only the largest living species of monitor lizard, but the largest living species out of all the lizards. Covered in armored scales, and have serrated teeth with a thin fleshy covering that bleeds while the dragon is feeding; this is apparently normal and definitely metal AF. Though it will also feed on carrion, the Komodo dragon is an apex predator and can take down large animals. Although they have been known to become acclimated enough to humans to behave reasonably tame, they can still be unpredictably aggressive and are fully capable of wrecking your shit.

Technically, any squamate that is not a snake (or possibly an amphisbaenian). This covers a lot of ground and indeed includes chameleons, geckos, skinks, and Komodo dragons, which all have their own entries. Most lizards have rounded torsos, elevated heads on short necks, four limbs and long tails.

Lizards of the order Scincidae, usually small and with short legs, practically no necks, and long tapering tails. Many of them are burrowers.

Mochlus fernandi, a native of tropical forests in west and central Africa. Relatively large and vividly colored, with gold scales on its back and red and black scales on its sides and belly. This term may also apply to members of two other species, M. striatus and M. hinkeli, which were previously identified as populations of M. fernandi.

Snek.

Legless reptiles of the order Serpentes; more or less long scaly noodles with heads. Nearly all are carnivorous and snakes are famous for their ability to unhinge their jaws in a way that lets them swallow unreasonably large prey. Most snakes are nonvenomous, and the ones that are venomous are more likely to use it to subdue prey than in self-defense, but there are still a sufficiently large number of snake species capable of being dangerous (often extremely so) to humans that the reputation tends to stick.

Members of the order Testudines, famous for the hard, bony shells that protect their bodies. They live in a variety of habitats, ranging from the terrestrial to the semi-aquatic to the marine, though they are all air-breathers and must generally lay their eggs on land. The weight of the shell makes them famously slow on land, but that does not mean that they can't be faster than you think, and some of them absolutely have the size and bite force to ruin your day if you make them mad.

“Anything non-corporeal, whether natural or supernatural.” as Wyrm's site puts it, though there are people who would argue the point with some of these; angels, demons, and imps in particular are often, though not always, depicted as having some measure of corporeality.

DC2.Q by itself indicates “I really DO go bump in the night!”

In the Abrahamic religions, angels (literally messengers) are the servants of God, often depicted as living with him in Heaven. There were a number of kinds and various depictions, though the stereotypical Christian one is that of a beautiful, winged human with a halo. This latter image tends to heavily influence their TTRPG depictions as the native inhabitants of the good-aligned planes.

In mythology, these concepts tend to overlap; “demon” is an umbrella term for malevolent supernatural beings, and “devil” for a personification of evil. TTRPGs tend to separate them from each other on the basis of alignment; devils are Lawful Evil, with a complex infernal hierarchy and a tendency towards schemes and contracts, while demons are Chaotic Evil, primal beings of rage, force, and violence. In this interpretation, they are as often inimical to each other as they are to mortals or to the forces of good.

Generally, a ghost is a soul or spirit of a dead being, able to appear to the living. Belief in this type of being is widespread throughout the world, though the specifics of their appearances, behaviors, and reasons for being vary considerably by culture and time period. TTRPG versions usually follow the trope of ghosts bound to haunt specific places or people due to tragic deaths or unfinished business.

Traditionally depicted as small fairy- or devil-like creatures, ranging from the merely mischievous to the evil. The evil, devil-like depiction tended to strengthen over time, and this continues into modern TTRPGs, which tend to classify them explicitly as among the most minor types of devil.

Both in legend and in modern portrayals, poltergeists are beings that are normally invisible but can manipulate objects, usually in order to cause a disturbance, i.e. by throwing or destroying things.

Historically, the term “spectre” or “specter” was essentially synonymous with “ghost” and there was no clear distinction. The major TTRPGs generally treat specters as being similar in form to ghosts but different in origin and behavior; they are a result of an attempt to turn a humanoid into a spectral creature, with an intense hatred of living things, from which they have the ability to drain life (and which they sometimes have the ability to turn into other specters).

Atmospheric lights that appear particularly in bogs, marshes, and otherwise humid conditions, thought by many cultures to be spirits or ghosts.

Formerly living beings who still have a relatively lively corporeal existence after death; Wyrm's site says “All creatures that have died, but still live - No! Not like your mother in law!”

DC2.U by itself indicates “I died, but I haven't stopped moving yet!”

Originally a mostrous being of Arabic myth, of unclear origin but associated with graveyards and uninhabited places, where they lured in travelers and passers-by to feed upon them. The depiction in TTRPGs is that of a form of undead humanoid, but retaining the hunger for humanoid flesh, whether dead or living.

A number of cultures around the world feature legendary beings, often undead, who subsist on the life force or blood of living victims. The image of European-style vampires has been heavily influenced by Bram Stoker's famous 1897 work Dracula, including their aristocratic appearance and manners and ability to turn others into vampires.

A reanimated corpse, originally from Haitian folklore. Though in movies they are often depicted as the result of some kind of natural plague, TTRPGs tend to hew closer to the original by having them be raised by dark magic. In all cases zombies are typically presented as lacking free will or minds of their own, being either uncontrolled or under the command of their master. A taste for living flesh is often included, an introduction from the movies. Animated skeletons are not usually described as zombies, which have at least a substantial amount of flesh still on them.

DC2.~ indicates “Try to describe me and I'll change shape again!”

Wyrm's site notes, “Shapechangers who change between distinct types can include those types after the ~ using a / to seperate the species. E.g. DC2.~Dw/H would indicate 'I change between a Western Dragon and Human form.'

“It's also quite likely that your distinct forms have differing characteristics as well as similar ones. These can be given directly after the species tag using {} to contain the species specific tags. E.g. DC2.~Dw{Gf}/H{Gm}A would indicate 'I have a Western Dragon form that is female and a Human form that is male, but both are mature adults.'

“If you have a single stable form or a preferred form, you can indicate this by simply specifying that form before the ~, for example DC2.De~ would indicate 'I am an Eastern Dragon who changes shape occasionally.' This is subtly different from DC2.~De which is 'I am a shapechanger who takes the form of an Eastern Dragon.'”

DC2.? indicates “I have no idea what I am!”

One can also use ? after a subtype to indicate uncertainty as to what part of the group you are: DC2.R? would indicate “I am a reptile, but I'm not sure which!”

Used to indicate being primarily identifiable with one form but having features of another, as in DC2.Msw^T for “I'm a timber wolf… no, like a literal timber wolf!”

Used to describe someone whose true form is of one species, but whose outer appearance is of another species, such as with otherkin. The outer form is placed within square brackets after the true form, as with DC2.D[H] for “I am a dragon, trapped in human form!”

As with shapechangers, you can specify different tags for each species using {} to contain the species-specific tags. For example, DC2.Dw{Gf}[H{Gm}] would indicate “I am a female Western Dragon trapped in a male Human body.”

For interspecies hybrids, with the ancestral species separated by a +. For example, DC2.D+H indicates “A dragon mated with a human … and I'm the result!” This can be extended as necessary by adding more +'s and species: consider DC2.H+Oo+F for “I'm not Cthulhu, I just have an eclectic ancestry.”

If there is cross between species in the same subtype, the plus can go between the sub-subtypes; for example DC2.Dw+p instead of DC2.Dw+Dp for “I am a cross between a western and a Pernese dragon.”