Thestrals: A Pseudo-Scientific Classification
"If he had had to give them a name, he supposed he would have called them horses, though there was something reptilian about them, too. They were completely fleshless, their black coats clinging to their skeletons, of which every bone was visible. Their heads were dragonish, and their pupil-less eyes white and staring. Wings sprouted from each wither — vast, black leathery wings that looked as though they ought to belong to giant bats. Standing still and quiet in the gathering gloom, the creatures looked eerie and sinister."
D O M A I N
Eukarya
The Thestral is a eukaryote, or an organism whose cells have membrane-enclose organelles. Eukaryotes include most animal and plant species, along with several single-celled organisms.
K I N G D O M
Animalia
The Thestral is part of the Animalia, or Metazoa kingdom, because they are multicellular eukaryotes that depend on other organisms for food, and can move independently.
P H Y L U M
Chordata
Like other horses, the Thestral is a chordate, and its’ subphylum is Vertebrata. The Thestral is fleshless, and so its’ backbone can be easily discerned, along with the rest of its’ endoskeletal system.
C L A S S
Reptimalia
Because the Thestral possesses the traits of both animals of a reptile and an a mammal (dragon-like faces, reptilian skin, and the usual characteristics of a mammal such as skin and hair, although the existence of mammary glands in Thestrals is still unknown as the Ministry of Magic has banned the breeding of Thestrals and
O R D E R
Carnivora
The Thestral is a meat-eating creature, and is drawn to the smell of blood. Thestrals may look for good on ground or in the air, as they often attack birds. Like many animals of the Carnivora order, Thestrals have sharp fans that help them spread the meat of their prey.
F A M I L Y
Aviquidae
The Thestral belongs to a family of winged horses, along with the Abraxan, the Aethonan, and the Granian. Avi is short for the latin Avium, which means “winged”, and Equidae is the family name of non-winged horses.
G E N U S
Chiroptequus
Like the Equus family, a Thestral has slender legs, long heads, long necks, and long tails. However, because of their webbed, leathery, and bat-like wings, they are considered a part of the Chiroptera genus, making them Chiroptequus. It is also acknowledged in the scientific community of the Wizarding World that Thestrals maybe a possible result of dragon and winged horse cross-breeding due to its’ dragons head, therefore the Thestral’s subgenus is Draconia, belonging to the genus of dragon creatures.
S P E C I E S
Chiroptequus mortem
The word Mortem, or “death”, signifies the deathly, daunting appearance of the Thestral, and also because only those who have truly grasped the meaning of death are able to see Thestrals.
Eukarya
The Thestral is a eukaryote, or an organism whose cells have membrane-enclose organelles. Eukaryotes include most animal and plant species, along with several single-celled organisms.
K I N G D O M
Animalia
The Thestral is part of the Animalia, or Metazoa kingdom, because they are multicellular eukaryotes that depend on other organisms for food, and can move independently.
P H Y L U M
Chordata
Like other horses, the Thestral is a chordate, and its’ subphylum is Vertebrata. The Thestral is fleshless, and so its’ backbone can be easily discerned, along with the rest of its’ endoskeletal system.
C L A S S
Reptimalia
Because the Thestral possesses the traits of both animals of a reptile and an a mammal (dragon-like faces, reptilian skin, and the usual characteristics of a mammal such as skin and hair, although the existence of mammary glands in Thestrals is still unknown as the Ministry of Magic has banned the breeding of Thestrals and
O R D E R
Carnivora
The Thestral is a meat-eating creature, and is drawn to the smell of blood. Thestrals may look for good on ground or in the air, as they often attack birds. Like many animals of the Carnivora order, Thestrals have sharp fans that help them spread the meat of their prey.
F A M I L Y
Aviquidae
The Thestral belongs to a family of winged horses, along with the Abraxan, the Aethonan, and the Granian. Avi is short for the latin Avium, which means “winged”, and Equidae is the family name of non-winged horses.
G E N U S
Chiroptequus
Like the Equus family, a Thestral has slender legs, long heads, long necks, and long tails. However, because of their webbed, leathery, and bat-like wings, they are considered a part of the Chiroptera genus, making them Chiroptequus. It is also acknowledged in the scientific community of the Wizarding World that Thestrals maybe a possible result of dragon and winged horse cross-breeding due to its’ dragons head, therefore the Thestral’s subgenus is Draconia, belonging to the genus of dragon creatures.
S P E C I E S
Chiroptequus mortem
The word Mortem, or “death”, signifies the deathly, daunting appearance of the Thestral, and also because only those who have truly grasped the meaning of death are able to see Thestrals.