The Origin of Species: Manticore Statue

With the body of a monkey, the venomous tail of a scorpion, bat-like wings, and an elder human face, Manticore was described as an evil predator in Persian legend, similar to the Egyptian Sphinx. The ancient Manticores were found in the stagnant forests of the old world. Nowadays, the living ones are only about 12 inches tall, their wings degraded, and their tails rendered harmless, their function more for balancing their bodies. They eat mainly the top leaves of aerial cage trees, together with fruit, buds, flowers, and nuts. Manticores are a gentle and cryptic species. They can’t speak, but inherently possess the power of mind-reading, to predict what happens next. These interesting and unique characters make Manticores the favorite pets for royal families.