<P> The usual spelling wyvern is not attested before the seventeenth century as "winged two - footed dragon". It is an alteration of Middle English (attested thirteenth century) wyver, from Old French wivre (cf. French guivre and vouivre), itself from Latin vīpera, meaning' viper',' adder',' asp' . </P> <P> The design of the wyvern to have derived from the figure of the dragon encountered by Trajan's legions in Dacia . It may be the origin of the red dragon of Wales and the golden dragon of the Kingdom of Wessex carried at the Battle of Burford in AD 752 . </P> <P> The wyvern has often been confused with the dragon, due to the similarities between them and due to the wyvern being a lesser - known mythical creature . In the Middle Ages, no clear distinction was made between the two . Since the sixteenth century, in English, Scottish, and Irish heraldry, the key distinction has been that a wyvern has two legs, whereas a dragon has four; however, this distinction is not generally observed in the heraldry of other European countries, where two - legged dragons are entirely acceptable . </P> <P> In the modern fantasy genre, there is little differentiation between dragons and wyverns, with two - legged, magical reptilian creatures all likely to be referred to as "dragons" without any differentiation between types . Wyverns, when present as creatures distinct from dragons, tend to appear as less magical and more as dangerous beasts smaller, weaker, and less intelligent than dragons . While a fantasy dragon often has a breath weapon, such as fire, wyverns rarely have such abilities and are more feared for their ferocity and sharp teeth and claws . Wyverns are sometimes associated with poison, either in the form of venomous fangs or poisonous breath, but this trait is not universally represented and may be a more recent addition to the lore based on the gila monster . A wyvern will typically be unable to speak, while a dragon often does have that ability . </P>

What is the difference between a wyvern and dragon
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