A small winged serpent that lives in treetops, mainly the frankincense trees of Arabia. If an animal comes too close to the trees the amphiptere falls backwards from high in the branches and stabs the animal with its barbed tail. This causes death to most animals including humans.

It is related to the wyvern and is usually legless but is occasionally depicted with two legs.

Also known as jaculus, iaculus, and javelin-snake.

See Also: Creatures by Type: Dragons, Serpents