The tarand appears in the corpus of classical natural-history writers rather than in a mythic cosmogony: Aristotle names a rare beast called tarandos in Scythia that changes the colour of its hair to its surroundings; Pliny and Aelian repeat and expand the marvel in their natural histories (placing it in Scythia), and Solinus records a related-sounding Parandrus in Aethiopia. Medieval and Renaissance authors (e.g., the York Mystery Cycle, Rabelais) inherit and adapt the creature from these classical attestations, using it both as a natural wonder and as a rhetorical or allegorical trope.
Classical descriptions present a large, sturdy ungulate about the size of an ox or bullock with a stag-like head bearing branched/branching horns, cloven hooves, very long hair likened to that of a bear, and an exceptionally tough hide. Pliny and later writers emphasize the hide's toughness (noting its use in making breast-plates and covering shields). The overall impression in the sources is of a heavily built, hairy, horned beast with armour-like skin.
The central extraordinary trait reported in the sources is the ability to change external colour — Aristotle and Pliny describe the tarand taking on the colours of trees, shrubs, grass, rocks and the ground so as to be difficult to catch. Pliny explicitly compares the tarand to the chameleon and to other colour-changing animals (polypus, certain wolves/Lycaon). Aelian and Rabelais amplify the account: Aelian stresses transformation of hair as well as skin into many colours, and Rabelais gives anecdotal, quasi-volitional instances (the animal turning grey near one person, red near another; shifting through green, yellow, blue, tawny and purple over time). The classical authors treat the trait as a natural marvel rather than a supernatural power; behaviourally the colour-change is often linked to fear and hiding.
Weaknesses
None recorded.
Wards
- otherHide used as armor by humans (breast-plates, shield coverings)
Pishacha
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Yaksha
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Taphians
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Tapio
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Tapio
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Tarakamaya War
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Taranaki (Tuturu)
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Taranga
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Taranis
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Tariaksuq
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Tarqeq
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Tarqiup Inua
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Tartalo
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Community Record
- [1]Aristotle — Natural-history attestations (summary). Aristotle, referenced in modern summaries: description of 'tarandos' in Scythia that changes the colour of its hair according to its surroundingsliterary
- [2]Pliny the Elder — Natural History (summary). Pliny, as summarized in modern sources: Tarandus in Scythia, ox-sized, stag-like head with branched horns, bear-like hair, hide used for breast-plates, changes colour like the chameleonliterary
- [3]Aelian — On the Characteristics of Animals (summary). Aelian: account stressing transformation of hair and skin into many colours and noting Scythians' use of hide for shieldsliterary
- [4]Solinus — Parandrus in Aethiopia (summary). Solinus' mention of a similarly named Parandrus placed in Aethiopia (uncertain identity with Scythian tarand)literary
- [5]Rabelais — Pantagruel (summary). Rabelais: Renaissance literary adaptation describing ox-sized tarand, bear-like hair, anecdotal colour shifts responsive to surroundings and persons; compares hair-changing to chameleon and polypusliterary
- [6]Wikipedia: Tarand (animal). Modern encyclopedia summary consolidating classical and later attestations (Aristotle, Pliny, Aelian, Solinus, Rabelais, York Mystery Cycle)wiki