| Ashwinder | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| |||
| Naming | |||
| Binomen | N/A | ||
| Morphology | |||
| Body type | Serpentine | ||
| Intelligence | |||
| Sentience | Unknown | ||
| Sapience | Non-Sapient | ||
| Ecology | |||
| Place of origin | Any place in which a magical fire burns | ||
| Locomotion | Slithering | ||
| Lifespan | One hour | ||
| Behind the Scenes | |||
| Universe | Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them | ||
| Created by | J. K. Rowling | ||
The Ashwinder is a magical snake-like creature which is spontaneously generated whenever a magical fire (i.e. a fire to which some magical substance has been added) is allowed to burn for too long. As such they might be accidentally spawned in wizard residences worldwide.
Biology[]
The Ashwinder is described as pale-grey in color, with bright red eyes, and leaves a trail of ashes as it slithers. They live only for one hour, during which time they will look for a dark, secluded spot in which they can lay their eggs and then collapse into dust. The eggs are red and generate enormous heat. If not found and destroyed in time, they can easily incinerate a house within minutes - presumably generating a lot more Ashwinders in the process.
Cultural significance[]
The British Ministry of Magic classifies the Ashwinder as an XXX species, which means "competent wizards should cope". Frozen Ashwinder eggs are considered quite valuable for wizards. They are used as an ingredient in love potions and may also be swallowed whole as a cure for ague.