Wyvern vs Dragon

A wyvern is a mythical creature whose origins are traced in Europe. It is commonly associated with the subspecies of the dragon and it shares a lot of similarities with it. It is commonly depicted as a mean, treacherous and harmful creature, marked out by its two legs and one pair of wings with some variants such as the sea wyvern having a fish-like tail. However more common illustrations depict it as having a barb on the tail or a spade at the tip often considered poisonous. Other illustrations show it having eagle-like claws.

A dragon is one of the most popular and easily recognizable among mythical creatures. Its depiction is of a snake-like fire spitting beast or some reptile but with ability to fly. Some depictions show dragons as having legs whereas others show them without legs and having one head or more. Their known reproduction is through hatching and are said to be exceedingly fierce and powerful. European culture perceives dragons as evil and usually associates them with the evil in Christian doctrine. Different cultures symbolize dragons differently, for instance European culture collectively perceive them as cruel and evil whereas in Chinese culture dragons symbolize good luck and are allied with power.

Although both wyverns and dragons are depicted as flying creatures with wings, wyverns are not adept flyers like dragons. Dragons have a monstrous mouth that has sharp pangs whereas wyverns have beaked mouths. Dragons have varying shapes, sizes and body color whereas wyverns have a common standard shape. Unlike wyverns, some depictions show dragons as wingless and generally more reptilian than wyverns.

Summary:
1. Wyverns are depicted to be less poisonous they are sometimes believed to be able to breathe poison through their mouth. Dragons on the other hand are known have a fervent breath as one of their strongest and most dreaded weapon.
2. Wyverns are collectively perceived as ferocious creatures with a repellent temperament whereas dragons are accepted in certain cultures as creatures of good luck especially in Chinese folklore.
3. Physically wyverns are known to be smaller, lighter and generally weaker than their cousins the dragons. Dragons are depicted as able to speak and are capable of some compelling speech. They are also intellectually bright creatures. However their kin the wyverns are less open to speech, preferring to stay silent most of the time.
4. Although both creatures are habitants in wild lands where humans rarely settle, dragons will generally prefer to settle underground, creating their lair on a high dry country for a cave. Wyverns meanwhile will prefer to create their lair in lowly water bed areas like swampy places or areas around lakes or pools.
5. All in all, as both creatures are just mythical and mainly symbolic in different folklore, the dragon has been the most prevailing in all folklore and fauna.