If you've been in deviantart, you've seem the so called "original species"

Maybe you're new to the page, maybe you are not, but have you seem these open, closed or just simply so called original species? Perhaps you're ignorant to it or not, but wheter you are (or not) lemme (re)introduce you to these.

Do you know gryphons? Werevolves, vampires, dragons and just hybrids and creatures in general in our stories? From cultures, religions to just fantasy and sci-fi, we've created creatures through the time, hybrids often, sometimes inspired by real animals in our world, and other times, enterily new creatures for us to be amazed. These are, basically, original species, these were created by someone, or maybe more than one person that shared similar ideas but didn't knew, followed by others and whatnot; most of these aren't copyrighted, of course, but probably Star Wars' do have some copyright going on...

These aren't new concepts, of course, but it's been started to use more closely, specifically more often in deviantart's art community —I've seem them focused in communities such as facebook's, but honestly, they seem to be concentrated in this spefic site—. Artist like having new concepts, and making them, and what better way of working on it than making a whole community for it? That is a way of how species might be born.

Artist make a reference sheet, where they put what is often commonly seem in their species, and what not; I've seem elaborated species specifing their habitad, what they eat, and if they live in our world, in their world or somewhere else (?).

Anatomy of a Fae Bug | Source

These wonderful concepts are often fall under 2 categories: Open and Closed species. Now, what's the difference between one and another?

Open Species	Closed Species
These are free to use concepts, anyone can make your own (MYO) specimen of this species! Go crazy, do what is been told you that these species can do, so don't go that crazy. Often time you'll need artist authorization, to know that you've followed the species rules properly.	This is basically not that, you can't make one of your own (MYO), you have to buy it, the artist will pu up desing to adoption and might allow other artist to do it. They might sell MYO tickets so you can desing one in case no desing really interests you.

There is, however, a hybrid of these definitions (so I lied). That is the open but closed species (semi open, often called); the difference is that this one is majorly open, almost all traits and versions of this species are open to the public to be done freely, but there is a special version of it —often more important as in the social aspect and/or lore of the species—, that you will need to buy (either a MYO or a pre-made* desing).

All these rules are, of course, made by the origianl(s) artisti/designer(s), they have all full rights of the idea, anyway. Of course to claim that you have to copyright them, but often times small artist don't copyright their stuff, thanksfully communities hate stelaing and copying, so a drama is most likely gonna start somewhere if you're catched stealing a concept. Although, there are sadly stories of concepts being stolen from smaller artist by bigger ones, now in these cases, if they hold the truth, it is hard to tell:
a. It can be just someone wanting to ruin their image, or
b. No one will believe them, the bigger one has a, well, bigger follower count.

In there cases, things are tough to solve or to even know who holds the truth; but this post isn't about original species drama.

Grabbysize chart - WIP | Source

There is not much else to say now, however. This was a small introduction to the world of original species, these are often very interesting to know and check out, so I totally invite you to look by your own for these wonderful concepts. If you don't know how to start, I've this collection in dA' that could be useful for you to find out interesting creatures. Have fun and I hope this was helpful somehow!