Sea Creatures and Monsters

The stances and attitudes of beasts  as emblazoned on a  shield have specific heraldic terms. Those relating to sea creatures and monsters are as follows:

Erect - Occasionally applied to sea monsters when the top half is rampant and the bottom half is coiled into a loop.

Hauriant, Haurient - Applied to a fish when borne palewise or upright with head to chief point.

Naiant, Natant - Applied to any fish  charged fesswise or horizontally across the field as if swimming toward the dexter side of the shield .

Counter-naiant   - The reverse of  naiant  thus describing a fish  charged horizontally across the field as if swimming toward the sinister side of the shield .

Raping - Applied to any ravenous beast represented devouring its prey.

Segreant - Said of the dragon or griffin erect with wings elevated and addorsed. See Attitudes.

Springing - Fish when placed in bend.

Upright - The position rampant applied to reptiles and shell fish

Uriant, Urinant  - The reverse of hauriant applied to a fish when represented palewise but with the head downward and the tail erect.

See Fish and Monsters and Mythical Creatures