User blog comment:Mckrongs/Monster Hunter 4 for the Nintendo 3DS/@comment-4993026-20120805122639/@comment-4212769-20120806003032

@TheDeadDragon: Only Capcom can say if it is an Elder Dragon or not. And your argumentation is not well thought out because Chameleos has surely a different body built as other "True" Elder Dragons. It isn't only about the built of the body but the adaptations, too. And the "same" built is wrong because even Barioth and Nargacuga have slightly different builts. Same for the Dromes in comparison to the Greats. Both are raptor-like Birdwyverns but have different adaptations so they have (little) different body builts.

Back to the Shadow Monster. It's possible that it is an Elder Dragon, maybe even probably but what about another Dragon species? You don't know what Capcom makes out of it. And as (probably) Flagship monster it normally should introduce and represent a new feature and/or new monster class in the new game. Do you think an Elder Dragon would be the best choice if they (maybe/probably) get a new monster type in the game? Wouldn't it be better for representing the game?

(Only to say it: I actually believe to have seen that those "wings" aren't very muscular, and look more like some appandages but actual wings. But maybe I'm just seeing things... :/)

I'm not against it being an Elder Dragon. (It would be rather great because that means the smaller Elder Dragons are back. :D) I'm just saying don't judge/categorize a monster that you've seen 5 seconds in the trailer only 2 seconds jumping around and 3 seconds in the front sight not even seeing the entire body. Wait for a video that shows it fully before you do.

@Dippamus: It hasn't changed too much. They're using the term "Elder Dragon" not only for "True" Elder Dragons but for mythical and unknown/unexplored monsters or monsters that don't fit in any other space. While Kirin is a mythical species equally to Yama Tsukami (but both don't fit in any space, too), Jhen Mohran (and Ceadeus) are Leviathans or at least Leviathan-like but because they don't anything about its life, habits and so on but coming around to a special time (don't know if it is existent at all) it's categorized as Elder Dragon. About the Gems: It's just a name that humans gave it. You can get a stone anywhere you want and call it a Dragon Gem but in the end it's a stone. There are enough wrong categoration for a new animal found in human history but being different to the first thought/categoration. It's called Dragon Gem but it can be a Leviathan Gem, too. lol

Sorry for this wall of text. ~.~