User blog comment:Lord Loss/Monster Hunter Theory... Blog/@comment-1758220-20111222010738

Not sure if this has been posted in the past, but I've got a theory I'd like to propose. Basically, the reason that the 3rd-gen Rathalos and Rathian look noticeably different from the 1st/2nd gen ones is that we have a different species of them here. Think Rhinos; you have the African version, and the Indian version. Both are very distinctive from each other, and are adapted to their respective environments.

The same could be going on with the Raths, and when you consider that the 1st and 2nd gen areas are close geographically, it would make sense that you'd fight the Minegardian Raths there. Meanwhile, the 3rd gen areas are much further away, and so the population that lives there has evolved unique traits to have them better adapted to the environment they live in.

Now, we just need to figure out why the 3rd-gen Raths have bigger wings, rounder heads, brighter colors, and stockier legs. Ideas?