The Occamy
Introduction
The Occamy is a plumed, two-legged, winged magical beast with a serpentine body, native to the Far East and India. It is most famous for its Choronawanian abilities, which allow it to grow or shrink to fit available space, and for laying eggs of pure, soft silver. Due to its aggressive nature, especially when defending its eggs, the Ministry of Magic gives it a classification of XXXXX, designating it as a known wizard-killer that is impossible to train or domesticate. All primary information on this creature comes from the textbook Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them.
Biography
Occamies are carnivorous creatures, subsisting on a diet of rats, birds, and occasionally larger prey such as monkeys (Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them). They are native to remote areas in the Far East and India. The most notable aspect of their life cycle is their nesting habits. An Occamy is fiercely protective of its eggs, which are highly coveted for being made of the purest silver. It will lash out at any creature that approaches its nest, contributing to its dangerous XXXXX classification by the Ministry of Magic. The value of their eggshells makes them a target for poachers, further increasing the creature's defensive aggression.
Physical Appearance and Personality
An Occamy has a unique and striking appearance, possessing the body of a serpent, two legs, and a pair of wings. Its body is covered in plumes, and it can grow to a maximum length of fifteen feet. Its vibrant plumage and serpentine form make it a visually distinct magical beast. In terms of temperament, the Occamy is extremely aggressive towards all who approach it. This behavior is instinctual and is not a sign of malevolence but rather a powerful protective drive. This inherent aggression makes it impossible to domesticate and extremely dangerous to encounter in the wild, particularly near its nesting grounds.
Magical Abilities and Skills
The Occamy possesses a rare and remarkable magical ability that defines its species.
- Choronawanian: This is the Occamy's signature ability, allowing it to grow and shrink its body to occupy the space available to it. It can expand to fill a large attic or shrink to fit inside a small teapot. This makes it exceptionally difficult to contain or capture.
- Flight: With its large wings, the Occamy is a capable flier.
Etymology
The name “Occamy” may be derived from the philosophical principle known as “Occam's Razor,” which posits that the simplest explanation is often the correct one. The connection between the principle and the creature, however, is not clear.
Behind the Scenes
The Occamy features prominently in the film Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them.
- In 1926, one of the Occamies in Newt Scamander's suitcase escaped in New York and took up residence in the attic of the Gimbel's department store (film).
- The creature demonstrated its Choronawanian ability by growing to fill the entire attic space to protect its nest of eggs (film).
- Newt Scamander, with the help of Tina Goldstein, Queenie Goldstein, and Jacob Kowalski, managed to lure the massive Occamy into a teapot by using a cockroach as bait (film).
- Newt Scamander later gave Jacob Kowalski a case filled with silver Occamy eggshells, which Jacob used as collateral to secure a loan to open his own bakery (film).