If I were to turn a phoenix into something that could land in a lab, I’d start with a bird’s bone plan—lightweight, hollow, strong—then layer on a flame‑sensitive feather coat that glows as a thermoregulation system. The wings would be shaped like a falcon’s for agile flight, but with extra membranes for a gentle wing‑flare that looks like a fireball. For a sphinx, I’d merge a lion’s muscular skeleton with a human‑like torso and a reptile’s heat‑resistant hide, and give the head a subtle, expressive eyelid that hints at a hidden intellect. The key is to let each mythic trait have an evolutionary logic, so when you see them they feel like the natural outcome of a story, not just a legend.