What are the unique monsters of D&D?

[Steverooo]

These AREN'T

Gnolls are disimilar to Dunsany's Gnoles, but may have been the inspiration.

Grells may have come from a video game, I understand.

Xill & Displacer Beasts came from Voyage of the Space Beagle.

Bulettes & Rust Monsters were inspired by plastic "prehistoric animals" from a bag of childrens' toys!

The "Dark Elves" are hardly original, although the name "Drow" might be.

Trolls came from Three Hearts and Three Lions.

 

[Norfleet]

Gelatinous Cube. Nothing says D&D like a monster specifically adapted for graph paper.

 

[shady]

The "Dark Elves" are hardly original, although the name "Drow" might be.

drow, n. [Scot.] A tiny elf of a race fabled to dwell in caves and to forge magic metal-work.

 

[fusangite]

In trying to get across the D&D genre and make people really feel like they're in D&D, the oozes are, without a doubt, the things that transmit that feel the best. While some of the larger ones are, perhaps, Lovecraftian, the Grey Ooze and Gelatinous Cube are pure D&D.

Besides that, other emblematic D&D creatures include the Rust Monster, Owlbear and Xorn.

 

[Bauglir]

For me if you wanna say D&D it's gotta be a Beholder

 

[Liolel]

I agree with several other posters it has to be the beholder and the gelatinous cube.

 

[Eternalknight]

Did the idea of the coloured dragons originate in D&D?

 

[CRGreathouse]

Did the idea of the coloured dragons originate in D&D?

Yep.

 

[Desdichado]

Did the idea of the coloured dragons originate in D&D?

Well, the idea of chromatic dragons, with a breath weapon matched to color certainly does. Otherwise, other tales and stories have indeed had dragons of different color. Anne MacAffrey, for instance.

 

[Joshua Randall]

To me, the mind flayer (illithid) is a quintessential D&D monster, Lovecraftian influence notwithstanding.