So, interestingly, I don't think it was ever stated where Ungoliant came from, and all the giant spiders were supposed to be descended from her. She's powerful enough that Morgoth fears her, something which I think can only be said of her, maybe two of the Valar (Tulkas and Manwe, I think), and Eru*. I'm not sure there's an explanation for her origins that's completely consistent, but I think it's most likely that she's a creation of Melkor's part in the music that gained power by eating other powerful things, and not a fallen Maia.
dragons
I'm pretty sure these were twisted beasts (or twisted copies of beasts) in Tolkien's legendarium, but I don't think (as you mentioned) he ever fully nailed everything down, so I could be mistaken on this point.
*There are several tales in Tolkien's legendarium where an exceptional person punches above their weight, and I might be forgetting a case where a Maia, Elf, Dwarf, or Man managed to make Morgoth afraid, so please correct me if I'm wrong on this particular point.
My use of comas wasn't clear. It is intended to mean, fallen maia, as well as giant spiders as well as dragons,etc
I believe off the top of my head the only time Melkor was afraid of a non Ainur being such as a man, elf, etc was his fight with Fingolfin. But I'm not 100% confident in my recollection.
I couldn't remember if that fight was vs Melkor/Morgoth or one of the ancient dragons. But I was pretty sure there was a point where one of the descendants of Feanor made Morgoth deeply regret his decisions with the Silmarils.
So, interestingly, I don't think it was ever stated where Ungoliant came from, and all the giant spiders were supposed to be descended from her. She's powerful enough that Morgoth fears her, something which I think can only be said of her, maybe two of the Valar (Tulkas and Manwe, I think), and Eru*. I'm not sure there's an explanation for her origins that's completely consistent, but I think it's most likely that she's a creation of Melkor's part in the music that gained power by eating other powerful things, and not a fallen Maia.
I'm pretty sure these were twisted beasts (or twisted copies of beasts) in Tolkien's legendarium, but I don't think (as you mentioned) he ever fully nailed everything down, so I could be mistaken on this point.
*There are several tales in Tolkien's legendarium where an exceptional person punches above their weight, and I might be forgetting a case where a Maia, Elf, Dwarf, or Man managed to make Morgoth afraid, so please correct me if I'm wrong on this particular point.
My use of comas wasn't clear. It is intended to mean, fallen maia, as well as giant spiders as well as dragons,etc
I believe off the top of my head the only time Melkor was afraid of a non Ainur being such as a man, elf, etc was his fight with Fingolfin. But I'm not 100% confident in my recollection.
I couldn't remember if that fight was vs Melkor/Morgoth or one of the ancient dragons. But I was pretty sure there was a point where one of the descendants of Feanor made Morgoth deeply regret his decisions with the Silmarils.