Dragon

Dragon is a term used to describe a number of mythological creatures which share at least some of the following features...

• reptilian attributes (scales, short ratio of leg length to body length, tail, etc.)
• large size (small dragons comparable in size to a bird are known)
• flight (possibly, but not necessarily, with wings)
• ability to expel fire from their mouths or other such attacks

Mythology about dragons differs. For example, asiatic dragons are longer and more serpentine in appearance while European Dragons are more reptillian with larger torsos.

Dragons in fiction are often sapient and have some degree of magical ability. The term is also used to refer to several categories of real-life reptiles (Komodo Dragons, Bearded Dragons, and so forth). Dragons are fairly commonly depicted as being evil, thought many instances exist of dragons being morally neutral, benign or sympathetic.

Dragons in Fiction

• In JRR Tolkien's Middle Earth, western dragons exist, notable among them being Smaug.
• In Avatar, Asiatic dragons exist, and from these creatures was learned fire bending.
• In Star Wars, the planet Tatooine is home to Krayt Dragons; the skeleton of one can be seen in ANH.
• Various Dragons in Dreamwork's How to Train you Dragon
• Swamp Dragons and Noble Dragons in Discworld
• Reign of Fire (if you want to laugh)

See also

• Dinosaurs: It is believed that part of the reason why the myth of Dragons emerged was because primitive peoples found the fossilized remains of Dinosaurs.