Dragons

Dragons are an incredibly varied group of animals endemic to Sphaera, descended from small paravian dinosaurs originally from Earth. These creatures can be found across Eren and its surrounding islands, as well as parts of Arokha's eastern coast and the northern parts of Sikano and Thalassaterria. Additionally, most smaller to medium dragon species are quite domesticatable. Many Sphaeran cultures rely on dragons just as much as they do on horses or dogs; using these magnificent feathered beasts as flying mounts or hunting aids.

Biology

Dragons are members of the scansoriopterygid family, and as such share several key traits of that clade: light but strong bones, full feather integument, and a distinctive skull shape. Their closest relative within the family is the gliding dinosaur Yi qi, whose lanky, strong arms and primitive brachial patagia gave rise to the immense and powerful membranous wings of modern dragons. The various species of dragon range in size from one to twelve meters long, and two to twenty meters in wingspan, though their weight tends to top out at just a few tons due to their need to be light.
Dragons also have the ability to breathe fire. While this may seem an entirely magical phenomenon, in truth it is achieved with mainly natural evolutionary adaptations. Dragonfire is created when a dragon expels natural organic gas through its mouth, excreting borate-laced saliva to protect its mouth from burns. The gas is ignited with a magical spark as it is regurgitated, causing a stream of fire that allows the creature to defend itself or subdue prey. Though most species of dragon are flighted and capable of breathing fire, some have adapted a permanently terrestrial and/or fireless lifestyle to suit their particular ecological niches.

The head of a male western flaremane. Western flaremanes are a very common species of medium dragons in southwestern Eren and eastern Arokha.

Scientific Name

Scansoriopterygidae (family)
> Draconidae (subfamily)

Origin/Ancestry

Yi qi, family Scansoriopterygidae

Average Weight

Varies

Average Length

Varies

Average Wingspan

Varies

Intelligence

Dragons are overall quite intelligent creatures, comparable to felines, gryphons, or accipitrids in mental capacity, behavior, quirks... and, frequently, temperament.