Dragons

Basic Information

Anatomy

The dragon resembles a large lizard with bat's wings, but there are some inherent differences. The dragon body is formed of sturdy chitin scales that protect a delicate formation of skin. The skin is a three layer structure that comprises of a basement membrane, epidermis and cuticle.
While the dragon does not have a skeleton, the layering of the chitin creates the impression of a spine and provides structure to the wings. Dragons have three stomachs: A stomach for digesting food, a stomach that stores chemicals, and a stomach in which they produce fire. As dragons are inherently cold-blooded creatures, obtaining enough heat energy for chemical process to take place and produce fire necessitates hours of lying stomach up in the sun, or exposure to another heat source.

Genetics and Reproduction

Dragon reproduction can be a fatal process, both for male dragons and for anyone unlucky enough to be in the vicinity. It s unknown exactly what goes down, no one has been foolish enough to get close enough to observe (except for torso-Timon, and we all know what happened to him), but it involves a lot of fire and heat and occasionally dragons exploding from excitement. It is for this reason that dragons often seek out isolated areas to mate. Mating season rolls around every four years.

Growth Rate & Stages

Dragons are hatched from membranous eggs that are laid in groups of up to a hundred. When the dragons hatch, they are a little larger than a human hand and do not yet have their chitin armor and an extra pair of limbs. The third pair of limbs was initially thought to be useless, but dragons have been using these structures to help them shelter in trees and carry stones to protect themselves from predators.
Of the hundred dragons that hatch, no more than ten, and often as little as four, survive. The rest are eliminated in a cannibalistic feeding frenzy that can last for a couple of weeks. Eventually they will tire of the sport and move out to establish themselves in the wild.
After two years, those that have survived will enter pupa stage. Dragons create diamond chrysalides of approximately two meters in length. Unlike many creatures, the chrysalis grows throughout the pupal stage, which lasts seven years, reaching up to ten meters in length and five meters in diameter. When they emerge from the chysalis, they are fully formed and ready to test out their new wings. The crysalides become the first piece of the dragons hoard.
Dragons tend to build their crysalides in large groups, seeking out other dragons of similar age. Adult dragons are extremely protective of their brethren and make hatching fields virtually impenetrable.

Ecology and Habitats

Dragons like hot areas with low humidity. Thus, they tend to occupy desserts and volcanoes, favoring rocky areas and dunes.

Dietary Needs and Habits

Dragons are hunters that feed on most large animals. The tend to prefer mammals that have been freshly killed, presumably due to body heat.

Additional Information

Perception and Sensory Capabilities

Dragons have extremely sensitive feet through which they can feel subtle vibrations. When they are airborne, this allows them to gauge air currents very accurately. While much of their communication is produced through vibration, they utilize an intricate system pheromones and different roaring patterns.

Scientific Name

Dragonis Titanikus

Conservation Status

The species has just recently returned to the surface of Aviras after slumbering in the heat of the grounds mantle. There is little remembered about these creatures, and more of the world's documentation and libraries were destroyed during the Rupture. At this stage, there are groups that hunt the dragons, blaming them for the catastrophe while others worship them as returned G-ds.