Dragon
Dragons are a wider classification of animals, containing true dragons and the various species of sea serpents. The name is rarely used, however, and more popularly assigned exclusively to true dragons, breaking the link between them and sea serpents. Despite this, the knowledge that the two are closely linked in useful in a variety of contexts, including understanding of the world, but also spiritual. Why else would the Forces create two beings so closely linked, but only make one of them intelligent, if not as a lesson?
As true dragons can be natively found on all of Itorah's major continents, and sea serpents in all Itoran oceans, dragons are therefore a globally occurring group. They rule the oceans with their serpents, the skies with the true dragons, and the land are (dubiously) shared with humans. The dragons are, without a doubt, the most successful group of animals on Itorah... even if not all of its members consider themselves animals.
Basic Information
Anatomy
True dragons and sea serpents have wildly differing appearances, thus making it difficult to state a shared anatomy among the dragons. They are all endothermic, producing their own heat, but otherwise resemble Earth's reptiles, with scaled skins and reptilian skeletons. Unlike ordinary reptiles, however, Itoran dragons are hexapods: they have three sets of limbs meant for locomotion. In dragons, these take the form of two sets of legs and a pair of wings. In sea serpents, they all take the form of fins, though in some species they still bear resemblance to draconic feet.
Dietary Needs and Habits
All dragons are carnivores, subsisting off of a diet of meat primarily. If prepared properly, true dragons can process non-meat food as well, but sea serpents cannot. Once full grown, dragons typically form the apex predators of their environment, only fearing other dragons, but young may be preyed upon. Hunting methods vary wildly among the species within this group, depending on their abilities, environment, and available prey.
Additional Information
Average Intelligence
True dragons are intelligent, at human-like level. Sea serpents vary, with some rather clever, but are never above animal-like levels of intelligence.
Genetic Descendants
Lifespan
100+ years
Geographic Distribution
Comments