En: Dragons

Write about a dangerous insect or animal in your world

Dragons are a group of large intelligent carnivorous reptile species.
They always are capable of flight, usually winged, and can shoot fire or plasma out of their mouths.
They are native to Neuland on Earth, though some have settled on other worlds.

History

First discovered by the first settlers to pass through the Portal, they were feared and hunted due to the threat they posed.That is until someone tried to talk some sense into an attacking dragon and found out, that it was actually quite reasonable. Word got around, and a truce was negotiated. Since then dragon attacks have largely stopped, though a rouge or criminal Dragon still is one of the most dangerous creatures one can encounter.
Today, all known dragon species from Earth are either protected or considered sapient and therefor citizens. They are found in about every area of life their body fits into with some of the finest warriors and theoretical scientists of recent history being dragons.

Biology

Dragons have always an even amount of arms, hands, legs, feet, wings and eyes. The natural body shape is always symmetrical, exept for deformations and injuries,though the colour pattern may be not.
Their bodies are covert in scales, feathers or both with a wide range of possible colors and patterns. Their skin protects them from most conventional attacks, though high caliber projectile rifles have proven to be effective against the most in the past.
The size of an adult varies species by species from the size of a small car to that of a house.
Most species live slightly longer than humans and get about as many of springs. The childhood and -care vary from species to species. Many species can cross breed with each other. Humans and dragons are not genetically compatible.
Some species tend to live in groups, some as family, and some alone. While most species don't mind company, some less intelligent species merely tolerate their neighbors as long as they keep their distance.
The dragons intelligence varies by by species too, some are about as intelligent as a toddler while some have above human intelligence.