Dragons/Physical Description

Dragons are large, intelligent creatures that are present throughout the world. They are found in the wild living in shelters, both solitary and in groups. They come in several different feral varieties, and have been selectively bred by humans into many more breeds with varying characteristics.

Find lists of dragon breeds and their particular physical characteristics here.

## Anatomy

All known dragons are quadrupedal and have a pair of wings above their shoulder joints. They are covered in overlapping scales or armored plates in a variety of colors, and can have horns, frills, or spikes about their head, as well as spikes or fins both in ridges down their spine and distributed over their back. They are warm blooded. See Draconic Taxonomy.

### Eyes

Dragon eyes have slitted pupils and come in a variety of colors. In darkness, they reflect light much like a cat's, and nocturnal breeds have milky white eyes that are highly sensitive to bright light.

### Mouth

Dragons possess serrated teeth, arranged in groups at the front and back of their jaw, with a gap in the middle, somewhat like a horse. Temeraire is able to carry infant Iskierka safely in this space.

Their tongue is narrow and forked, and used to assist their sense of smell.

### Ears

Dragons have ears which have been seen flicked in irritation or pricked up in interest.

### Feet

Most dragons have four talons on each foot, with the exception of some Chinese breeds such as the Imperial and Celestial.

### Wings

Dragon wings comprised of thick, webbed, and sometimes translucent skin stretched between five or, as seen in Celestials, six spines. The wingspan of a dragon is often slightly longer than their body, nose-to-tailtip.

###### Air Sacs

The ability to fly is credited to the presence of air sacs, located behind the lungs. These are filled with low-density gas, and can be compressed by exhaling, making the dragon heavier as a whole. The air sacs of some heavyweight dragons such as Regal Coppers have been known to be disproportionate to their size during growth, which causes the juvenile dragon to be excessively buoyant. Dragons that experience this phenomenon are expected to reach at least 25 tons in weight. Kulingile was one example, and was seen nearly to float before "growing into" his air sacs.

### Tails

Most dragons drag their tails upon the ground, but some, such as Celestials, carry them off the ground. The tail can be used to gesture or signal to other dragons while in flight.

### Scales

Scales come in a variety of shapes, sizes, colors, and textures. Many Asian dragons have smooth glossy scales, while Central American dragons have elongated, rough-edged scales that act much like feathers, and can be raised or "ruffled" up when they are agitated.

In some dragons, seen particularly in Russia, the scales are fused into armored plates instead.

## Size

The colloquially stated weight of dragons is altered, as described by Sir Edward Howe, to signify their size rather than their actual mass. For example: the largest dragons, Regal Coppers, are measured at 10 tons, but are considered 30-50 ton dragons in practice and in determining their weight class. This discrepancy is credited to the presence of their air sacs.

> "Those who have had the opportunity, as I have, of seeing a Regal Copper side-by-side with the very largest of the Indian elephants, who have been measured at some 6 tons themselves, will I hope join me in preferring a scheme of measurement which does not ridiculously suggest that the one, who could devour the other nearly in a bite, should weight less than twice as much." -Sir Edward Howe, December 1795.
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The smallest of dragons can weigh less than 2 tons and stand nearly eye-level with a man, as seen in Jade Dragons. The very largest, Regal Coppers, can weigh as much as 50 tons and have a wingspan of 150 feet.

An adult dragon's size is partially determined by how much and how often they are fed during the first few months of life, and by their environment. In feral populations, larger dragons are common in warmer climes, while colder environments can only support smaller individuals.

## Coloration

Colors vary widely throughout dragonkind, and similar breeds are often distinguished by differences in coloration. In general, the most common colors are greys and browns, followed closely by blues and yellows. More uncommon colors include shades of red, green, and even purple. Very few dragons have a true black hide, and none are naturally white. Some dragons also exhibit a natural iridescence.

Most dragons have some amount secondary coloration and markings, which can take the form of stripes, spots, and gradients. These accents are mostly present on the wings.

## Abilities

Aside from the use of their claws and teeth, some other natural offensive abilities are present among dragons, but are uncommon. These include venom, poison-spitting, acid-spitting, fire-breathing, water-spouting, and the damaging roar that is the Divine Wind.

## Intelligence

Dragons are largely social creatures, and make use of language and art. Even feral dragons have languages of their own and invent stories for entertainment. The vast majority of dragons have an innate understanding of advanced mathematics.

The degree of intelligence among dragons does vary by breed, and dragons like Greylings were selectively bred for speed and endurance at the cost of intelligence. Even so, they are still capable of general understanding and make use of language.

###### Language

Language is learned by exposure during development in the shell, until, on average, a week after hatching. After this time, most dragons have an extremely difficult time learning anything new. This includes codes such as signal flags. Some Russian dragons are able to acquire new languages over time as adults. Imperial and Celestial dragons are especially skilled with language, and can become fluent in a matter of months.

## References

1. ↑ Novik, Naomi. Black Powder War
2. ↑ Novik, Naomi. Tongues of Serpents
3. ↑ Novik, Naomi. His Majesty's Dragon (Epilogue).