Amphithere

An American Amphithere

Class: Reptilia

Order: Squamata

Family: Draconidae

Genus: Draco

Species: D. americanus

**Amphithere**, also known as **New World Dragons** (*Draco americanus*), contains 3 subspecies. The "New World" dragons are widespread in both South and North America in Dragonology Earths.

Amphithere are predators, preying mostly on the remaining megafauna of the America's. Some species of New World dragons have a good sense of smell, whereas Old World dragons find prey exclusively by sight. A particular characteristic of many Amphithere is the lack of legs.

## Species

There are 3 species of Amphithere:

* Amazonian Amphithere (*Draco americanus incognito*)
* American Amphithere (*Draco americanus incognito*)
* Mexican Amphithere (*Draco americanus mex*)

## Description

New World dragons are generally large, ranging in length from the American Amphithere at 4,5 m up to the Mexican Amphithere, which can reach 13 meters in length and weigh 130 or more kilograms. Plumage varies depending on the subspecie. With the exception of the Amazonian Amphithere, all subspecies lack legs.

All New World dragons have long, wings and a long tail, suitable for flight and "tail whips". They are the apex predators of the New World. All New World dragons have harsh and hoarse vocalizations.

The mouth is relatively weak compared with those of other dragons. This is because they mostly swallow their prey whole after killing them. The nostrils are oval and are set in a soft cere. The nasal passage is perforate, not divided by a septum, so that when looking from the side, one can see through the mouth. The eyes are prominent.

## Distribution and habitat

New World dragons are restricted to the western hemisphere. They can be found from the state of Washington in the Northwest and the state of New Hamptshire in the Northeast to South America. They are mainly resident. New World dragons inhabit a large variety of habitats and ecosystems, ranging from deserts to tropical rainforests and at heights of sea level to mountain ranges, using their highly adapted sense of smell to locate prey.

## Behavior and ecology

**Breeding**

New World dragons build very simple nests. On average one to three dozen eggs are laid, depending on the species. Chicks are already capable of flight at birth. They are already capable hunters, hunting small critters such as lizards.

**Feeding**

All living species of New World dragons and are predators. Their diet consists, primarily, of American megafauna. An unusual characteristic of the Amphithere s is a highly developed sense of smell, which they use to find prey. They locate prey by detecting the scent of freshly laid faeces. The olfactory lobe of the brains in these dragons, which is responsible for processing smells, is particularly large compared to that of other animals.

## Culture

Amphipteres have seen infrequent use as tribal heraldic devices. Amphipteres are present in rock arts of various indigenous tribes of the America's, such as the Kokama people.

## References

https://twitter.com/douglas\_carrel/status/907862121077190657

https://dragonology.fandom.com/wiki/Amphithere

https://www.deviantart.com/northwyrm/art/Dragonology-Amphithere-684051692

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amphiptere