Perhaps one of the most popular mythical creatures among most peoples of the world is the dragon (a powerful, terrible, very bloodthirsty, but still inexpressibly beautiful).
In different parts of the world dragons are represented in different ways (and therefore they sometimes have very significant differences from each other - both in appearance and in character).
But their common features, as a rule, are the reptilian body structure, phenomenal invulnerability, often magical abilities and the ability to control the elements.
It is very difficult to classify these legendary monsters, because even in one region, the local mythological tradition can contain descriptions of up to several dozen species and subspecies of dragons (moreover, in different sources the description of even the same species may not only not coincide, but also be directly opposite) .
In addition, the fantasy genre beloved by many of us has recently made its own corrections to the rather difficult situation with the “dragon bestiary”, generously adding a couple more hundred different dragon-like beasts to it - from ghostly and magic to metal cyberpunk .
Well, let’s try to choose the ten most famous from this whole set.
10. Givre (Draco gallicus)
In appearance, the givra is easily mistaken for a huge snake, since it has neither legs nor wings. But his head is typically dragon - very massive, with spiked horns and a characteristic "beard".
The scales at the givra (unlike most dragons of other species) are very small, almost fish - up to 1 cm in length. Their color can vary from dirty beige and green to blue and blue.
The skin of the givra gives off poisonous mucus, and therefore, if he suddenly decides to climb into the well, the water there will be poisoned for a long time. In general, the givre prefers to live in secluded places with stagnant water - in small ponds, swamps, etc.
These dragons are unreasonable, but very vicious and voracious, and therefore often attack livestock and people. Givra is especially dangerous because of its suddenness - they are difficult to notice in advance, they perfectly "merge with the background."
9. Lindmore (Draco serpentalis)
Lindworm looks very much like a givra (it is also snake-like), but there are several serious differences: the lindworm’s head is smaller and somewhat reminiscent of a bird (it has a horn formation, similar to a “beak” slightly bent down); and besides, this reptile has two small front legs, on which it, nevertheless, can move at the speed of a running pony.
Lindworm lives in small depressions in the earth in the steppes and deserts of Central Asia. Its length reaches 9-11 meters, the color of the scales is beige, sand, sometimes greenish or brown.
Lindworm is unreasonable, it feeds exclusively on meat (it usually suffocates its victims), but it rarely attacks people.
8. Naker (Draco troglodytes)
Another dragon is a serpentoid. The main differences from the givra and the lindworm: the presence of two pairs of short legs (but they have powerful claws!) And very small (apparently rudimentary) wings that do not allow flying.
The body length of the noker is up to 9 meters; its color is brown-red, brown, and greenish-blue. He prefers to settle in old wells, large holes, rarely in ponds. It is advisable that there are many hares, rabbits, or other small animals nearby that this dragon usually feeds on. But sometimes, in case of special need, he can attack livestock and people (especially children).
Another special feature of the poker is poisonous fangs, which kill small creatures right away, and large ones are paralyzed for up to 4-5 days. The presence of reason is also doubtful.
7. Asian (Chinese) moons (Draco orientalis)
Asian dragons, unlike most Western dragons, are most often completely non-aggressive, but rather wise and friendly (and yes - they have intelligence).
They are depicted in different ways (either with a massive "camel" head, then with a narrow and long muzzle and protruding snake tongue, then with large ears, etc.).
But, in any case, Chinese, Japanese, Korean and other Asian dragons always have a long (up to 12 meters) snake-like body with four clawed legs, on the head there are horns and a shaggy mane, as well as a very noticeable beard.
Their color, most often, is yellow (for royal dragons - gold), red, blue or white, rarely black (for a very few evil Asian dragons).
They have no wings, but they are able to soar under the clouds, as they command the weather. They live in clear water (in rivers and lakes, sometimes in the sea), feed on pearls and precious stones. They can fulfill the wishes of people.
6. Sea dragon (Draco marinus)
As, in fact, the name implies, sea dragons live in the sea. They can dive to a very significant depth, but prefer to spend time on the surface - there you can find much more interesting activities.
Many sea dragons are intelligent, some even speak and love to "communicate" with teams of ships passing by. Communication can consist of crawling out onto the deck and carefully studying everything that is on the ship, and in real conversations with the sailors and the requirements to pay the “transit fee” for this dragon’s water area (by any values).
In the case of aggression by the sailors (due to the banal horror of a suddenly appearing monster), a sea dragon can kill several people or smash a ship with a tail strike (or turn it over).
The length of the sea dragon can be considerable - up to 15-20 meters, the color - from pale blue to greenish-blue and blue. More often they do not have limbs (sometimes small paws with membranes are found). They feed mainly on fish and marine animals.
5. Amphipter (Draco americanus)
A classic example of an amphiptera is the feathered serpent Quetzalcoatl (one of the gods of the Aztec Indians). The serpentine body of this dragon is covered with long (up to 15 cm) scales, which really look more like feathers. In addition, he has two large - also feathered - wings (capable of raising the amphiptera high in the air), as well as very small, undeveloped legs.
Body length - up to 14 meters. The head is small, without horns and beard, but with powerful jaws. The color of the amphiptera is most often greenish, but there is also sandy-yellow, “rusty”, blue and even rainbow-colored.
In addition to Central America, amphiptera also live in Africa, in the Nile Valley. They nest, as a rule, in thickets of reeds along the banks of rivers and lakes, often on small islands.
They eat meat and fish. They themselves do not attack people, but they respond to aggression very harshly. According to some reports, amphipters are able to attack, exhaling fire.
4. Ice Dragon (Draco occidentalis maritimus)
The ice dragon is incredibly beautiful, but also deadly. Its scales, like ice crystals, sparkle dazzling on a clear day, and merge with the surrounding shadows at dusk.
A long (over 9 meters) body with four legs has a white (very rarely with a blue or pink hue) color. The blood of an ice dragon is transparent and has the properties of an acid (when it enters human skin, it burns it).
The main danger of this “reptile” is its icy breath, which can turn any living creature into a frozen block through in seconds.
Ice dragons are intelligent and wise, but they are completely self-sufficient (and even selfish), do not become attached to anyone and therefore never get together, very rarely make a couple.
They make a den, most often, in a glacier or on an iceberg. Great swim. Migrate from the Arctic to the Antarctic and back. They feed on large marine animals (dolphins, killer whales, walruses, seals, giant squid, etc.), sometimes - polar bears.
3. Wyvern (Draco africanus)
One of the most evil, cruel and aggressive creatures (although it has the beginnings of intelligence). The structure of the body is similar to a huge bird of prey - it has two powerful legs with curved claws and two wings similar to bat-like ones (on the upper ends of which there is also a long movable claw).
But the head of the wyvern is typically a dragon (with two or four horns), the neck is long and flexible. An even longer and more flexible tail ends with an impressive sting with a sharp edge (with which the wyvern can not only pierce its victim, but also severely cut it, or even pierce through).
The color of wyverns ranges from dirty brown and dark green to blue and black. They have very sharp vision, are able to fly very high and fast, while skillfully maneuvering in flight (and therefore it is difficult to get into them with a spear or bolt from a crossbow).
The wyvern can reach 15 meters in length and 6 in height. It nests mainly in the mountains: on steep cliffs, in caves, etc. It feeds on herbivores, often destroys entire domestic herds. On occasion, does not disdain and humanity.
2. Heraldic dragon (Draco geraldicus)
The most dangerous type of dragons, because it has the appearance and some abilities of a classical dragon (magic "tricks" like hypnosis and telepathy, fiery breathing, etc.), but it’s only an embryonic mind. That is, all of his considerable "natural inclinations" the heraldic dragon uses exclusively "for evil" (mainly for his own food).
The heraldic dragon has two pairs of powerful clawed paws, huge fangs, a bone crest along the back and a poisonous "leaf-shaped" spike at the tip of the tail. In addition, he has quite large wings, but they almost atrophied, so this dragon cannot fly.
The color of the scales (the same diameter as the classic dragon - up to 15 cm each) can be very different, the most common - dark green, brown and bright red.
This dragon settles in caves, closer to human settlements - it’s easier to hunt (there are a lot of cattle grazing around, and if necessary, a person can be devoured). Heraldic dragon uses magic to lure its victim closer.
1. European classic dragon (Draco occidentalis magnus)
And finally, the most common dragon is the classic European. Almost all classical dragons are very intelligent, but still, very often, they are bloodthirsty, cruel and mean, because they are used to consider themselves the highest race of earthly creatures (and, in fact, not without reason!), Which is allowed to. Many are able (and love) to speak eloquently.
The appearance of the classic dragon, in principle, is known to all of us. Their size, on average, is 14-15 meters in length, 4-5 - in height.
Huge triangular (or rhomboid) wings allow them to fly far and fast. They are able to burn entire villages with their fiery breath in a couple of seconds (and sometimes they do it for no particular reason, just for fun).
A classic dragon uses dragon magic for hunting - for example, it can hypnotize or telepathically lure a victim, and, again, for fun (especially if it meets a person who is interested in it).
According to some reports, European dragons are able to take on a human form for a while (and in this form - why not? - seduce girls).
Classic dragons live, most often in large mountain caves. And, as, again, everyone knows, they love to collect shiny jewelry there.