Dragon Anatomy



Dragons are unique creatures, possessing many fantasy characteristics, but they are surprisingly possible. Some characteristics include flight, flame production, intelligence and more.

General Anatomy
This section is the Anatomy that almost all dragons share



 Scales

The scales of a dragon are quite different to any other scaled creature, not only do they serve as protection from the elements and physical attack, but to look intimidating and/or to attract a mate. There seems to be two types of scales; regular scales (the small scales that line the dragons entire body, apart from the eyes, mouths and some other parts of the body) and scutes (distinguishing scales the larger scales on the body that is unique to only that dragon, like our fingerprints) an example of this is the large scales on Toothless's head. Dragon scales are extremely heat resistant (Not fire-proof!). A [My] theory, dragon scales are made of a natural form of ceramic like the heat-shield used on reentry for spaceships.



 Wings 

Dragon wings serve multiple purposes, flight, fighting, protection, (for some) locomotion, and quite possibly heat dispersion. Dragons generate a lot of heat, via breathing fire, body heat, and setting themselves on fire. All of this heat must go somewhere otherwise they would cook themselves alive. For this to happen, the veins and arteries in the wing would dilate allowing heat-rich blood to pass through, the heat would then be expelled through the massive surface area of the wings. Another unique properties of wings is their healing ability, unlike our skin that repairs its self by growing over and scabbing, dragon wings are suspected to grow out from the leading edge of the wing and eventually die and fall off when it reaches the edge. This is quite evident by the tattering at the edges of dragon wings where the damaged areas fall off.



Eyes

Dragon eyes are quite similar to other reptiles eyes, but they are more close to the slit eyes of the average house cat. Dragon eyes are naturally slightly slit, but when docile the slit becomes more round or oval. Dragon eyes don't grow as the dragon gets older.



 Navigation

Dragons have a great sense of navigation, they are able to find their way to and from “Dragon island” and to the island where they lay their eggs. This amazing quality may be the same that salmon use to find the stream where they where born. Another thing used for navigation is the “purr” that dragons emit when in the presence of other dragons. This is evident in the movie when Toothless takes Hiccup and Astrid to dragon island.





 Skeletal System

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<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm">A dragons skeleton is strong, it is able to withstand the greatest of impacts ranging from falling rocks to smashing into a sea-stack, they can take a beating. This id due to the fact that dragon bones are solid unlike the hollow bones of birds, which makes birds very delicate. Dragon skeletons vary from species to species.

Specific Anatomy
This section is the Anatomy of specific species and sub-species