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 mean and/or to attract a mate. There seems to be two types of scales; regular scales (the small scales that tine the dragons entire body, apart from the eyes, mouths and some other parts of the body) and distinguishing scales (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 dragons 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.

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