How to Train Your Dragon Wiki
Register
Advertisement
How to Train Your Dragon Wiki


Shortwing Squirrelserpents are very common Tree Dragons, seen all over the Barbaric Archipelago.

Shortwing Squirrelserpents are barely mentioned in the Book series, unlike their flighted relatives, the Lesser-Spotted Squirrelserpent. The latter plays a minor role in A Hero's Guide to Deadly Dragons.

Physical Appearance[]

Shortwing Squirrelserpents have wings that are for the most part, vestigial. They have a long prehensile tail with a hook at the end. Their colors are earthy colors, but can come in white. They may have a spotted underside and tail striping as well.

Abilities[]

The wings of a Shortwing Squirrelserpent can be used for short-distance gliding from tree to tree, and are also used to put out fires these dragons might cause. Instead, their tails end in a hook to anchor themselves to branches and move around in the trees, similar to what you might imagine a monkey or even opossum doing.

Weaknesses[]

In How to Break a Dragon's Heart, Squirrelserpents are mentioned briefly (the exact species is not specified) as having a taste for honey as well.

Every now and then, they came across . . . a Squirrelserpent, surrounded by a buzz of furious insects, its muzzle covered with honey.
  How to Break a Dragon's Heart  


While favoring honey is not specifically a weakness, it could potentially be used against them

Behavior[]

They mimic mammalian squirrels in their function and behavior.

These dragons are plentiful and fairly low on the food chain, being a frequent prey animal. They are primarily insectivores, but will also eat small mammals.

Shortwing Squirrelserpents are also a social species. They vocalize with chirps, have special calls to each other, form teams to fight fires, and appear to rear their offspring in marsupial-like pouches, as seen in one small depiction.

Appearances[]

How to Speak Dragonese[]

The Shortwing Squirrelserpent is mentioned once when describing Fishlegs scampering rapidly up a rope hanging from a Roman ship.

A Hero's Guide to Deadly Dragons[]

The Shortwing Squirrelserpent appears only on an info page at the back of the book and does not feature in the story. However, its relative the Lesser-Spotted Squirrelserpent does make a small appearance in the story.

How to Break a Dragon's Heart[]

Shortwing Squirrelserpents are seen in the forests of Berserk Island as Fishlegs and Hiccup search for the Berserk bee hives.

The Incomplete Book of Dragons[]

The Shortwing Squirrelserpent is detailed in this reference book.

Gallery[]

References[]

  • Icon-WebsiteDragonGuide
     Shortwing Squirrelserpent in the Hero's Guide to Deadly Dragons on the Official How to Train Your Dragon Books Website. NB:   http://www.hiccuptheviking.com   is no longer available.


Site Navigation[]

Advertisement