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Hiccup: "They're poisonous. Very poisonous! And dragons!"
Fishlegs: "Don't touch their skin. It's coated in, well-"
Snotlout: "Poison?"
Fishlegs: "Precisely. You touch one, and you are dead by the next moon."[src]
   

The Slitherwing is a medium-sized Mystery Class dragon that first appeared in Dragons: Race to the Edge.

Official Description[]

Giant winged snakes with venomous scales and fangs, Slitherwings are truly the stuff of nightmares!
As if one Slitherwing wasn’t deadly enough, the poisonous dragons tend to hunt in packs. Like regular snakes, a Slitherwing’s bright coloration indicates its venom level. The more colorful the Slitherwing, the deadlier the attack. These oversized serpents slither at top speeds, sedate prey with the toxins in their bites, and drag them back to their pit for dinner. Equally aggressive against Vikings and dragons, Slitherwings fear only one thing: Fire.
  Dragonpedia  
Slitherwings tend to hunt in packs. Just like regular snakes, their bright coloration indicates its venom level. The more colorful they are, the deadlier the attack.
  World of Dragons  
Slitherwings are highly toxic and aggressive Dragons. While their toxicity is natural, their antagonistic attitude may have resulted from overhunting of the species.
What they lack in firepower they make up for in thick skin. Be wary when battling with a Slitherwing, their poisonous scales can accidentally injure allies!
  Dragons: Rise of Berk  


Physical Appearance[]

ROB-Slitherwing-Egg

Egg[]

In Dragons: Rise of Berk, a Slitherwing egg is oval with a slightly irregular shape. Unlike most dragon eggs, the Slitherwing egg has a smooth surface, with no asperities on it. The egg has a solid color as a base and many triangular spots all over it.

Hatchling to Adult[]

The Slitherwing exhibits a resemblance to a colossal serpent, characterized by its elongated, snake-like physique. Its body displays a vivid and striking coloration, serving as a visual signal and warning of its highly toxic nature, akin to various other creatures such as snakes, amphibians, fish, and insects. Equipped with an array of formidable fangs and teeth, the Slitherwing possesses the ability to inject, transmit, and even spray venom. Unlike snakes and certain dragon species, however, the Slitherwing lacks a bifurcated tongue. Additionally, it boasts an assortment of sharp spines in diverse shapes and sizes adorning the top of its head.

Titan Wing[]

TitanSlitherwing

Titan Wing Slitherwings grow much larger in size than their adult counterparts. In terms of coloration, they are yellow with blue and red stripes on their wings and tails. They develop a cobra-like frill behind their head, on their neck. Their eyes become green. The spikes on their heads and the claws on their wings grow bigger and sharper. They are bright yellow with red and blue highlights.

Abilities[]

Endurance and Stamina[]

Slitherwings appear to be quite enduring, as a few individuals were shown to withstand repeated attacks from the Dragon Riders' dragons, several even taking direct shots to the head only to shrug them off.

Slitherwings are also relentless in their pursuit of prey even after battling other dragons and are persistent enough to capture even the deadliest of foes, such as Death Songs. They can also slither at alarming speeds and are quite agile and maneuverable while flying.

Strength and Combat[]

Although Slitherwings may not possess exceptional physical strength, they demonstrate remarkable proficiency in combat and possess the ability to outmaneuver and outwit their adversaries in swift engagements.

Speed, Agility and Stealth[]

Although they heavily rely on their use of venom to gain the upper hand, Slitherwings also employ the use of their stealthiness and bright coloration to ambush and startle enemies, and their aerial agility and maneuverability to prevent their foes from escaping.

Venom and Poison[]

The Slitherwing secretes venom from their mouths and skin. The venom is fatal to both Viking and dragon alike (only the Grim Gnashers are immune to their poison) and is said to sedate the victim, rendering it immobile and defenseless, ready to be picked up by the Slitherwing.

The toxin can quickly be absorbed by victims through any means of contact, although skin-to-skin transmission is the preferred method. Upon contact, the poison quickly enters the victim's bloodstream, causing negative reactions to the body, and can kill a human within a day if not treated with an antidote, as Fishlegs said: "You touch one and you are dead by the next moon." The venom can also be injected when the dragon bites.

Symptoms of Slitherwing poisoning include pale discoloration, green patches on the skin, extreme fatigue, and increasing pain.

The skin-secreted poison can easily be spilled by the Slitherwing using sudden movements, tail flips, or by merely slithering on the ground. It is also able to directly launch quantities of poison at its targets utilizing its tail as means of launching it. Due to the fact that they are coated in this poison, they are probably immune to it. Despite the lethal effects of the venom, Slitherwing venom is also included in the antidote, along with angel fern root, and pine sap.

According to Dragons: Rise of Berk the poison of some individual Slitherfangs can smell sweet, as is the case with Sweet-Stripe.

Venom Spitting[]

A Slitherwing spits VENOM

The Slitherwing has the ability to spit venom from its mouth at potential victims, serving as its firepower and adding to their overall danger. This ability is similar to how different species of spitting cobras can spray airborne venom from their fangs.

Skin Coating[]

Slitherwing's body prevents the amber to stay

The toxic substance that the Slitherwing secretes on its skin is used to coat its entire body, which is why one touch from any part of its body could be fatal. The thick skin coating also protects the dragon from external substances applied to it, such as Death Song amber. The amber is unable to stick to the Slitherwing and thus unable to expand and solidify, rendering a Death Song attack on a Slitherwing useless. That make them to the only known natural predator of the Death Song, because the Slitherwing´s prey are other dragons too.

They might also be protected from the ice breath powers of some dragons.

Foldable Wings[]

The Slitherwing open its wings

Slitherwings possess a unique adaptation in the form of retractable wings that can be folded tightly against their bodies, enabling them to maneuver through exceptionally narrow crevices. Their wings have the remarkable ability to retract to such an extent that they appear wingless, resembling the form of a sizable serpent.

Burrowing[]

The Riders came to rescue

Although it hasn't been shown, Slitherwings can burrow through the ground to live in them. When Slitherwings are threatened, they hide in their burrowed holes inside their cave to defend themselves.

Weaknesses[]

Fire[]

Stormfly's Blast create a path

Similar to Fireworms, the Slitherwings' inability to shoot any fire and their fear of it appear to be their only two weaknesses.

Poison Limitations[]

While their venom is extremely dangerous, their poison has several limitations. As while Death Song amber cannot stick to Slitherwings, their venom cannot penetrate their amber when it is hardened.

Slitherwings have no control over their poison, meaning their toxic substances is generate involuntary. If a nice Slitherwing like Harmhug want to cuddle they could potential kill their friend, unless they have a Poison Proof Suit.

The Grim Gnasher dragons are the only dragons immune to the Slitherwing venom.

Pack Dependency[]

Slitherwings are not effective hunters when they hunt alone

According to the description above, Slitherwings tend to hunt in packs. This means that Slitherwings are not effective hunters when they hunt alone, but are still very formidable.

Behavior and Personality[]

Slitherwings, formidable and territorial dragons known for their aggressive behavior, exhibit pack hunting tendencies, targeting a wide range of prey and even including other dragons in their voracious appetite. Employing toxins to subdue their victims, they transport their immobilized prey to their expansive underground dwellings for consumption. Slitherwings adopt a coiled, spiral sleeping position within caves and caverns. Interestingly, these creatures share a common aversion to fire with Fireworms. Notably, Slitherwings appear to possess immunity to the captivating melodies and amber-based firepower of Death Songs.

Socialized Slitherwings can actually be quite friendly with Vikings. Showing affection is difficult, however, due to the poison mucous covering its skin. Fishlegs has devised a special full body suit to physically interact with the Slitherwing, Toksin. This suit is also used to cuddle Harmhug, another docile and apparently quite lovable Slitherwing.

Training[]

The Slitherwing's extremely aggressive and instinct-driven nature and high levels of toxicity render it very difficult, if not impossible, to train. Even so, according to Rise of Berk, Slitherwings are able to be trained, although it requires some time and introductions to humans. Plus Fishlegs also design a poison proof suit so he can get closer to one and interact with some of them.

Appearances[]

Dragons: Race to the Edge[]

Season 5[]

This dragon made its debut in the episode "No Dragon Left Behind". When the Riders went to find Garffiljorg a new home, they went to Slitherwing Island, unaware of the Slitherwing inhabitants. When the dragons discovered Garff and the others on their island, being extremely territorial, they sneaked up on them in their pack formation and attacked the group, several of them taking Garff as food and disappearing beneath the ground into their lair, where they could kill and eat him.

Games[]

Dragons: Rise of Berk[]

This dragon appeared in Rise of Berk, along with individuals named Toksin and Harmhug.


School of Dragons[]

The Slitherwing was introduced in the game in March 2021, along with its Titan Wing form.


Dragons: Titan Uprising[]

After Maeve betrayed Hiccup and ran away, Astrid called her a Slitherwing.

The Slitherwing in the grass! You know we'll find you again, right? [src]
  Astrid  


Trivia[]

  • It is possible that Slitherwings are the Death Songs' natural enemies, since Slitherwings are immune to the Death Song's amber and appear to be immune to their siren call, share food sources such as other dragons, live in similar habitats and appeared to be particularly more interested in eating Garffiljorg rather than the Riders' other dragons.
    • It is also shown by Garff that the Death Song is the only dragon that can protect itself from Slitherwing poison since their poison can't penetrate the Death Song's hardened amber.
  • The Slitherwing's boxy head bears a striking resemblance to an oriental dragon. The Slitherwing's body is patterned like a San Francisco garter snake and colored like a coral snake.
  • Slitherings are not snakes, despite their appearance.
    • Snakes have forked tongue, while Slitherwings don't.
    • Slitherwings have teeth all over their upper jaw and lower jaw, while snakes have much fewer teeth.
    • Nearly all venomous snakes have two front fangs, while Slitherwings don't.
  • Due to its legless body and two wings, the Slitherwing is technically considered a form of Amphiptere, (a legless dragon with two wings and a serpentine body). It shares this similarity with the Whispering Death and Screaming Death.
  • Slitherwing slightly resembles Gigantophis or Titanoboa.

References[]

Slitherwing uses Creative Commons Licensed content from the Rise of Berk Wiki page Slitherwing. The list of authors can be found on the page revision history (view authors). ROBWiki Logo
Slitherwing uses Creative Commons Licensed content from the Dreamworks School of Dragons Wiki page Slitherwing. The list of authors can be found on the page revision history (view authors). SODWikiLogo

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