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Description
New species of tiny dragon is here, their babies at least. This is the twelfth illustrations in series done in collaboration with writer Peter Fane. Below is description for those little guys, the rest is on his FB page and one day will be all in one book. Until then I need to draw and paint a lot more of small critters in their natural environment ^-^

Species description by Peter www.facebook.com/TheKingdomofR…
My Artstation with details and close ups: www.artstation.com/milica

Double-crested bone-nester (“Humming Drake;” also “Miniature Dragon,” or “Thimble Dragon.”)

The double-crested bone-nester is by far the smallest of Dávanor’s small breeds. They live only in the warm, deciduous jungles of the southern peninsula of Drawn and its associated islands. Because of their small size, Thimble Dragons are never trained into messenger service; they simply cannot carry a load. Even so, some of the richest houses of Dávanor do breed these small dragons in captivity. It is an eclectic and specialized process, open only to the wealthiest of families.

In the wild, Thimble Dragon broods are always very small. A brood will consist of one male, one female, and associated young, usually only one or two foals. Three foals are possible, but this are quite rare. Foals’ primary colors will always be different from each other and their parents, but their secondary colors on their underbellies will be an exact match. Nests will always be made of grass, vines, and other dead foliage – which is then placed within the skull or ribcage of another small animal or dragon. These “bone houses,” in turn, will be hidden in the upper branches of dense trees or tucked into a concealed cliffside crannies. The reason for this strange behavior was the subject of much debate until the reign of Katherine the Second. During that time, a research project headed by Lady Filipa Gondenwine in southern Drawn determined that female Thimble Dragons were able to extract nourishment from decaying bone to feed her young. This, in turn, accounts for the incredible tensile strength of Thimble Dragons small limbs and wings. Another remarkable characteristic of the Thimble Dragon is their incredible wing speed and dexterity. They are able to hover, dodge, and turn with extraordinary agility. The sound made by a Thimble Dragon in flight is easy to mistake for a buzzing insect. Thimble Dragons are reclusive, elusive, and near impossible to spot. They are never aggressive and will flee and hide at the first hint of danger or unusual activity in their territory.

Thimble Dragons are pure carnivores. Their diet consists almost exclusively of large flying beetle, insects, and small birds, which they track and catch on the wing. One of the reasons crested-bone nesters are so hard to spot is that they are often mistaken for dragonflies

Typical colors: red, green, blue, purple, and yellow. Eyelids are always much darker than the primary color. Underbellies can be almost any shade; this color will be consistent within a brood.

Typical wingspan: (f) and (m) ¼ palm [ca. 1.5-1.75 cm]

Typical length: (f) and (m) ½ 3-3.24 cm]

Typical lifespan: (f) 105-155 years; (m) 85-135 years

Horned? Yes.

Crested? Yes; always two, behind either eye.

Toothed? No.

Venomous? No.

This text was adapted from my field notes with some references made to Katherine II's "The Smaller Dragons of Davanor. A Preliminary Taxonomy" (F.Y. 190).

Description
New species of tiny dragon is here, their babies at least. This is the twelfth illustrations in series done in collaboration with writer Peter Fane. Below is description for those little guys, the rest is on his FB page and one day will be all in one book. Until then I need to draw and paint a lot more of small critters in their natural environment ^-^

Species description by Peter www.facebook.com/TheKingdomofR…
My Artstation with details and close ups: www.artstation.com/milica

Double-crested bone-nester (“Humming Drake;” also “Miniature Dragon,” or “Thimble Dragon.”)

The double-crested bone-nester is by far the smallest of Dávanor’s small breeds. They live only in the warm, deciduous jungles of the southern peninsula of Drawn and its associated islands. Because of their small size, Thimble Dragons are never trained into messenger service; they simply cannot carry a load. Even so, some of the richest houses of Dávanor do breed these small dragons in captivity. It is an eclectic and specialized process, open only to the wealthiest of families.

In the wild, Thimble Dragon broods are always very small. A brood will consist of one male, one female, and associated young, usually only one or two foals. Three foals are possible, but this are quite rare. Foals’ primary colors will always be different from each other and their parents, but their secondary colors on their underbellies will be an exact match. Nests will always be made of grass, vines, and other dead foliage – which is then placed within the skull or ribcage of another small animal or dragon. These “bone houses,” in turn, will be hidden in the upper branches of dense trees or tucked into a concealed cliffside crannies. The reason for this strange behavior was the subject of much debate until the reign of Katherine the Second. During that time, a research project headed by Lady Filipa Gondenwine in southern Drawn determined that female Thimble Dragons were able to extract nourishment from decaying bone to feed her young. This, in turn, accounts for the incredible tensile strength of Thimble Dragons small limbs and wings. Another remarkable characteristic of the Thimble Dragon is their incredible wing speed and dexterity. They are able to hover, dodge, and turn with extraordinary agility. The sound made by a Thimble Dragon in flight is easy to mistake for a buzzing insect. Thimble Dragons are reclusive, elusive, and near impossible to spot. They are never aggressive and will flee and hide at the first hint of danger or unusual activity in their territory.

Thimble Dragons are pure carnivores. Their diet consists almost exclusively of large flying beetle, insects, and small birds, which they track and catch on the wing. One of the reasons crested-bone nesters are so hard to spot is that they are often mistaken for dragonflies

Typical colors: red, green, blue, purple, and yellow. Eyelids are always much darker than the primary color. Underbellies can be almost any shade; this color will be consistent within a brood.

Typical wingspan: (f) and (m) ¼ palm [ca. 1.5-1.75 cm]

Typical length: (f) and (m) ½ 3-3.24 cm]

Typical lifespan: (f) 105-155 years; (m) 85-135 years

Horned? Yes.

Crested? Yes; always two, behind either eye.

Toothed? No.

Venomous? No.

This text was adapted from my field notes with some references made to Katherine II's "The Smaller Dragons of Davanor. A Preliminary Taxonomy" (F.Y. 190).