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Description
Here' have a headshot or two: [link]

Quite interesting, these dragons. Not only have their wings developed into limbs for both flight and walking, but they change dramatically as they mature. When young, they put most of their growth into bulking up, growing large enough to avoid being eaten by another predator. However, when they reach reproductive maturity, they change quite a lot.

The spiraled, pointed horns of their youth are shed the first year of their maturity, just prior to winter hibernation. During their sleep, a rigid casing that restrains a yale-like horn joint atrophies and vanishes, while new, fleshy, flexible, almost spade-like horns grow in the old horns’ stead. These horns are used less for self-defense and more for social purposes, such as signaling one another, grooming, and expression. However, this shedding of horns will repeat every year, just prior to hibernation, and will gain both length and a new serration with each passing shedding.

At the same time, the scales and spikes on the face become further developed, becoming thicker armor, or more fearsome spines. The most prominent of these are the ‘spurs’ that protect the dragon’s eyes, which are bone encased by keratin. The spikes and spurs become more pronounced in the males than the females, but the horns remain the same between the two.

The males, from hatching, have tiny, tyrannosaurus-like arms while the females simply have spurs along their sides that indicate where the skeletal structure for forelimbs are forming. When they reach maturity, the arms of the male specimens develop sizeable claws and gripping pads, while the females grow dexterous, almost delicate-looking limbs. The males appear to use their forelimbs for sparring with one another and reproductive purposes, while the females use theirs for child-rearing.

Furthermore, the females have elastic, marsupial-like pouches on their bellies, similar to that of the kangaroo. Rather than build a nest, it is in this pouch that she carries her egg, where she may keep her brood safe from predators. And with such a broad range of defenses, a she-dragon’s young would be very safe indeed.

In addition to the sharp horns, claws, teeth and spines, the dragon’s tail is a formidable weapon. It is fairly prehensile and remarkably strong, able to coil around an attacker like a snake. However, this is only half of it. The scales of a dragon’s tail are particularly rigid along the upper side, and have rather sharp edges.

While a dragon does appear to breath fire, it isn’t a flame at all, but rather a bioluminescent fluid that is expelled from a gland under the tongue and to the sides of the jaws, similar in location to some of the many salivary glands in humans. While this liquid is a bit of an irritant, it is not particularly acidic, nor is it toxic. Should it get in a target’s eyes, the glowing will effectively blind them. However, the real treat is that it aids in the tracking of their prey should it manage to flee, leaving a trail of colored and glowing droplets.

However, in many cases, the need to track is unnecessary for these creatures. Should their prey dash into the forest, the stabilizing fins and wings can fold up quite neatly, both to avoid damage as well as to avoid impeding movement. Similarly, the forelimbs can tuck up close to the body, and the hind limbs spread against the tail to help prevent drag while in the air.

Such a fascinating species, and so much has been learned. And yet there is still so much research to be done.

This drawing of grown-up Eva (Here's the younger version: [link] ) has been finished for ages, but I've been lazy and not uploaded it. Hm. I feel like I should say something intellegent. But I'm braindead.

Description
Here' have a headshot or two: [link]

Quite interesting, these dragons. Not only have their wings developed into limbs for both flight and walking, but they change dramatically as they mature. When young, they put most of their growth into bulking up, growing large enough to avoid being eaten by another predator. However, when they reach reproductive maturity, they change quite a lot.

The spiraled, pointed horns of their youth are shed the first year of their maturity, just prior to winter hibernation. During their sleep, a rigid casing that restrains a yale-like horn joint atrophies and vanishes, while new, fleshy, flexible, almost spade-like horns grow in the old horns’ stead. These horns are used less for self-defense and more for social purposes, such as signaling one another, grooming, and expression. However, this shedding of horns will repeat every year, just prior to hibernation, and will gain both length and a new serration with each passing shedding.

At the same time, the scales and spikes on the face become further developed, becoming thicker armor, or more fearsome spines. The most prominent of these are the ‘spurs’ that protect the dragon’s eyes, which are bone encased by keratin. The spikes and spurs become more pronounced in the males than the females, but the horns remain the same between the two.

The males, from hatching, have tiny, tyrannosaurus-like arms while the females simply have spurs along their sides that indicate where the skeletal structure for forelimbs are forming. When they reach maturity, the arms of the male specimens develop sizeable claws and gripping pads, while the females grow dexterous, almost delicate-looking limbs. The males appear to use their forelimbs for sparring with one another and reproductive purposes, while the females use theirs for child-rearing.

Furthermore, the females have elastic, marsupial-like pouches on their bellies, similar to that of the kangaroo. Rather than build a nest, it is in this pouch that she carries her egg, where she may keep her brood safe from predators. And with such a broad range of defenses, a she-dragon’s young would be very safe indeed.

In addition to the sharp horns, claws, teeth and spines, the dragon’s tail is a formidable weapon. It is fairly prehensile and remarkably strong, able to coil around an attacker like a snake. However, this is only half of it. The scales of a dragon’s tail are particularly rigid along the upper side, and have rather sharp edges.

While a dragon does appear to breath fire, it isn’t a flame at all, but rather a bioluminescent fluid that is expelled from a gland under the tongue and to the sides of the jaws, similar in location to some of the many salivary glands in humans. While this liquid is a bit of an irritant, it is not particularly acidic, nor is it toxic. Should it get in a target’s eyes, the glowing will effectively blind them. However, the real treat is that it aids in the tracking of their prey should it manage to flee, leaving a trail of colored and glowing droplets.

However, in many cases, the need to track is unnecessary for these creatures. Should their prey dash into the forest, the stabilizing fins and wings can fold up quite neatly, both to avoid damage as well as to avoid impeding movement. Similarly, the forelimbs can tuck up close to the body, and the hind limbs spread against the tail to help prevent drag while in the air.

Such a fascinating species, and so much has been learned. And yet there is still so much research to be done.

This drawing of grown-up Eva (Here's the younger version: [link] ) has been finished for ages, but I've been lazy and not uploaded it. Hm. I feel like I should say something intellegent. But I'm braindead.