So with every dragon species I’ve been designing to go in my dragon log sketchbook, I’ve been writing up a description and making a scientific name for it. I figure it’d be useful to have them all written down here in one place. I’ll keep updating this whenever a new one is added!
Fire-Marked Dragon Machaera ardens
A species of dragon whose domain spreads from rocky hills and savannahs to mountainous or volcanic areas. They prefer warm environments - colder temperatures force them to feed more often to maintain their body temperature - but can still survive in a colder climate. They are omnivorous, but are primarily carnivores and eat plant material to help fuel their powerful ignition systems. Fire-Marks are named for their ability to ignite certain areas of their bodies by releasing flammable gas from scale vents, and also for the striking patterns on their wings that are reminiscent of a flickering flame. The Crowned subspecies is generally larger and has many scale vents near its head - when it ignites, it crowns itself in flames for a terrifying display of power. The Whiplash, on the other hand, has an enlarged tail and many scale vents near the back of its body. Despite the name, its tail is used less like a whip and more like a burning hammer, scorching its challengers with a hot, crushing blow.
Subspecies:
Crowned Fire-Mark: Machaera ardens coronatus
Whiplash Fire-Mark: Machaera ardens verbera
Hyperborean Dragon Deinoarctos albapallium
An enormous dragon that inhabits polar and tundra regions. It is mostly covered in a thick coat of white fur that serves as both insulation and camouflage. They drape their wings over their rear legs and tail, as if wearing a cloak. Hyperboreans have two forward-facing horns on their heads, one under their lower jaws and huge knife-like claws on their front legs that can rend through tough hide. Although they cannot fly particularly fast, they can soar to high altitudes and watch over their surroundings, locating targets using sharp eyesight. Two elongated fangs that protrude from the mouth can apply an anticoagulant fluid to any wounds they inflict. A bite from them is often fatal - either from the cut itself or from blood loss afterwards.
Mirex Parapteryx palustris
Mirexes are a dragon species, and yet "dragon" is rarely added after the name. It derives from one of their habitats, mires, and rex, meaning "king". They are large, semi-aquatic dragons that have a crocodile-like body with many spiked protrusions on the upper sides. Like all four species of the Parapteryx genus, once a Mirex hits adulthood its wings begin to shrink. Eventually all that is left on its back are large spikes wrapped in black material that used to be a wing membrane. However, their size and weight increase enormously once they lose the ability to fly, committing entirely to the land and freshwater they dominate. The scales are mostly dark, dull green with streaks of olive, but its underbelly plating lightens from dark brown to cream with age.
Parallel Dragon Cristasaura bicolor
Streaked with black and white markings and patterned crests, Parallel dragons are hard to miss. They are sociable and group into great herds, some with over a hundred individuals. With sharp claws and a pair of enormous protruding teeth, Parallels look like omnivores or carnivores, but these are purely defense weapons: they are almost exclusively herbivores. In dire situations, they may eat unfortunate predators that are killed while trying to hunt them, or simply scavenge off an existing corpse. Parallels have wings, but they are unable to truly fly (aside from one subspecies) due to their weight. Instead, they have other uses: sometimes to glide, but mostly for intimidation. When its patterned wings are spread out, it appears substantially larger and the markings cause confusion, which is enough to repel many potential foes. Banded Parallels are the largest subspecies and have bands or stripes. Reticulated Parallels have net-like patterns and are shorter, but have longer, thicker tails. Bisected Parallels have a horizontal split of black and white on their body: the top half is black and the underside is white. They are the smallest subspecies, yet have the largest wings and can actually fly, although only for brief periods. There is a gene found in all three subspecies that inverts its patterns: eg. a Bisected Parallel would be black underneath and white on top. However, it is extremely rare.
