Dragons

Dragons are large, intelligent, flying, fire breathing, reptiles.

Biology
Dragons have four limbs, the front limbs featuring elongated fingers and bones connected by a webbing of skin forming wings. The hind limbs are smaller but muscular with fingers ending in talons. The rest of the body features an elongated neck and tail as well as a horned head. Dragons are covered in thick scales that renders them essentially fire prof.

 Fire Breath 

Dragons achieve fire breath through two organs located in their lower chest cavity. Each contains a different chemical compound that when combined results in spontaneous combustion. When a dragon wishes to breath fire, muscles around these organs contract pushing the liquid trough tubes that run up it's body before ending in orifices located in the side of the mouth. These tubes are equipped with several valves that both vaporize the liquids and prevent back firing. While this is happening the dragon begins to quickly exhale to propel the flames forward and provide the reaction with oxygen. To prevent their mouths from burning dragon saliva is extremely viscous. Dragon fire is described as a "moist fire" unlike that of a wood fire. It is also known to sick to its target and can be difficult to put out with water.

 Reproduction and Development 

Female dragons lay a clutch of 2-6 eggs once a year. These eggs must be kept in an extremely hot environment (IE.Glowing charcoal) for 7-8 weeks, if at any point the heat is removed for an extended period of time the egg will most likely die. Upon hatching baby dragons can fly a few hours after and can breath fire a few days later.

The first three years of a dragons life are known as the "wild phase" as during this phase they cannot learn any language and their behavior is closer to that of a wild animal. During this phase dragons grow very little and are highly reliant on their parents. additionally during this phase 75% of all dragons will die.

After four years dragons can begin to learn language and start to rapidly grow. Dragons become fully grown after 16 years.

Culture and Lifestyle
Dragon lifestyle can be generally be divided into three categorizes: Wild, Tribal, and Settled.

 Wild 

The Wild lifestyle is considered the most "traditional" of the dragon lifestyles and is the one adopted by 60% of all dragons. Dragons living the Wild lifestyle know no borders or rulers, instead choosing to hunt and fly where they please. These dragons will typically travel alone or in small family units. Dragons living the Tribal and Settled lifestyles typically look down on Wild dragons viewing them as little more than animals.

 Tribal