Types of Dragons

1. The Western or European Dragon

This is surely the archetypal example one would picture instantly. Defined typically by what is envisioned within modern fantasy tales the traits are;

• A 4-legged, winged beast
• Scaly skin
• A strong jaw and mouth
• A menacing tail
• A reptilian and sometimes horned or ribbed skull
• A heavy and robust physical constitution

Fire breathing creatures like these are very frequently found lurking around mountain tops, ancient ruins, caves and anywhere else on the vast, empty land that it can find.

These creatures are associated very much with the guarding of treasure and they use both their flying capacity and their powerful fire breath to present and enormous risk.

The Western dragon has three dominant strengths over many other fantastic creatures – its power, the capability for flight, and pure destruc-tion which the Eastern Dragon lacked.

2. The Eastern or Chinese Dragon

Contrary to what one may see with the aforementioned Western Dragon, Eastern dragons bear very few similarities. Chinese dragons present primarily as snake-like with long and rather elaborate bodies as opposed to those of European monsters which often appear much more compact, quadrupedal.

Traits that we commonly identify with a Chinese dragon;

• Snake-like body
• Quadrupedal form
• Powerful, cutting talons
• Horns or antler like structures upon the skull
• Often have a set of whisker-like appendages and a mane or crest upon its head
• Wingless

Traditionally when we see these creatures represented the lack of wings in Chinese dragons is largely offset by the myth, it claims that the creature can fly through the air unaided and its link to the weather and natural element of water respectively are not something new within the mythology of this fantastical species.

With this it can be gathered that they hold far greater relevance in myths than simply appearing as the equivalent oriental version of fire breathing creatures because they have cultural significance with elemental magic that they control which the other fails to offer by default; which explains why some things cannot be bundled into the same category of dragon and explained away so easily.

They're very much a classic illustration of what we imagine when referring to anEastern dragon and this can be attributed to their sleek and long serpentine physiques which set them apart instantly.

3. The Japanese Dragon

These are somewhat closely related to other creatures from East Asian myth in the Eastern Dragon having a particular common visual similarity between it and many Japanese dragons, being serpentine in appearance.

The Japanese dragon's affiliations tend to be related greatly to nature however with particularly strong emphasis upon the aspect of Water as such.

This type of dragon will possess specific Japanese traits that make its legend stand out; it relates closely and often quite strongly to Water for the reason that they are considered and widely identified with the Japanese seas and the rains that pour down onto lands in storms.

When looking for Japanese dragons it can also be easily illustrated that they do not usually carry a large bat like shape around their 'face' as Western dragons might.

One of the main issues when distinguishing the types of dragon is that we can often simply classify all of them into "anatomical" type as the defining feature that sets each species of dragon apart from its counterparts.

If this is what one seeks it is better then to view Japanese Dragons as creatures of Japanese cultural mythology.

4. The Wyvern

Ah yes, the wyvern - just one other one of the few dragon varieties that is so commonly misidentified.

The standard wyvern contains the attributes;

• A pair of hind legs
• Two large wings that act also as forelimbs, i.e.
• It has no visible arms; it only possesses the 2 large legs which have also been formed into winged extremities.
• Long tailed physique
• Body resembles that of a reptile
• Possesses sharp, cutting claws

It simply does not have 4 separate pairs of legs at its hindquarters like other Western dragons which means, when identifying a creature you know is a dragon;

Dragon: 4 legs + 2 wings

5. Drakes

Now, this will put a spanner in the works for some; the word drake in older terms used to describe a dragon. But, when classifying dragons in fantasy, most classify them to be dragon with four legs and no wings.

So to keep it simple:

Dragon: Four-legged with wings

Drake: Four-legged without wings

Since lacking wings, drakes are bound to stay on the ground and have pure power in physical combat instead, this typically means they will:

• Rely more on their own physical strength.
• Use their claws.
• Bite armored scales.
• Run at a much higher pace than any 4-legged or 6-legged dragons.
• Use their elemental breaths (because they wouldn't be dragons without one!)

Drake vs Dragon: Take into account the fantasy genre sometimes uses both terms or a Drake can also sometimes be an adult (large dragon), a young one (small dragon) or some sort of rare type of dragon! There is no limit to the classification of these dragons in a fantasy realm.

But if you are just trying to learn how we at this blog categorize them: 4-legs and no wings belong to the Drakes category.

6. Wyrms

These bad boys are similar to snakes in terms of their bodies but considerably long, with a small number or absolutely zero legs and (just like drakes) are typically wingless.

These long, snakelike creatures possess many defining features including:

• Huge length
• No or minimal legs
• They often come in pairs.
• Use their tails and their bites.

Generally speaking,wyrms find their homes in the darkest places on Earth, more notably, they dwell underground within caves or the depths of the Earth.

Since they don't fly but insteadslither along on the ground, wyrms feel older, ancient, mysterious and more reptilian or snakelike.

Sometimes wyrm may refer to any kind of ancient, monster or beast, even ones that don't look exactly like a dragon! This is why we say it acts like something like a generalized umbrella under which the concept of "ancient Dragons" fits in!

7. Lindworm

Once again we return to the familiar reptilian snakes of mythology and fantasy taxonomy to cover lindworms. How do lindworms appear? Let's examine it, shall we?:

• Extremely long, snaking or serpentine bodies.
• Have small or absolutely no wings.
• Often come in two front legs or sometimes have no legs at all.
• Possess an identifiable reptile-like head, which can differ to the traditional dragon head depending on its depiction.

Since lindworms do not come with classic multi-limbed forms like six-legged dragons, they do not have the ability to fly, nor swim for that fact.

However, they generally move by slithering, coiling or climbing up things to try and get about!

A lindworm may appear dwelling in a forest, cave or anything that seems untouched by man.

Like drakes and wyrms,Lindworms tend to walk that awkward middle path of classifying.

A between that of enormous serpents and dragons and can occasionally get confused between the two, a topic we will look at more in this post.

So, you don't usually take anything literally about a lindworm and classify one based on their appearance!

8. Amphipteres

Similar in some regard's to the familiar Lindworm, Amphipteres also referred to more familiarly within some, albeit relatively modern,fantasy novelsas an 'Amphithetere'.

Their body structure simply revolves around having, you guessed it, no legs!

A traditional amphiptere resembles:

• An exceedingly long, sinuous body.
• Zero legs.
• One set of wings.

This particular dragon possesses perhaps one of the most simple design characteristics.

However, where awyrm slides along the ground, an amphiptere flings about freely through the skies!

We'd expect a typical amphiptere to have command over:

• Flying; such as weather-based phenomena as storms.
• Extremely quick movement and navigation through flight.
• Magical practices.
• Altitude flying!

Thanks to its extremely slender size and not having to wear down its legs by continuously having them weigh it down, Amphipteres makes for the most naturally effective and strongest "sky dragon"!

9. Hydra

There have been several debates over if an Hydra truly constitutes as "one of the dragon's."

However as per the meaning: it's "close enough."

Hydra or The Hydra, without doubt is the creature with the most profound and culturally widespread impact and influence among dragon related characters of mythology and fantasy in terms of popularity.

So let's break down Hydra:

• Usually multiple heads (can sometimes be defined by the multiple heads)
• A distinctly reptilian/snakelike body.
• The most obvious feature: the multiple heads at the end of distinct, longer necks (where the 'only identifying characteristic' isn't an exaggeration).
• Hydra are well known for: regenerating heads, venomous attacks, more options for offensive attack as if the single biting head was insufficient!, Water-based elemental powers.

So is a Three-headed Dragon a Hydra?

The simple answer is not necessarily!A dragon with only three heads could easily be considered simply a multi-headed or three-headed dragon,unless specified otherwise within the fantasy setting in question's lore.

Therefore,safe to say when we are talking about a specific 3-headed (or 4–-7–headed)dragon creature outside of a specific franchise,call them by their descriptive,generic label like multi-headed dragon!

10. Sea Dragon

Sea Dragons are NOT specific biological creatures as explained prior about dragons but rather describe any dragon creature whose anatomy or physiology has been evolved into aquatic living.

This can include everything within: oceansa to riverstounified together in an environment they call home.

The Sea dragon looks the part and includes elements such as:

• Long,streamlined body which are adept and optimized for water navigation.
• Fins, webbing or even multiple swimming limbs to aid in both swimming and to steer themselves efficiently
• undulating motions for greater hydrodynamic control of their overall length;
• A lesser presence, or no presence, of typical 'wing-like appendages to reduce friction'.
• Usually comes equipped with a large/strong 'tail appendage' so as to propulsion itself through water.

Powers of the Sea dragon clearly focus on an area with strong elemental affinities: the watery depths; this includes things like:

• Swimming/breathing underwater;
• Having superior maneuvering at high speeds,even surpassing their terrestrial kin!;
• Raising storms or manipulating sea currents;
• Controlling mist, fog or simply other water particles as offensive measures.

Simply speaking,this creature classification highlights how habitat can dramatically and influencefully impact the anatomical structure and capabilities of the different 'types' of creatures we categorise under a 'dragon!'.

11. Fairy Dragon

Often considered different to more other established mythologies in classification this type of dragon,known as a Fairy dragon tends to be much smaller than your traditional ferocious, world threatening mythical creature.

In reality, they are miniature sprites of myth or fairy creature with a slight predisposition in design and structure for certain mythical-born dragons.

To better visualize what it means to be a fairy Dragon:

• Very tiny in size
• Exceptionally fast due to its small weight.
• Colourful appearance
• Innumerable magic or magical based abilities.

These fairy dragons, as noted often rely on powers that do one of the following; have the user in some kind of deep-sleep like condition; induce illusions; make them become invisible.

However,what these creatures proveis a fantastic addition to the realm of the imagination: size does not ultimately have to dictate whether a creature deserves a classification 'dragon';since this type of dragon possesses the Scales,The Wings,or even sometimes the 'hands,' with the unmistakebable essence of A DRAGON's Magic that qualifies it to have a place under the dragon header.

12. Elemental dragons

A lot of "dragon archetypes" and various groupings of them get confused in many Modern fantasy stories or games these days but not without some rhyme and reason!

The definition of what makes one kind of dragon distinct may or may not overlap with similar definitions as other ones, this, in itself makes each type more dynamic and unique, Elemental dragons (possibly the widest categories)are defined by how well they can manage control over specific( and usually primal or even 'super natural')Elements;

Fire Dragons

• Element: Heat and Fire is naturally, their domain so everything is a toaster. Think Hellscapes.
• Abilities: Elemental Breath of Fire, Immunity of High temperature, Heat control and generation of such flame effects etc. They are what we picture to see first if someone utters the word 'DRAGON'. These types of dragon have all their strengths in the Heat as a element and are commonly seen to live volcanic mountainous terrains!

Ice dragons

• Element: This dragon species specializes in Frost and Winter. They come along with all traits such as Tundras, Blizzard and more frozen environments.
• Abilities: Breathing Frost, Generation and Manipulations of Ice and Freezing storms, Strong immunity and resistance against extreme temperatures such as Cold ones. We also came up with apost for dragon names, check this 'Ice' you can actually use for names too…

water dragons

• Element: The last of our major elemental trio 'the dragons with aquatic and ocean abilities;'. Anything such as large lakes, oroceant to bodies of flowing river.
• Abilities: can breath and move through underwater, Enhanced Dexterity when traversing in an aquatic form, summoning storms,fog clouds and storms are within them.water dragons seem more versatile because most dragon forms appear to be more adept and better when moving on land rather than water which proves them to be special;
• Multiple Heads
• These can lead to HYDRA-like or multi-headed dragons.

Of course, there are dragons with shells like armadillos (armored dragons), long snake-like dragons on a mountain range (wyrms!), and hundreds of variations based on locale, intent, and magic, all stemming from these core ideas. What do YOU like to imagine in your dragon worlds?