All About Dragons

From ancient fairytales to modern movies, dragons have been featured in countless stories around the world.

For children and adults alike, dragons can spark creativity and fuel the imagination.

These popular mythological creatures can be scary foes for a story’s hero or a cuddly stuffed animal.

With so many representations of dragons, it is no wonder that children fall in love with these magnificent beasts.

And it’s easy to see why dragon toys are so popular among toddlers and kids of all ages.

Keep reading to learn all about dragons so you can share in the magic with your children.

What Are Dragons?

Dragons are some of the most popular mythological creatures in the world.

Several countries and cultures have their own tales about dragons, and modern entertainment features dragons in TV shows, movies, and books.

Dragons are often depicted as large, flying creatures that resemble serpents. They have broad wings and many can breathe fire.

Sometimes dragons are referred to as monsters or legends.

Dragons are part of mythology, meaning they do not exist in our real world. However, they are very much a part of our pop culture, history, and imaginations.

What Do Dragons Look Like?

Dragons come in all shapes and sizes depending on who is telling the story.

In some stories, they resemble giant lizards with scales or snakes with long tails. In other stories, they may be cute and cuddly, with smooth scales and sweet faces.

Their wings may resemble those of bats more than birds because they do not have feathers.

Some dragons, like those in Chinese and Japanese tales, do not actually have wings. The dragon is more like a serpent with a barbed tail and legs.

Dragons may have antlers, bull snouts, or beards. They are often shown with long necks, pointy teeth, and strong bodies.

How Big Are Dragons?

While most stories showcase dragons are large, flying creatures that cause people to run in fear, they can be any size.

Baby dragons certainly start off small, and they can grow very fast. Some legends claim that young dragons can grow a foot each year, reaching six-feet-tall in hardly any time!

As they continue to age, dragons can grow to be 35-feet-tall or more.

For children, they may be used to seeing smaller, friendly dragons rather than large, scary ones.

Mushu from Disney’s Mulan only comes up to a human’s knees. He is probably around the same height as a toddler.

Toothless from How to Train Your Dragon grows to be taller than a human man when his wings are expanded. For kids, he may seem like a giant dragon!

What Color Are Dragons?

In ancient stories and folktales, dragons were typically a natural color. They could fade between multiple colors, and they did not have stripes or spots.

As a dragon ages, stories claimed that their skin could take on a glow or glistening effect.

The color of a dragon was often tied into the myth or story about the dragon. A red dragon could symbolize anger, while yellow could represent a more mild creature.

In today’s fairytales, dragons come in all kinds of colors!

Dragons can be solid colors, like blue, purple, green, or gold. They can also be several colors. Iridescent wings can change colors in the light.

Some dragons feature different colors on their scales, and others have different colored wings.

Where Do Dragons Come From?

Stories about dragons developed in both Europe and China, bringing us many representations of the beautiful creatures.

As ancient civilizations found dinosaur fossils, they were sometimes misinterpreted to belong to dragons.

A fear of snakes may have also contributed to the look of dragons.

Snakes have been feared by cultures around the world for centuries, and the creatures seemed to have grown larger than life in fairytales and myths.

Modern stories depict dragons hatching from eggs. The creatures may be born in medieval-like settings or modern fantasy worlds.

Dragons can lay up to ten eggs at a time, and eggs can incubate for 100 years before hatching. Once a dragon starts to hatch, it can take them years to get out of their shell!

Where Do Dragons Live?

In many myths, dragons like to live in flat or empty places. These settings let them see everything around them at all times to protect their home.

They may choose a mountain top where they can see far into the distance, or a desert where they can see people coming from miles away.

Forests are not usually homes for dragons because it is difficult to see through the trees. They may also have a hard time pushing off the ground and launching into the air to fly.

Fairytales often show dragons living in secluded caves where they can protect themselves from hunters.

Other stories may show them perched on a tall castle or landing on giant ruins.

Because most dragons are large creatures, they need plenty of space to spread out. They also like to build nests for their babies to keep them safe.

What Do Dragons Eat?

Dragons are carnivores, which means they eat meat. Their sharp teeth and talons make it easy for them to grab their prey.

Fire-breathing dragons can also cook their food before they eat it.

In some stories, dragons are very smart and they can find food almost anywhere. These dragons may settle for plants and be classified as omnivores.

Because dragons are so big, they need to eat a lot of food to stay full. They most likely hunt large animals, but ones that are easy to grab.

Their diet will also depend on where they live and what types of food are available.

What Are Dragons Known For?

In ancient myths and legends, dragons are known for their wisdom.

Dragons can live for a very long time, which means they can learn a lot during their lives.

In some cultures, dragons are seen as protectors or defenders. There are plenty of stories about dragons guarding treasure or even a princess.

For some heroes, dragons represent an opportunity for glory. Knights and other soldiers would go off to slay a dragon and free their people from the threat of the creature.

In other cultures, dragons are spiritual creatures that represented the forces of nature.

Why Do Dragons Like Gold?

In some stories, like The Lord of the Rings, dragons are said to love hordes of gold. They search for treasure troves, and they may even turn a pile of treasure into their nest.

The reason behind these stories may relate to ancient Greek myths about dragons.

Older stories said that dragons used to guard treasure, including gold. Dragons may feel like it is their responsibility to protect something precious, like gold or treasure.

As large and usually fearsome creatures, dragons are definitely well-suited to protect valuable gold!

What Is A Group Of Dragons Called?

A group of dragons is referred to as a thunder of dragons due to the noise their wings make as they fly.

They may also be called a flight or wing of dragons as they are seen flying in formation together.

Like fish, a group of dragons is sometimes called a school. Groups of baby dragons may be referred to as a brood.

What Are Female Dragons Called?

Female dragons are called drakaina. The name comes from Greek mythology and can represent a female dragon or a female serpent.

This name is the female form of “drakon,” which refers to a male dragon in Ancient Greek.

In the old Greek myths, drakaina were extremely powerful creatures. It would take a god or demigod to defeat such an incredible creature!

What Are Baby Dragons Called?

Baby dragons or young dragons are called whelps. If they are brand new babies, they may be referred to as warmlings or hatchlings.

Female dragons lay eggs, and the eggs hatch in roosts, or nests. As dragons start to age, they become fledglings.

How Long Do Dragons Live?

Dragons can live a very long time. In some folktales, elder dragons can live to be more than 5,000!

Dragon whelps can be between one and 10 years old. When dragons become fledglings, they can be between 10 and 50 years.

Adult dragons are said to be between 50 and 500 years old. Senior or elder dragons can live for thousands of years and are considered very wise and powerful creatures.

Why Do Dragons Breathe Fire?

People all over the world have tried to prove whether or not creatures could really breathe fire.

Mythological dragons can breathe fire to protect their treasure, their family, or themselves. It is also a pretty cool power for a magical creature.

For scientific purposes, some think that dragons could breathe fire because they crunched on metal-rich rocks. The chemicals from the dragon’s breath could ignite against the metal and cause sparks or even a fire.

Summary

Dragons have fascinated humans for many years, in many different cultures.

Whether in fairytales or movies, kids of all ages are captivated by dragons, so it’s no wonder dragon toys are so popular among children.

Whether they’re scary bad guys or heroic good guys, these awesome mythological beasts continue to spark the curiosity and imaginations of kids all over the world!