Alex Carson
#1 Komodo Dragon
The Komodo dragon is a very scary reptile. They can grow to be close to 10 feet and they can weigh up to 154 pounds. While the Komodo dragon cannot breathe fire like a storybook dragon, they can kill deer, pigs, and even water buffalo with their mouths. Up until a few years ago, people believed that they had bacteria in their saliva which caused blood poisoning. In 2009, scientists discovered that the Komodo dragon has venomous saliva. After the reptile pierces its victim with its razor sharp teeth, the venom would flood the wound, causing the victim to die.
#2 Dragonsnake
The dragonsnake, also known as the Javan tubercle snake, the Javan mudsnake, and the rough-backed little snake, is found in Indonesia and Malaysia. They have been known to turn up in Myanmar and Thailand, however, you won’t find them in great numbers in these areas. The dragonsnake rows of knobby black scales and raised ridges going down its body. The average size of a dragonsnake is 2 feet and the females are a bit larger than the males. The main prey of the dragonsnake is the frog.
#3 Bearded Dragons
The bearded dragon is a very popular pet for reptile lovers. There are 8 species of bearded dragons, and they are found in central Australia. As a defense mechanism, the bearded dragon will puff out its throat to make their spiked scales puff out, scaring off predators. Their beard will also turn black if they are stressed if they get angry, and when they are mating. This dragon can actually change its color to sync with its circadian rhythm. In the beginning of the day, it is a dark color. As the as the day goes on, it gets lighter. By nighttime, it is a cream color. Finally, in 2015 scientists discovered that the bearded dragon has the ability to learn.
#4 The Pink Dragon Millipede
This is one of the smallest dragons on this list and grows to just a little under 2 inches. This breed of dragon is found throughout South East Asia. This dragon got its name for its spiked protrusions that scientists believe are used to shield their many legs. The pink dragon millipede smells like almonds, which is the signature scent of poison. It will get very bright when it feels threatened, and the color change warns its predators that it is toxic.
#5 The Flying Dragon
All of the dragons in the fairy tales can fly and so can this one. They are found in the tropical forests in South East Asia. This creature’s wings are like the wings of a plane. They have struts, and a membrane is stretched across. This allows them to glide for up to 26 feet as they jump from tree to tree. While their bodies are a dark brown to keep them camouflaged, their wings are brightly colored.
#6 Giant Petaltail Dragonfly
There are over 5,000 species of dragonflies around the world and they can be found everywhere except Antarctica. The giant petaltail is the bulkiest breed. They are black and yellow striped and they can be found living along the streams in the rainforest. They can grow to be close to 5 inches long and their wings can span over 6 feet when they are spread out. This species is believed to be the oldest of all the dragonflies and scientists have fossils of this species that dates back to the Jurassic era.
#7 Dragonets
The dragonette is actually a tropical fish that is found in the Indo-Pacific. They got their name thanks to their large dorsal fins, which look like the wings of a dragon. These fish are found near the seabed and they are a sandy color so that they can camouflage themselves from their predators. There are other species of dragonets who are found in the coral reef in the Pacific, and they are very bright colors, such as electric blue and bright orange. The dragonet can protect itself from predators with a toxin that it can secrete from the thick mucus that covers its body. It smells really bad, which has given the dragonet the nickname, stinkfish.
#8 The Black Dragonfish
The black dragonfish actually looks the villain from a fairy tale. This fish lives over 6,561 feet under the Atlantic Ocean. It is very good at adapting to the dark, the cold, and the extreme pressure that deep in the ocean. The adult black dragonfish can grow over 18 inches and can open its mouth extremely wide which allows this fish to swallow very large prey. In order to find their prey, they have a light-emitting organ. It also helps them hide from larger predators.
#9 Blue Dragon Nudibranch
The blue dragon nudibranch is a type of sea slug. They have been found washed up on the shores of the Southeast United States, Australia, and Africa. Recently, they have also been washing up on the shores along the coast of India. They don’t fly, they float on their backs and allow the wind to let the drift. They can avoid predators by looking silver to the fish under the water and blue to the birds flying above. They protect themselves by using their tentacles, which contain stingers that can paralyze fish and can cause serious pain to unsuspecting swimmers. They only grow to be 1 inch, but they are very powerful.
#10 Seadragons
Seadragons are fish. They are closely related to the seahorse. The most recently discovered species is called the ruby seadragon. Before their discovery in 2015, all that scientists knew about were the weedy and the leafy seadragon. The newest species was named for its bright red color. This species can live at much lower depths than its counterparts and it can absorb orange-red light, which helps it camouflage itself from its predators.
#11 Skink
This is one of the dragons will not believe that still exist. This creature looks like a snake, a lizard, and a dragon. They grow to be very long and they are relatively docile. They are excellent pets, as you can see by this man holding his pet.
