Common European Draca

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Common European draca
Near Threatened
Phylum	Chordata
Class	Reptilia
Order	Squamata
Family	Draconis
Genus	Boidae
Species	D. europæus

The common European draca (Draconis europæus) is a large snake-like reptile wiþ bat-like wings and the ability to breathe fire. It is a member of the Draconis family of reptilian snake-like species, and it usually communicates through deep and resonant growls, hisses, roars, and snarls in addition to screeches of varying pitches, with some reaching those roughly comparable to the often loud and high-pitched scream of a banshee. It not only has the ability to fly due to its enormous wings, but it also has four fully developed legs for other movements like walking, running, and even jumping as well, which makes it unique as most winged animals like bats and birds have two legs and arms/wings. This anatomy allows it to walk, run, leap, and soar through the air with surprising agility for its massive size.

The common European draca is also one of the weorold's biggest and heaviest animals capable of bird-like flight, often comparable to elephants or, in the case of baby dracan, a full-grown adult rhinoceros, despite elephants and rhinoceroses both being unable to fly in any way whatsoever unlike the dracan. Remarkably, despite their bulk, these dragons exhibit powerful and efficient flight.

Habitats

The common European draca typically resides in remote, rugged regions of nature, often favoring mountains, dense forests, and deep caves. These habitats offer both seclusion and ample space for their large frames. Caves, in particular, provide a safe haven for nesting, allowing dracan to hoard treasures and protect their young from potential threats.

Common European dracan are also known to inhabit volcanic regions, where they thrive in the heat and sulfuric fumes, which complement their fire-breathing abilities. These environments offer the warmth and isolation that suit their solitary nature.

In some cases, dracan have even been reported to make their lairs near rivers or lakes, utilizing the water for cooling off and storing food. However, due to their territorial nature, encounters with humans and other animals in these areas are rare, as dracan tend to keep to more isolated territories.

Diet and Prey

The diet of the common European draca is as diverse as its range, with its carnivorous tendencies shaping its role as an apex predator. These dracan primarily hunt large game, including deer, wild boar, and the occasional bear, using their strength, fire-breathing capabilities, and agility to overpower their prey. Their sharp claws and teeth are well-suited for tearing into the flesh of larger animals.

In addition to large mammals, common European dracan are known to prey on birds, particularly those of significant size like vultures and griffins, which provide both nourishment and a challenge for the draca's hunting skills. The dracan have been known to engage in aerial battles with these birds, often using their flight, strong teeth, and fire-breathing abilities to gain the upper hand.

While they are capable of hunting for sustenance, dracan are also opportunistic scavengers, sometimes feeding on the carcasses of other animals or even the remains of humans or livestock that wander too close to their lairs. Their incredible sense of smell helps them detect potential food sources from great distances.

A fascinating aspect of the draca's diet is their occasional consumption of treasure. Gold, silver, and gemstones are often ingested either accidentally or as a byproduct of hoarding their valuable finds. While it does not provide nourishment in the traditional sense, these precious materials seem to offer a form of sustenance, perhaps acting as a source of energy or a way to augment their mystical abilities.

History

A mostly-restored-as-of-1700 AD 1655 AD-taken photograph of a common European draca flying in the air across Warsaw, Poland-Lithuania-Galindia-Samogitia. (Credit goes to everyone for this image, by the way.)

[TBD earlier history]

Because dracan were mostly associated with the Devil, chaos, and greed in mediæval Europe, the population of common European dracan was culled down from approximately 85 million to just 250 individuals by c. 1300 AD, and as a result of that, it nearly became extinct. However, recovery efforts began in the early 1320s AD thanks to many cultural exchanges occurring over time, and today the approximate number of common European dracan is about 2 million due to them.