Dragons
This page is about Eudracian Dragons. For information on all Dragonoids, see Pandracia.
Basic Description
The Eudracian skull has a Preorbital opening
Subclass Eudracia (meaning "true Dragon" in Greek) is made up of the True Dragons. They are distinguishable from other dragonoids by the fact that they have a preorbital opening to lighten the skull. They are descended from Synapsids, meaning that they have a temporal opening to lighten the skull and make room for powerfull jaw muscles. Another distinguishing characteristic is that all Dragons have (or evolved from an ancestor that had) wings for their second set of limbs in which a membrane of skin is attached to three extended fingers. They also have unique specialized glands in the base of their mouth that passes an electrical current through a flamable venom secreted by glands in the roof of the mouth, creating a fireball. They are analogous to Earth archosaurs.
Evolution
The Evolution of Wings
One of the features that is distinctive of Dragons is their wings. Dragon wings have a long evolutionary history, beginning in a period of the planet's history where rising sea levels prompted many species to move to the water. Some were six-legged Synapsids, a group that had been otherwise declining as Arthrotagnathians took over the land. These semi-aquatic Synapsids soon evolved longer, webbed toes to help propel them through the water.
When sea levels receded again and the semi-aquatic Synapsids moved back to land, the webbed fingers on the second pair of legs evolved into larger structures for an entirely different purpose. These first truly wing-like structures originally evolved to act like large photosynthetic solar panels in Draciamorph Synapsids; the membranes providing a large surface over which photosynthesis could take place like the leaves in plants. Some types of Dracia retain their wings almost solely for this purpose, as they are too large or not built to fly. The sugar produced through this is used as a supplemental source of energy that the body uses in various ways.
Once the structures had evolved and spread, some species of Draciamorph Synapsids from mountainous regions began using the structures not only to increase the availability of energy, but also to glide from mountaintop to mountaintop, a useful adaptation for hunting prey or escaping predators. It is likely that this adaptation is what led to Dragons taking over as the dominant life form on the planet, instead of the then dominant Crapura.
After Dragons evolved, two branches rapidly diverged from the rest: the Sky Dragons and the Marine Dragons. The Sky Dragons (Order Pterodracia) evolved structures that increased their flight efficiency and maneuverability, while the Marine Dragons used the surface area of their wing membranes as fins, returning to the water like their semi-aquatic Synapsid ancestors.
When sea levels receded again and the semi-aquatic Synapsids moved back to land, the webbed fingers on the second pair of legs evolved into larger structures for an entirely different purpose. These first truly wing-like structures originally evolved to act like large photosynthetic solar panels in Draciamorph Synapsids; the membranes providing a large surface over which photosynthesis could take place like the leaves in plants. Some types of Dracia retain their wings almost solely for this purpose, as they are too large or not built to fly. The sugar produced through this is used as a supplemental source of energy that the body uses in various ways.
Once the structures had evolved and spread, some species of Draciamorph Synapsids from mountainous regions began using the structures not only to increase the availability of energy, but also to glide from mountaintop to mountaintop, a useful adaptation for hunting prey or escaping predators. It is likely that this adaptation is what led to Dragons taking over as the dominant life form on the planet, instead of the then dominant Crapura.
After Dragons evolved, two branches rapidly diverged from the rest: the Sky Dragons and the Marine Dragons. The Sky Dragons (Order Pterodracia) evolved structures that increased their flight efficiency and maneuverability, while the Marine Dragons used the surface area of their wing membranes as fins, returning to the water like their semi-aquatic Synapsid ancestors.
Dragon Systematics
The Taxonomy of True Dragons is as follows:
Subclass Eudracia
Clade Protoeudracia (basal Dragons and "Classic" Dragons)
Order Pteropteria (Marine Dragons)
Infraclass Neodracia (Modern Dragons)
Order Pterodracia (Sky Dragons)
Superorder Draciaforma (Draciaforms)
basal Draciaforma (basal Draciaforms)
Order Apteradracia (Wingless Dragons)
Order Dracanopodia (Wyrms)
Order Dracia (Dragonettes, and Long-necked Dragons)
Class Falsavis (Ulelana)
Subclass Eudracia
Clade Protoeudracia (basal Dragons and "Classic" Dragons)
Order Pteropteria (Marine Dragons)
Infraclass Neodracia (Modern Dragons)
Order Pterodracia (Sky Dragons)
Superorder Draciaforma (Draciaforms)
basal Draciaforma (basal Draciaforms)
Order Apteradracia (Wingless Dragons)
Order Dracanopodia (Wyrms)
Order Dracia (Dragonettes, and Long-necked Dragons)
Class Falsavis (Ulelana)